History of Kenrokuen Garden

Detail[ Origin of the name "Kenrokuen" ]

Matsudaira Sadanobu took the name "Kenrokuen" from a piece of classical Chinese literature by a poet of the Northern Song dynasty (960-1127), which gives a commentary on the 19 gardens of Luoyang City. The passage quoted by Sadanobu is from the following lines about one of those gardens, "Lake Garden".

Because Kenrokuen has six elements that cannot ordinarily be combined to form an outstanding garden (spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, abundant water and broad views), it is considered to be particularly wonderful. The classical Chinese passage states that spaciousness normally reduces the quietude and profundity (seclusion) of a garden, artificiality (man-made elements) lessens the feeling of antiquity, and abundant water usually precludes broad views. Apparently the only garden that successfully combined these six elements at the time the passage was written was "Lake Garden".

There are six features that make a garden outstanding. If one tries to introduce an impression of vastness, any atmosphere of quietude and intimacy will be lost; if artificial elements are introduced, any impression of antiquity will be weakened; if a lot of flowing water is introduced, distant views are not possible. The only garden that successfully combined these six elements is Lake Garden.

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