Monkey Bridge - Saruhashi

Japanese: 猿橋 - さるはし

A bridge over the Katsuragawa River in Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture. It is also called "Enkyo." It is one of Japan's three rare bridges, along with Kiso Bridge and Iwakuni's Kintai Bridge. It is a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty. The bridge is built on a deep cliff eroded from lava, and is 31 meters above the water, 32 meters long, and 3.3 meters wide. It does not use a single support, but instead has four long sloping beams protruding diagonally from both banks as piers. Legend has it that in ancient times, a Baekje monk named Shirako, who came to Japan during the reign of Empress Suiko, came up with the idea of building a bridge when he saw several monkeys tied together and crossing the river. It is a 15-minute walk from Saruhashi Station on the JR Chuo Main Line.

[Tadao Yokota]

Monkey Bridge
This wooden bridge spans the Katsura River. Instead of using piers, the bridge girders rest on 24 giant trees jutting out from both banks. It is 32m long and 3.3m wide. The beauty of the structure blends in well with the beauty of the surrounding valley. It is one of the "Three Unusual Bridges of Japan." Nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty Otsuki City, Yamanashi Prefecture ©Shogakukan ">

Monkey Bridge

Hiroshige Utagawa, "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces, Saruhashi in Kai"
National Diet Library

Hiroshige Utagawa "Illustrated Guide to Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Kai Saru..."

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

山梨県大月市(おおつきし)、桂川(かつらがわ)に架かる橋。「えんきょう」ともいう。木曽(きそ)の桟(かけはし)、岩国の錦帯(きんたい)橋とともにわが国の三奇橋の一つ。国指定名勝。橋は、溶岩を侵食した深い絶壁に架けられ、水面からの高さ31メートル、長さ32メートル、幅3.3メートルあり、1本の支柱も使わず、両岸から長く斜上に突き出された四段の刎木(はねぎ)が橋脚のかわりをしている。伝説では、古代、推古(すいこ)天皇の時代に来日した、百済(くだら)僧志羅呼(しらこ)がサルが何匹もつながって川を渡るのを見て、この架橋法を思い付いたという。JR中央本線猿橋駅から徒歩15分。

［横田忠夫］

猿橋
桂川に架かる刎木橋。橋脚を用いず、両岸から突き出た24本の巨木の上に橋桁がのっている。長さ32m、幅3.3m。構造の美しさが、付近の渓谷美とよく調和している。「日本三奇橋」の一つ。国指定名勝　山梨県大月市©Shogakukan">

猿橋

歌川広重『六十余州名所図会　甲斐　さるはし』
国立国会図書館所蔵">

歌川広重『六十余州名所図会　甲斐　さる…

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