Katsura Rikyu : A description

Japanese Architecture (VDA #131) is different from other regional forms of architecture by its distinct lightness (VDA #38), simplicity and refinement (VDA #58). The first image that comes to mind when one thinks of Japanese architecture is the intricate design that adorns the façade (VDA #24) of the structure. However, one such structure (VDA #53) that defies that idea is the Katsura Rikyu, a villa meant to be an abode of luxury and tranquility for its designers, Prince Hichijonomiya Toshihito and his son, Prince Toshitada.

The Katsura Rikyu, also called the Katsura Imperial Villa and the Katsura Detached Palace, was built in the 17^th century in Kyoto, Japan. One would enter the complex through the gates and come face-to-face with the villa, which consists of three main buildings, namely the “Old Shoin” (Hashimoto), “Middle Shoin” (Hashimoto) and “New Shoin” (Hashimoto) as well as the main entrance, called the “Miyuki-mon” (Hashimoto). These structures, which are made of orthogonal rooms, connected through a zigzag pattern, direct from the southeast to the northwest direction. The entire complex makes use of two main forms of Japanese architecture, the shoin (VDA #137) style and the sukia (VDA #176) style. The villa was designed based off of the principal ideas of Zen Buddhism (GHA #513), attempting to exude a feeling of tranquility, which is supposed to help during the auspicious tea ceremony. There were seven teahouses, containing rooms called “Chashitsu “(Hashimoto) designed all throughout the complex. The guests would enter these auspicious buildings through the “nijiriguchi” (Hashimoto) to perform in this important ceremony. There are also three main structures in the middle of the gardens called “Furu-shoin”, “Naka-shoin” (Hashimoto) and “Miyuki-den” (Hashimoto). On the whole, the villa is composed of several large structures with very geometric (VDA #52) organizational (VDA #53) qualities.

Materials (VDA #161) have been given a lot of importance in the Katsura Rikyu, as is important in traditional Japanese architecture. The complex was designed with natural materials such as wood (VDA #276), bamboo, stones (VDA #236) and vegetation (GHA). The villa and teahouses were designed with plastered (VDA #188) earthen (VDA #221) walls (VDA #266), giving the walls a contrast with the raw wooden post-and-beam construction (VDA #106) that constitutes the pitched (VDA #209) roof (VDA #208). The shoji (VDA #137), or movable screens in the house are made of translucent rice paper (GHA #515). On the whole, the building gives off a rustic look with the thatched (VDA #107) roof and wooden flooring (VDA #94).

The gardens within the Katsura Imperial Villa are stunning, to say the least. This complex reflects the ideas of the relationship between nature and architecture as shown in several forms of traditional Japanese architecture. Kabori Enshu, one of Japan’s most popular landscape architects (VDA #11) of his time planned out the complex. It covers over 50,000 square meters. And goes around the complex in a clockwise direction. The stones placed on the grass that seem to have been placed randomly are in fact set as footprints wandering through the compound. There are hedges with particular apertures in them that provide certain views (VDA #59) of the lake and the villa. For example, at a certain point on the path, there is a pine tree that blocks and gives importance to the view. One notices the careful balance planned out around the complex and the stones slowly change to stairs as one climbs onto the deck. Throughout the garden is a stone path that is outlined by moss, pebbles (VDA #224) and gravel (VDA #224).

The interior of the Katsura Rikyu also reflects the Zen Buddhism ideas of peace and tranquility. The villa was measured and planned the traditional way, using tatami (VDA #137) mats. The rooms are separated using sliding doors (VDA #62).

The teahouses in the complex are considered to be the most important structures in the whole imperial compound. The most important tea pavilion (VDA #24,27) at the villa is said to be the “Shokin-Tei” (Hashimoto). It is said to be a typical Japanese pavilion, and has different perspective (VDA #59, 72, 73) views from each side. What is unique about the Shokin-Tei is the door to the “Ichi-no-ma”, or first room. It has a very unique blue and white-checkered (VDA #184) pattern (VDA #53, 265) that stands out against the plain textured (VDA #52, 53) surface of the shoji screens in the shoins.

Another critical structure in the Katsura Rikyu is the “Furu Shoin” (Hashimoto), which contains a platform that extends out past the deck (VDA #93), or “engawa” (VDA #137) and is used for observing the moon.

After observing the Katsura Detached Palace, one can see how traditional Japanese Architecture was highly worked out but simple in structure, and so subtly applies Zen Buddhism and nature as architectural elements.