Who built the Katsura Imperial Villa?
Constructed during the early and mid-seventeenth century by Toshihito Shinno and Toshitada Shinno, the first and second generations of the Hachijo-no-Miya family, Katsura Imperial Villa features what is said to be the most beautiful Japanese garden. View a map of the Imperial Palace Grounds.
Where is the Katsura Imperial Villa located?
Kyōto
Katsura Imperial Villa, Japanese Katsura Rikyū, group of buildings located in the southwest suburbs of Kyōto, Japan. The complex was originally built as a princely estate in the early 17th century and lies on the bank of the Katsura River, which supplies the water for its ponds and streams.
What was the Katsura Imperial Villa used for?
Katsura Imperial Villa (桂離宮, Katsura Rikyū) is one of the finest examples of Japanese architecture and garden design. The villa and garden in their present form were completed in 1645 as the residence for the Katsura Family, members of Japan’s Imperial Family. Visiting Katsura Imperial Villa requires joining a tour.
Why was the Katsura Imperial Villa built?
It was built as a villa/retreat in the Western part of Kyoto for imperial families during the Edo period. It is believed that the construction started sometime in the late 16th century, and the current layout was completed by the early 17th century.
What is the meaning of Katsura?
noun. 1An ornamental East Asian tree which has leaves that resemble those of the Judas tree and light, fine-grained timber. Cercidiphyllum japonicum, the only member of the family Cercidiphyllaceae.
What is Katsura Imperial Villa relationship to tea?
The grounds of the villa are regarded as a notable exemplar of traditional Japanese gardening. Tea ceremony houses within the strolling gardens and the main villa itself are all sited to maximize appreciation of varied foliage and changing seasonal vistas.
Which cultural tradition was important to the founding of Katsura Imperial Villa?
Connections to traditional Japanese and Buddhist ideas. The Katsura Imperial Villa is a good example of the essence of Japanese traditional design. The Villa combines principles usually used in early Shinto shrines and merges it with the esthetics and philosophy of Zen Buddhism.
What does Zura mean Japanese?
mask, face, features, surface.
What does the name Katsura mean?
Meaning & History This name is used as 桂 (kei, katsura) meaning “Japanese Judas-tree” (unisex) or 葛 (kachi, katsu, kuzu, tsudzura, katsura) meaning “arrowroot, kudzu” (feminine).
Where is the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto?
Katsura Imperial Villa is a former princely residence of the Hachijo family, located in the southwest part of Kyoto’s city center. Classified as an “Important Cultural Good of Japan,” this house-garden has been a source of inspiration and architects study it as an example since the 20th century.
Where is Katsura Rikyu station in Kyoto Japan?
Katsura Rikyu is located in western Kyoto, a 15 minute walk from Katsura Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.
Is it possible to go to Katsura in Japan?
Katsura’s prestige is not lost on contemporary Japan. Unlike most of historic Kyoto, the government tightly controls access to Katsura. Special permission to visit must be obtained in advance through the Imperial Household Agency, the office in charge of the Emperor’s affairs.
Who was the architect of the Katsura Palace?
The Katsura palace (Katsura Rikyū) is a pivotal work of Japanese Architecture, often described as the “quintessence of Japanese taste.” First revealed to the world by Bruno Taut, the great German architect, in the early twentieth century, Katsura stunned the architectural community of the West.
