Chronological Changes of Layout and Plants Grown at Honmaru Garden of Nijo Castle in Modern Ages

Abstract

Nijo Castle has a garden called “Honmaru Garden”, which was constructed in the 29th year of the Meiji Era (1896). However, there is little literature on the chronological changes this garden has undergone and almost no studies have been made of the changes. In this study I aim at clarifying the chronological changes Honmaru Garden has undergone up to now, by using old plansand photographs of the garden. As a result, the garden has undergone small changes in plants grown there, but the garden has been tended and administered with its layout unchanged. As that explanation, all of the old plans of the garden that are available show that the artificial hill in the garden had two paths starting at the front foot of the hill and leading up to its top and one path starting at the hind foot of the hill and joining one of the foregoing two paths halfway up the hill. Some of the old plans show that one or two of the three paths were in the form of flights of steps. Photographs of the garden which were taken at the time of its completion and in the 15th year of the Showa Era (1940) show that the artificial hill had two paths starting at its front foot and leading up to its top and that the two paths were in the form of flights of steps. The area where a wall called Tamon-bei originally existed is now replaced with evergreen trees and does not give an open impression, but those photographs show that the site of the wall was not planted with trees at the time when the photographs were taken. Today, the three paths leading to the top of the artificial hill are covered with moss and grass, and the garden stones and the garden lanterns are hardly visible because of shrubs.
After the competent authorities was passed from the Imperial Household Agent to Kyoto City in 1939, it opened to the public. And the character of Honmaru Gardenwas changed from individual use to public one. With the result that it has become difficult to tend and administer the garden as before.