Houses and Gardens of Kyoto. Thomas Daniell

      LOCATION NISHIGYO-KU

       ESTABLISHED IN 1615

       BUILT FOR HACHIJONOMIYA TOSHIHITO

      Invariably described as the apotheosis of sukiya -style architecture, the buildings and gardens that make up Katsura Imperial Villa in fact display an eclectic hybrid of design approaches. The architecture juxtaposes and intermingles shoin and sukiya elements and spaces, with even a trace of the shinden style in its relationship to the garden and miniature lake. It is, of course, this very heterogeneity that defines Katsura as an exemplar of purest sukiya.

      One of two surviving Imperial villas located in Kyoto (the other is Shugakuin Imperial Villa), Katsura Imperial Villa was originally built in 1615 as a country residence for Prince Toshihito (1579–1629), a member of the Hachijonomiya family, and later expanded by his son, Prince Toshitada (1619–62). The three main buildings—Koshoin, Chushoin, and Shingoten—were built in stages, cumulatively forming a linked, diagonally stepping composition known as ganko (flying geese). As well as reducing the apparent building volume, the subtle dynamism of this arrangement enhances natural light and ventilation inside, and creates intimate relationships with the lake outside. Four unique tea houses are distributed throughout the villa grounds, and the whole comprises a picturesque kaiyushiki teien (stroll garden) around the lake. The many historical accounts of visits by members of the nobility to Katsura Imperial Villa invariably mention touring the garden by boat as well as by foot, stopping to admire the view at prescribed locations. Indeed, despite the naturalistic appearance, every part of the garden has been deliberately and precisely composed using a design technique known as miegakure, in which various elements alternately disappear and reappear in different aspects as one moves about. Undoubtedly the finest example of the integration of architecture and environment to be found in Japan, Katsura Imperial Villa’s complexities and contradictions have allowed observers to interpret it in multiple ways—during the early twentieth century several notable European architects believed they had discovered here a precursor to the modernist simplicity and functionalism they were then pursuing.

       The Shoin complex is a series of linked buildings comprising the Koshoin (Old Shoin), Chushoin (Middle Shoin), and Shingoten (New Palace). The small Gakkinoma (Music Room) is interposed between the latter two.

       The linked Shoin buildings are related to each other in a stepping composition known as ganko (flying geese), enhancing natural light and ventilation inside each one.

       Made of bamboo, the tsukimidai (moon-viewing platform) projects from the large veranda of the Koshoin and gives a superb overview of the garden.

       The east entrance to the veranda of the Koshoin, from which the tsukimidai extends toward the pond.

       The interior of Shokintei (Pine Lute Pavilion), the first tea house encountered when circumnavigating the Katsura grounds. The tea preparation area is visible on the veranda beyond.

       Shokintei is first seen across a stone slab bridge linking two islands in the pond, designed to evoke Amanohashidate, a famous scenic spot on the Japan Sea coast.

       The middle room of the oldest tea house at Katsura, Gepparo (Moon Wave Lookout), so named because its elevated location provides a view of the moon’s reflection in the pond.

       The tea preparation area on the veranda of Shokintei, containing a water basin, a hearth for heating water, and a shelf for tea utensils, all screened by a low wall of woven reeds.

       A glimpse of the famous indigo-and-white checkered pattern in the tokonoma of Shokintei..

       Shokatei (Prize Flower Pavilion) tea house has a raised floor comprising four tatami mats set in a U shape. There is a hearth for boiling water in the foreground and chigaidana (staggered shelves) for tea utensils to the rear.

       Stone paths lead up to Shokatei, which is located at the highest point in the garden.

       The entrance courtyard of the Koshoin contains an interesting combination of regular and irregular stepping stones. To the left is a stone lantern designed in the style of tea master Furuta Oribe (1543–1615).

       The rectangular strip of ishidatami stepping stones set adjacent to Sotoshikoshikake (Waiting Bench), where visitors would pause while the host was preparing tea.

       A tsuchibei fence on the perimeter of the villas grounds, surfaced in richly colored natural clay and capped with thatch held in place by pieces of bamboo.

       The entrance room and middle room of Shoiken (Laughing Mind Hut), divided by fusuma panels. The rear garden is visible through a large window, the lower sill of which is covered by a gilded velvet drape.

       A fence made of spicebush branches supported by horizontal bamboo poles extends from the Chumon (Central Gate), formerly known as the Onarikaya (Imperial Gate).

      Shugakuin Imperial Villa