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Text from the book:
Katsura Imperial Villa was constructed during the early part of the 17th century on ancestral land. Prince Toshihito, the first head of the Hachijo family, commissioned the project.
At a very early age, Prince Toshihito excelled in literature and was very familiar with Tale of Genji, written in the 11th century and considered the first modern novel. A passage from Tale of Ginji included “Far away in the country village of Katsura, the reflection of the moon upon the water is clear and tranquil.” He used this passage and others to inspire the direction of the villa and grounds. He did not have the resources to construct the grand villa we see today; one early reference described it as a “tea house in a watermelon patch.” Old Shoin and gardens were completed around 1615. It was in reality a refined villa reflecting Toshihito’s taste and appreciation of simplicity. His classical education inspired the creation of Katsura as a place of harmony for the arts to flower.
At the time of Toshihito’s death, his son, Toshitada, was 10 years old and made little use of the villa and garden. The Katsura was allowed to decline. Eventually, Prince Toshitada grew to share the same interests as his father. Upon his marriage to Lady Fuhime of the Kaga clan, resources were available to complete the architectural elements and the garden in 1662.
Prince Toshihito and his son had the innate artistic refinement and sensitivity to direct the creation of Katsura. This and the help of design professionals and skilled workmen resulted in the structures and garden we see today.
The total area of the garden is approximately 69,000 sq. meters (approximately 16 acres). In the middle of the grounds is a lake with several islands. The shoreline meanders creating unexpected inlets and coves. The main villa is placed with a commanding view of the lake. Rustic tea houses offer unique views. Wooden bridges covered with earth and paved with stone and stone-slab bridges all contribute to a remarkable garden experience. There are dramatic elevation changes presenting many different vistas. Many special arrangements in the garden are gems of Japanese aesthetic principles.
Katsura is the earliest known stroll garden. A visitor is invited to walk along a pre-determined route where unexpected vistas are controlled by the placement of trees, plants and shrubs. The arrangement of the stepping-stones control movement through the garden. When a visitor pauses and looks up, another vista unfolds. This offers meditation and produces a sense of inner peace. Movement along the route is designed with a body of water always on the viewer’s right. There is no principal viewpoint as with dry rock gardens. Instead, it is an unfolding drama experienced through time. The whole must be experienced to appreciate the beauty.
Katsura is the model for all noble landscapes in the Edo period (1603 – 1868). It was created for nobility to pursue expressions of their interests. The arts of the tea ceremony, poetry, calligraphy, music performance and moon viewing are all elements played on a theatrical stage created for the pleasure and entertainment of nobility.
The visitor today is allowed to view the garden during a tour conducted by members of the staff of the Imperial Household Agency. The tour is completed in about an hour.
The experience gives one a sense of the spirit that created such a remarkable place. The five scrolls in this container offer different aspects of the visitor’s walk. They were assembled after several visits to the garden and time spent learning about the sequence of events in those quiet moments without people.