Katsura Imperial Villa

Katsura Imperial Villa

Lawrence Technological University

September 4, 2015

Kobori, Enshū

O’Connor, Thomas (photograph)

Japanese

Single Built Works

April, 1972

Japan (nation)

Kyoto (inhabited place)

Edo (Japanese Migration style or period)

Shoin

footpaths

villas

View of footpath to stone bridge leading to the Shokin-tei (tea house) at Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto, Japan, with water in foreground. "Katsura was built in the 17th century, but its origins extend back to the Heian Era a thousand years ago, when Kyoto was known as Heian-Kyo. Around 978 a woman wrote the first novel in recorded history, the Tale of Genji, which chronicles the life of an ideal courtier and his romantic liaisons around the capital. The book gained enormous popularity through the centuries, becoming standard among the 17th century aristocracy. At that time the Togukawa Shogunate was busy consolidating its power, arrogating political control to itself at the expense of the nobles. To keep the aristocracy entertained and out of trouble, the Shogunate encouraged the nobles to pursue lives of cultivated leisure. Blocked from political participation, both the aristocracy and the Emperor diverted themselves with cultural pastimes: poetry, painting, calligraphy, tea, etc., etc.,"--Asian Historical Architecture website.

stone (worked rock)

jpeg

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LTU-TOJ-932