Japanese builders of the Garden.” As Shizue and
Julie say in their introduction, the article collection
enriches our understanding of the builders’
vision, talent and care in the Garden’s creation
and continuation.
Asked what they learned from their work on
the project, Julie says “Our translations reveal
the courage and stature of the people engaged
in the gift of the Garden—from the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs to the Metropolitan Tokyo
Green Spaces Division. They drew from the best
historic garden designs in Kyoto and Tokyo, and
embraced the adventure of making a beautiful,
spirit-infused garden in a different country.”
Says Shizue, “I also learned the particulars of
Japanese garden building. Nothing is left to
chance. Rocks, trees, shrubs, ground covers...
they are all carefully selected.”
Julie and Shizue hope to publish the collection
soon in print and/or digital form. Keep an eye out
for updates on the Seattle Japanese Garden blog.
Following are excerpts from three of the articles,
one each from Inoshita, Iida and Kitamura.
. . . . . .
Outline of Scenic Beauty
The south end of the garden site is connected
to the hill, so make this area like a mountainous
region where conifers grow thick as in the deep
forest. From within the forest, an existing stream
and prospective short stream flow out. Where the
two streams meet, the tea house stands. Make this
scenic spot a place of yusui kanga, tranquil beauty.
Near the tea house, the forest becomes a
plateau. The stream flows over the bank, coursing
into the mizu’umi, lake. Here and there the
lake edge is vertical, and changes to a cape,
cobble beach or sandy beach. The north shore
features implied houses. [To the west] behind a
tsukimidai, moon viewing platform, a cultivated
area becomes an orchard with plum and cherry
Site plan included in Jūki Iida’s 1974 article in the publication "Niwa."
Summer 2020 v 9