Shugakuin Imperial Villa
TEL: 075-211-1211
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Shugakuin Villa is located at the foot of Mt. Hiei in
northeast Kyoto. In 1655, the ex-Emperor Gomino-o decided to
erect a villa in Shugakuin and started the construction the
following year. In 1659, the Upper Villa and the Lower Villa
were almost completed; the Middle Villa did not exist at
tllat time. Later a house was established for Princess Ake,
daughter of the ex-Emperor. This house was converted into a
temple, called Rinkyu-ji, for the princess had became a nun
to pray for the soul of her father. Part of the temple was
absorbed into the Imperial House hold in 1885 and became the
Middle Villa.
The Upper Villa's pond has been formed by making a big
earthern dam at mouths of mountain streams. Another source
of water is led from the Otowa River and is used to make a
waterfall. The damning up of the streams has caused a small
mountain ridge to emerge frorn the surface of the water.
This ridge has been cut off and divided into islands. Around
the pond, called "Dragon's Bathing Pond," there are garden
paths and pavilions like in the garden of Katsura Villa. In
contrast with the artificial design of Katsura, Upper
Villa's is naturalistic and gentle so as not to show off
man-made features.
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Former house prison and imperial garden of Mrs. Ume,
Daughter of Emperor Go Mizuno. Legend says she was a Christian
persecuted for her faith. Ume's husband was banished and she was
imprisoned in a Buddhist convent in Nara then reunited with her
family in Kyoto. The Imperial Family was banished to a house prison
in Kyoto. The Secret Kirishtan cross lantern (Oribe Toro) is still
located in the garden of Ume's residence at this house prison. Oribe
Cross lanterns were used for secret worship. Christianity was
prohibited for all members and relatives of the Imperial Family.
Oribe Toro Christian lantern was found in her garden.
Perspective of Upper Villa
A Path To Jugetsukan
A garden path branches away from Chu-mon and gets
across the pond over a stone bridge and an island. According to old
maps this path was added later in the years of Bunsei (1818-1829),
perhaps because sand, washed away by a small stream which pours into
the pond, had been deposited to form an island and eventually a path.
Jugetsukan
Jugetsukan is the main building which was used as the
imperial chamber for the ex-Emperor Gomino-o. The original building
disappeared after the years of Kyoho (1716-1735), but the exact
replica was constructed in the yesrs of Bunsei (1818~1829). The
first, second, and third rooms are laid out in an L-shape and have a
veranda surrounding them.
Turret Shape Lantern
A stone lantern, called "Turret Shape Lantern," stands
along the rill opposite Jugetsukan. It was used to light up the old
path.
Rinun-tei
Rinun-tei means "Pavilion Next to the Clouds." The
present pavilion was reconstruc ted in 1824 mostly after the original
plans except for slight changes in the back. A narrow veranda goes
around the front of the first 6-mat room and the second 3-mat room.
Having no wall, and being surrounded by sliding paper screens, the
rooms are very light and cool.
Chitose-bashi
Chitose-bashi, Bridge of a Thousand Years, is between
two islands, Banshou and the island where Kyusui-tei is located. This
bridge was not built until 1824, when Tokugawa Shogun Ienari did the
repairs of this villa for the ex Emperor Kokaku and Naito Kiinokami
Nobuatsu, the shogun's detached official in Kyoto, then dedicated it.
A huge stone slab spans the pond and is supported by two piers of cut
stone. The corridor-like bridge has two differ ent types of roofs,
the one on the east pier is a piramidal roof with a Chinese phoenix
of gilt copper on the top, while the other is a hipped roof under
which there are benches. This heterogenous ele ment in Chinese taste
is a pity for the great originality of the garden.
When the bridge was constructed, the northern end of Bansho-u
island was enlar ged by filling up the pond. Big stones were arranged
on that filled in land and an old pine tree was transplanted. The
pine is called "Pine of Sen-gan"
View from west bank toward Rinun-tei