Abstract
According to “Manyoshu (A collection of old Japanese poems)” edited in the 8th century, hedges were made of Japanese snow flowers, but they weren't trimed. From the 9th to the 14th century, branches were cut from the hedges and a few leaves were left. This formed a nice fence, because the hedges didn't rot away. We can see them in the picture scrolls of the Kamakura and the Muromachi period. From about the 14th century trifoliate oranges, boxthorns and Ukogi (Acanthopanax sieboldianus Makino) were used, because these plants have many thorns and were useful to protect the houses against thieves. The origin of this hedge was in China. Trimed hedges which today we can see everywhere in Japan appeared in the 18th century first. A pair of scissors having two long handles which were moved by both hands were invented to trim the hedges. Japanese trimed hedges which looked like English style hedges were introduced to Holland and became popular in Europe in the 19th century.
