Kanazawa｜From Lotus Pond Garden to Kenrokuen Garden: The Kaga Domain lords’ “immortal thoughts” of rockery and ponds

Kanazawa Kenrokuen, one of the three famous gardens, covers an area of ​​nearly 12 hectares. In 1676, the fifth lord of Kaga Domain, Maeda Tsunari, moved the office built on the slope into Kanazawa Castle and built a private residence, Lianchi Garden. For nearly a hundred years, it was a "private guesthouse" for successive lords to entertain guests. It was destroyed by a fire in 1759, but the tenth feudal lord rebuilt Lianchi Pavilion in time for its centenary. The origin of the name Jianliu Garden is related to the Records of Famous Gardens in Luoyang by Li Gefei, a poet of the Song Dynasty: Those that are grand and large are less secluded and profound; those that are more powerful than human efforts are less ancient; those that have many springs are difficult to see from. The only place that has all these six is ​​the Lake Garden. The purpose of creating a strolling spring garden with grandeur, profoundness, human power, antiquity, springs and views was to name it Kenrokuen by the lord of Shirakawa Domain, Matsudaira Sadanobu. Not only is the name influenced by China, but the pursuit of longevity and immortality is also similar to China. The pond water is regarded as the sea, there is an island in the sea, and there are immortals on the island, to pray for longevity and family prosperity. The lord of Kenen Domain, Maeda Tsunaki, built three fairy islands, Penglai, Houjo and Yingzhou, in Hyo Pond. The thirteenth lord of the domain built Penglai Island in Kasumiga Pond. In the end, power was returned to the hands of the emperor, and the Kaga domain was passed down for only fourteen generations. Different from Kairakuen with its graceful plum blossom forest and Korakuen with its dreamy fusion of rock, mountains and water, Kenrokuen was influenced by China, with pine forests, mountains and water reflecting each other to present a landscape painting. It was not until 1874 that Kenrokuen was opened to the public, allowing the general public to experience the Hyakumangoku Garden. #2月好地方2025