Kairakuen

A garden located in Tokiwacho, Mito City. It began in 1665 (Kanbun 5) when the second lord of the Mito domain, Tokugawa Mitsukuni, established Lake Saiko on the grounds of Midorigaoka Gotenyama and built Kochintei. Over 170 years later, in mid-May 1841 (Tenpo 12), the ninth lord, Nariaki, began managing the garden again, completing it the following July. At this time, Kobuntei and Rakujuro were built, and the garden became what it is today. Since it was originally a landscape garden intended to be a flat garden with a view, the outside view was also incorporated, Lake Senba was modeled after the garden's fountain, a long bank was built and lined with trees, and plum groves, bamboo groves, and maple forests were created. The Mikawa River was then added to create a new river, which was then planted with willows, maples, and Japanese bush clover to allow people to enjoy the natural scenery. Named for the garden's "enjoyment together," Nariaki opened it to the public as an amusement park, setting out a pioneering idea for parks. Apart from the large pruning and stonework in front of Kobuntei, the design is centered on the natural scenery, making it very different in character from other Japanese gardens. It has been designated a national historic site and place of scenic beauty under the name Tokiwa Park.

[Shigemori Kando]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

水戸市常磐(ときわ)町にある庭園。1665年（寛文5）水戸藩2代徳川光圀(みつくに)がこの地の緑丘御殿山の地に西湖(さいこ)を設け、高枕亭(こうちんてい)をつくったのに始まる。その後170年以上たった1841年（天保12）5月中旬に、9代斉昭(なりあき)が新しく経営に着手し、翌年7月に完成した。このときに好文亭(こうぶんてい)や楽寿楼(らくじゅろう)などが設けられ、現状のようになった。もともと平庭としての眺望を目的とした風景園であるから、外景も取り入れ、千波湖(せんばこ)を庭の泉水に擬し、長堤をつくって並木を植え、梅林や竹林、楓(ふう)樹林をあつらえ、さらに箕川(みかわ)を入れて新川を設け、これにヤナギ、カエデ、ヤマブキなどを植栽して自然景観を楽しんだ。民と「偕(とも)に楽しむ」の意で名づけられたこの庭園を、斉昭は庶民の遊園として開放し、公園の先駆け的思想を打ち出した。好文亭前の大刈込みや石組(いわぐみ)以外は、自然風景を主体とした意匠で、他の日本庭園とは大いにその性格を異にしている。常磐公園の名称で国の史跡・名勝に指定されている。

［重森完途］

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