Koraku-en
Encyclopedia
, is a Japanese garden
located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture
. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan
, along with Kenroku-en
and Kairaku-en
. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa
, lord of Okayama
. The garden's form almost had turned into the modern form in 1863.
Ikeda Tsunamasa
ordered Tsuda Nagatada to begin construction of the Korakuen. It was completed in 1700 and has retained its original appearance to the present day, except for a few changes by various daimyo. The Korakuen is one of the few daimyo
gardens in the provinces where historical change can be observed, thanks to the many Edo period
paintings and Ikeda family records and documents left behind. The garden was used as a place for entertaining important guests and also as a spa
of sorts for daimyo, although regular folk could visit on certain days.
In 1884, ownership was transferred to Okayama Prefecture
and the garden was opened to the public. The garden suffered severe damage during the floods of 1934 and during World War II
bombing in 1945, but has been restored based on Edo period paintings and diagrams. In 1952, the Korakuen was designated as a "Special Scenic Location
" under the Cultural Properties Protection Law and is managed as a historical cultural asset to be passed to future generations. Among the garden’s points of special interest are:
File:Korakuen 09.JPG|Kōraku-en and Okayama Castle
File:Korakuen 19.JPG|Enyo-tei House
File:Korakuen Okayama35s4bs3872.jpg|View from Yuishinzan Hill
File:Korakuen Okayama29s3200.jpg|Mino-shima
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
. It is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan
Three Great Gardens of Japan
The , also known as "the three most famous gardens in Japan" are considered to include Kenroku-en in Kanazawa, Koraku-en in Okayama and Kairaku-en in Mito....
, along with Kenroku-en
Kenroku-en
Kenroku-en , located in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan, is an old private garden. Along with Kairaku-en and Koraku-en, Kenroku-en is one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan....
and Kairaku-en
Kairaku-en
is a Japanese garden located in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. Along with Kenroku-en and Koraku-en, it is considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Kairakuen was built relatively recently in the year 1841 by the local lord Tokugawa Nariaki...
. Korakuen was built in 1700 by Ikeda Tsunamasa
Ikeda Tsunamasa
was a Japanese daimyo of the Edo period, who ruled the Okayama Domain.His adopted daughter married the court noble Ichijō Kaneka.-See also:*Koraku-en...
, lord of Okayama
Okayama, Okayama
is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the Chūgoku region of Japan.The city was founded on June 1, 1889. As of August 2010, the city has an estimated population of 705,224 and a population density of 893 persons per km². The total area is 789.88 km²....
. The garden's form almost had turned into the modern form in 1863.
History
In 1687, the daimyoDaimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
Ikeda Tsunamasa
Ikeda Tsunamasa
was a Japanese daimyo of the Edo period, who ruled the Okayama Domain.His adopted daughter married the court noble Ichijō Kaneka.-See also:*Koraku-en...
ordered Tsuda Nagatada to begin construction of the Korakuen. It was completed in 1700 and has retained its original appearance to the present day, except for a few changes by various daimyo. The Korakuen is one of the few daimyo
Daimyo
is a generic term referring to the powerful territorial lords in pre-modern Japan who ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings...
gardens in the provinces where historical change can be observed, thanks to the many Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
paintings and Ikeda family records and documents left behind. The garden was used as a place for entertaining important guests and also as a spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
of sorts for daimyo, although regular folk could visit on certain days.
In 1884, ownership was transferred to Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
and the garden was opened to the public. The garden suffered severe damage during the floods of 1934 and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
bombing in 1945, but has been restored based on Edo period paintings and diagrams. In 1952, the Korakuen was designated as a "Special Scenic Location
Cultural Properties of Japan
As defined by the Japanese government's Agency for Cultural Affairs, the are tangible properties and intangible properties created or developed in JapanDespite the official definition, some Cultural Properties of Japan were created in China, Korea or other...
" under the Cultural Properties Protection Law and is managed as a historical cultural asset to be passed to future generations. Among the garden’s points of special interest are:
- The total area of the garden is approximately 133,000 square meters.
- The grassy area is approximately 18,500 square meters.
- The length of the stream is 640 meters.
- The garden was originally called Koen ("later garden") because it was built after Okayama Castle. However, since the garden was built in the spirit of "sen-yu-koraku" ("grieve earlier than others, enjoy later than others"), the name was changed to Korakuen in 1871.
- The garden was designed in the Kaiyu ("scenic promenade") style which presents the visitor with a new view at every turn of the path which connects the lawns, ponds, hills, tea houses, and streams.
Gallery
File:Korakuen 09.JPG|Kōraku-en and Okayama Castle
File:Korakuen 19.JPG|Enyo-tei House
File:Korakuen Okayama35s4bs3872.jpg|View from Yuishinzan Hill
File:Korakuen Okayama29s3200.jpg|Mino-shima
See also
- List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty, Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments
- Tourism in JapanTourism in JapanTourism in Japan attracted 8.3 million foreign visitors in 2008, slightly more than Singapore and Ireland. Japan has 16 World Heritage Sites, including Himeji Castle and Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto . Kyoto receives over 30 million tourists annually...