NAKAJIMA, Shunko.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Kokon Hiden: Tsukiyamatei zoho ("Secret Techniques Old and New: Tsukiyama Garden Design"). First edition of this comprehensive guide to "artificial hill" style Japanese gardens. The first volume gives examples of designs for rocks, streams, paths, lanterns, fences, and bridges, while the second volume analyses how they come together into one composition. The third volume shows real gardens from across Japan, including that of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto.According to the introduction to the 1948 reprint, "Tsukiyamatei zoho was written by garden researcher Nakashima Shunko, who based his work on Akisato Rito's Tsukiyamatei zoden, the most treasured garden design manual, as well as other books such as Ishikumi sonoo yaegakiden. He skilfully selected and edited the material, omitting redundant text and aiming for conciseness... [It] was published with all three volumes luxuriously illustrated with copper engravings".The colophon shows that this work was sold in Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, and even Ise. Gardens from the first three cities are depicted in the final volume, such as that of Kennin-ji, the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, and the Hotta Garden (then called Satake Garden) in Tokyo.We have traced only one copy outside of Japan, in the Cleveland Public Library.

• Printing: later

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