Also
called hanchi 畔池 written with the character ばん池, to indicate a 'halved
pond'. Lit. levee pond. A type of garden pond divided into halves by a
bridge, and often a central island, nakajima 中島. Banchi are
often used in temple gardens, placed between the gate and the main hall
to provide a symbolic approach over water. Large-scale banchi with
wooden bridges and earthen islands are found at Moutsuuji 毛越寺 in Iwate prefecture, and Eihouji 永保寺 in Gifu prefecture. More
common are the smaller banchi with stone bridges traversing shallow
thaks as found at Myoushinji 妙心寺 and Tenryuuji 天龍寺 in Kyoto. Banchi,
likely Chinese in origin, were introduced to Japan in the Heian period.
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