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| Kōraku-en | |
|---|---|
| 後楽園 | |
 View from Yuishinzan Hill | |
  Location in Japan | |
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Okayama,Okayama Prefecture,Japan |
| Coordinates | 34°40′04″N133°56′06″E / 34.667778°N 133.935°E /34.667778; 133.935 |
| Created | 1687 (1687) |
Kōraku-en (後楽園,Kōrakuen) is aJapanese garden located inOkayama,Okayama Prefecture. It is one of theThree Great Gardens of Japan, along withKenroku-en andKairaku-en. Korakuen was built in 1700 byIkeda Tsunamasa, lord ofOkayama. The garden reached its modern form in 1863.[1]
Zhu Zhiyu, one of the greatest scholars of Confucianism in theMing dynasty andEdo Japan, helped to redesign the garden.[2]
In 1687, thedaimyōIkeda Tsunamasa ordered Tsuda Nagatada to begin construction of the garden. It was completed in 1700 and has retained its original appearance to the present day, except for a few changes by variousdaimyōs. The garden was originally called Kōen (後園 "later garden") because it was built afterOkayama Castle. However, since the garden was built in the spirit ofsenyukoraku (先憂後楽 "grieve earlier than others, enjoy later than others"), the name was changed to Kōrakuen (後楽園) in 1871.
The Korakuen is one of the fewdaimyō gardens in the provinces where historical change can be observed, thanks to the manyEdo period paintings and Ikeda family records and documents left behind. The garden was used as a place for entertaining important guests and also as aspa of sorts fordaimyōs, although regular folk could visit on certain days.
In 1884, ownership was transferred toOkayama Prefecture and the garden was opened to the public. The garden suffered severe damage during the floods of 1934 and by bombing damage in 1945 duringWorld War II. It has been restored based on Edo-period paintings and diagrams. In 1952, the Kōrakuen 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.
The garden is located on the north bank of the Asahi River on an island between the river and a developed part of the city.[3]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.
The garden covers a total area of approximately 133,000 square meters, with the grassed area covering approximately 18,500 square meters. The length of the stream which runs through the garden is 640 meters. It features a central pond called Sawa-no-ike (Marsh Pond), which contains three islands purported to replicate the scenery around Lake Biwa nearKyoto.[4]
Mansfield, Stephen (2011).Japan's Master Gardens - Lessons in Space and Environment (Hardback). Tokyo, Rutland, Singapore: Tuttle.ISBN 978-4-8053-1128-8.
Media related toKōraku-en at Wikimedia Commons
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