Features of bridges, waterfall, and streams at Rikugien Garden during the Bunka era as seen in “Yureki-Zakki”

This paper investigates the state and transformation of Rikugien Garden during the Bunka era of the Edo period (1804-1819), a phase often overlooked in existing scholarship. The primary source for this study is “Yureki-Zakki”, a detailed travel record authored by Jippoan Keijun, who visited Rikugien Garden in 1813. Through close textual analysis of this document, the research reconstructs the garden’s physical and cultural characteristics during the Bunka era. Supplementary sources, including “Enyu-Nikki” (1773-1784) and archival materials held by Rikugien, are employed to compare the garden’s condition during three key phases: its initial construction, the Bunka era, and the present day. Particular attention is paid to changes in landscape features and place names, revealing gradual modifications over time. Moreover, this study sheds light on the little-documented era between the mid-Edo period and the garden’s acquisition by the Iwasaki family in the Meiji era, a time marked by neglect and decline. The findings contribute to filling a critical historical gap and offer a refined understanding of Rikugien Garden’s evolution. This research further provides essential insights for the future conservation and restoration of the garden, underscoring its historical and cultural significance.