Katsura Rikyu or Katsura Imperial Villa should be one of the destinations you would like to consider while visiting Kyoto. As an international visitor, you have a privilege of easier admission to the garden of the villa than the ordinary Japanese. For details go to the official web site where details are described.
The garden is not yet in sight, blocked intentionally by a perfectly shaped and trimmed pine tree.
Legend has it that there once stood a large pine tree called Sumiyoshi where the present tree stands. That large tree is said to have had a pair named Takasago standing on the shore across the pond.
These paired trees are referred to in the preface of the Anthology of Kokin Waka poems compiled at the beginning of the 10th century. The anthology represented the sense of aesthetic the ruling class of the society in those days was supposed to appreciate. They would have been admired if they had exhibited the high level of knowledge and comprehension about these Waka poems.
Prince Toshihito and his son Toshitada had profound knowledge and capacity to fully appreciate the cultural traditions of the Heian Court and reflected their aesthetic ideals in Katsura Imperial Villa. The villa was completed taking about 50 years. It is culturally very important and also interesting to think about the time that the villa was built. Not an easy period for the imperial members whose clout was completely overtaken by the Tokugawa shogunate.
There’s too much to appreciate and it’s almost impossible to feel completely satisfied with one visit only. However, if even a single unforgettable image should stay with you after the visit, what else would you have to ask?
Welcome to Katsura. It will reveal itself slowly. Meanwhile enjoy the video from the official web page and photos Katsura visitors in the past took in the URLs listed below.
http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/katsura.html
In the above URL, the video of Katsura is available.
http://www.ac.auone-net.jp/~komori/A12_1.htm
Katsura in summer
http://www.k2.dion.ne.jp/~komori/A24_1.htm
Katsura in winter
Legend has it that there once stood a large pine tree called Sumiyoshi where the present tree stands. That large tree is said to have had a pair named Takasago standing on the shore across the pond.
These paired trees are referred to in the preface of the Anthology of Kokin Waka poems compiled at the beginning of the 10th century. The anthology represented the sense of aesthetic the ruling class of the society in those days was supposed to appreciate. They would have been admired if they had exhibited the high level of knowledge and comprehension about these Waka poems.
Prince Toshihito and his son Toshitada had profound knowledge and capacity to fully appreciate the cultural traditions of the Heian Court and reflected their aesthetic ideals in Katsura Imperial Villa. The villa was completed taking about 50 years. It is culturally very important and also interesting to think about the time that the villa was built. Not an easy period for the imperial members whose clout was completely overtaken by the Tokugawa shogunate.
There’s too much to appreciate and it’s almost impossible to feel completely satisfied with one visit only. However, if even a single unforgettable image should stay with you after the visit, what else would you have to ask?
Welcome to Katsura. It will reveal itself slowly. Meanwhile enjoy the video from the official web page and photos Katsura visitors in the past took in the URLs listed below.
http://sankan.kunaicho.go.jp/english/guide/katsura.html
In the above URL, the video of Katsura is available.
http://www.ac.auone-net.jp/~komori/A12_1.htm
Katsura in summer
http://www.k2.dion.ne.jp/~komori/A24_1.htm
Katsura in winter
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Here's the other side of Sumiyoshi pine tree. |
This article is transferred from my previous blog site and slightly revised.
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