A ‘waka’ in my Oxford Dictionary is a form of Maori canoe so sadly I can’t explain “Waka” Japanese poetry to you except to say that this strolling mountain and pond-style garden – the Rikugien Special Scenic Park - was created on a theme of Waka Poetry in the 15th year of the Genroko Period (1701) by the shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi’s trusted confidante Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu.
The name “Rikugien” (See photo) refers to a system for dividing Chinese poetry into six categories; a system that is also influenced by Japanese Waka poetry. Although the number six is usually read ‘roku” in the case of this garden’s name, it is pronounced “riku” in keeping with the Chinese pronunciation of the word.
This garden, as described in a pamphlet published by the Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association 2010, is a typical example of the famous gardens of the Edo Period. In the Meiji Period, that followed the end of shogunate rule in 1868, this garden became a second residence of the founder of Mitsubishi, Iwasaki Yataro. Later in the 13th year (1938) of the Showa (The period when Japan was ruled by the Emperor Hirohito) - the Iwasaki family donated the garden to the City of Tokyo and in Showa (1953) it was designated as a special site of exceptional beauty and an important cultural asset. I hope the photos do justice to this garden that even on a cold, misty afternoon felt calming and welcoming.
Showa, by the way, is from the Japanese ‘shõ’ meaning “bright, clear” + ‘wa’ meaning “harmony” or so says my Oxford Dictionary of English.
The second photo above is of the Togetsukyo, a stone bridge named after a famous Waka poem about the view of the moon moving across the sky with the cry of a crane in a rice paddy heard nearby. The bridge is constructed of two large slabs of stone.
The third photo is of some huge carp in the pond/lake enjoying some dried tofu rings. Although the mouths of these fish were big the rings often defeated their gulping so they had to manoeuvre them to the edge and literally push the rings into their mouths by the bank – that’s of course having fought off several other huge carp for the privilege. Our guide, by the way, provided the tofu.
The final picture shows a conical rope construction on the trees. These prevent too much snow from collecting on the tree branches and causing damage. This protection will be removed later in the Spring. I just liked the reflection this structure made in the water.
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