daimyō teien 大名庭園

Keywords
Architecture
Gardens

Lit. daimyō garden. The Edo period strolling-style *kaiyūshiki teien 回遊式庭園 gardens built by feudal lords (daimyō either in Edo or in their provincial castle towns jōkamachi 城下町. The relative peace and prosperity of the Edo period combined with competition among daimyō and their desire to legitimize their power through cultural patronage led to the creation of these large and lavishly appointed gardens. In the manner of aristocratic retreats such as Katsura Rikyū 桂離宮 and Shugakuin Rikyū 修学院離宮 almost all daimyō teien include large ponds (see *chisen kaiyūshiki teien 池泉回遊式庭園) around which are arranged artificial hills as well a number of pavilions. A tea house *chashitsu 茶室 and garden (*roji 露路 or *chaniwa 茶庭) are usually included. Typically these daimyō gardens make extensive use of *shukukei 縮景, famous scenic spots from China and Japan reproduced in miniature form. The literary and historical references inherent in shukkei signal the daimyō's cultural sophistication even as the multiple scenes in most shukkei provide an ordering principle which helps move the viewer through the garden. Daimyō teien make use of a number of old gardening techniques in addition to elements such as rice paddies, fruit orchards, and herb gardens as well as enormous rolling lawns. Because provincial daimyō gardens were built adjacent to castles, the hydraulic and horticultural features of the garden often served practical functions. Notable daimyō teien in Tokyo include Koishikawa Kōrakuen 小石川後楽園, Rikugien 六義園, and Hama Rikyū 浜離宮; other well known gardens are Kenrokuen 兼六園 in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kōrakuen 後楽園 in Okayama Prefecture, Ritsurin Kōen 栗林公園 in Ehime Prefecture, Kairakuen 偕楽園 in Ibaraki Prefecture, Suizenji 水前寺 Seishuen 成趣園 in Kumamoto Prefecture, and Genkyūen 玄宮園 in Shiga Prefecture.