is a
Japanese landscape garden and
nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty
is a collective term used by the Japanese government's Law for the Protection of Cultural Properties to denote Cultural Properties of JapanIn this article, capitals indicate an official designation as opposed to a simple definition, e.g "Cultural ...
in the city of
Hirakawa,
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region. The prefecture's capital, largest city, and namesake is the city of Aomori. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island, Honshu, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the ea ...
,
Japan.
Overview
The garden was laid out between 1902 and 1911 by the 24th generation head of the Seitō family, Seitō Morihide, and covers an area of . In the ''Oishi Bugaku Ryu'' style of Japanese gardens, it incorporates a large pond, with standing and
stepping stones
Stepping stones or stepstones are sets of stones arranged to form an improvised causeway that allows a pedestrian to cross a natural watercourse such as a river; or a water feature in a garden where water is allowed to flow between stone steps. ...
, and stone bridges reminiscent of
Momoyama period Momoyama may refer to:
History
*Azuchi–Momoyama period, the final phase of the Sengoku period in Japanese history 1568–1600
People
*Ion Momoyama, Japanese singer and voice actor
*Momoyama Kenichi (1909–1991), Korean prince and cavalry office ...
garden layouts. The gardens are attached to the , the ''
Giyōfū'' style mansion that was formerly the residence of the Seitō family. This building is a
Meiji-period
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by ...
fusion of
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
and
Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
* Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that i ...
architectural styles, with an octagonal turret, a
faux marble
Faux painting or faux finishing are terms used to describe decorative paint finishes that replicate the appearance of materials such as marble, wood or stone. The term comes from the French word ''faux'', meaning false, as these techniques start ...
pillar in the ''
tokonoma
A , or simply , is a recessed space in a Japanese-style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed. In English, a could be called an alcove.
History
There are two theories about the predecessor of : the first is ...
'', and ''
tatami
A is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms. Tatamis are made in standard sizes, twice as long as wide, about 0.9 m by 1.8 m depending on the region. In martial arts, tatami are the floor used for train ...
'' floors.
In 2002, the Place of Scenic Beauty designation was expanded by 2100 square meters to encompass the intake weir that led to the pond and the surrounding forest area.
The Seitō family claims descent from Seitō Morihide, a retainer of
Hōjō Tokiyori
Hōjō Tokiyori (, June 29, 1227 – December 24, 1263) was the fifth shikken (regent) of the Kamakura shogunate in Japan.
Early life
He was born to warrior monk Hōjō Tokiuji and a daughter of Adachi Kagemori.
Rule
Tokiyori became shikken ...
in the
Kamakura period
The is a period of Japanese history that marks the governance by the Kamakura shogunate, officially established in 1192 in Kamakura by the first '' shōgun'' Minamoto no Yoritomo after the conclusion of the Genpei War, which saw the struggle bet ...
. According to legend, Hōjō Tokiyori had an affair with a lady-in-waiting named Karaito Gozen. This incurred the wrath of his wife, and fearing for Karaito Gozen's safety, he entrusted her to Seitō Morihide with orders to hide her in a distant location with promises that they would eventually be reunited. Seitō Morihide took her to distant Tsuruga by sea, to a village in what is now
Fujisaki, Aomori
is a town in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 14,921 in 6068 households, and a population density of 400 persons per km². The total area of the town is .
Geography
Fujisaki occupies the flatlands within Mina ...
. However, after years went by, Karaito Gozen feared that Hōjō Tokiyori had a change of heart and she committed suicide by throwing herself in a pond. Unable to face Tokiyori, Seitō Morihide decided to remain in Tsugaru. His descendants became great landholders. In the
Meiji period
The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.
The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization ...
, Seitō Moriyoshi served as village mayor and founded the Aomori Commercial Bank and Onoe Bank, and eventually became president of Onoe Bank. The garden remains in the hands of his descendants, but is open to the public.
See also
*
List of Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan (Aomori)
This list is of the Places of Scenic Beauty of Japan located within the Prefecture of Aomori.
National Places of Scenic Beauty
As of 1 July 2020, ten Places have been designated at a national level (including one * Special Place of Scenic Bea ...
*
Seitō Shoin Teien
is a Japanese dry landscape garden and nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty in the city of Hirakawa, Aomori Prefecture, Japan.
Overview
The garden was laid out in the Genroku era of the Edo period (1668-1703) at the residence of the ...
References
External links
Seibi-en homepage
{{Authority control
Gardens in Aomori Prefecture
Hirakawa, Aomori
Places of Scenic Beauty
Buildings of the Meiji period
Giyōfū architecture