Murin-an

Murin-an
Murin-an
Murin-an (無鄰菴)
	Garden of Murin-an with the Higashiyama in the background
Type	Japanese garden
Location	Kyoto, Japan
Coordinates	35°00′42″N 135°47′14″E / 35.0116°N 135.7872°E
Created	1894

Murin-an (無鄰菴) is a

Meiji Period

.

History

Gensui Prince Yamagata Aritomo (1838-1922) was an important figure in the politics and military affairs of the Meiji Period. Born into an old samurai family and devoted to military affairs, he traveled to Europe in 1869 as part of a delegation of experts to study the Prussian Army, and when he returned he helped re-organize the Imperial Japanese Army on the Prussian model. He became Minister of War in 1873, and was twice Prime Minister of Japan, from 1889 to 1891 and from 1898 to 1900.

The completion in 1890 of the

Ogawa Jihei (1860-1933), also known as Ueji, who had built the garden of the recreated Kyoto Imperial Palace nearby.^[2] In addition to the garden, he built a tea house, a traditional Japanese house, and a modern western-style house, complete with a lawn in the English style, added in 1898.^[3]

Description

The garden is sited on the slopes of the Higashiyama Hills, and has a source of water by a canal from Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, which feeds a shallow artificial stream, with a triple waterfall which runs through the garden. The garden covers 3135 square meters^[4] and features contrasts between shady forests and sunlit open spaces, and a long promenade to see the different sights of the garden, including many views of the Higashiyama Hills.^[5]