The Image and View of Gardens in the Works of the Author Soseki NATSUME

Abstract

The garden image seen in the work of a great writer Soseki Natume (1867-1916) in the Meiji period was analyzed to search his view and image on the garden, which could be considered as the general image of ordinary Meiji gardens in Japan. He preferred gardens in Japan rather than those in England. In his work he often described the garden scene with Japanese general “Pine”, “Bamboo”, “Plum tree”, “Japan cedar”, and “Moss”, which are very common garden material in Japan. The gardens in his works were different from the gardens of Soseki's own houses. They were considered as the daily gardens, which a general reader understood, rather than the gardens described by Soseki's good knowledge of plants and gardens. And also they were considered as the general appearance gardens of the Meiji era houses.