engetsukyou　円月橋
KEY WORD :　architecture / gardens
　
Lit. full moon bridge. A semi-circular garden bridge that, when reflected in the water below, presents the circular appearance of the full moon. Sometimes the characters 偃月橋 (half moon bridge) are used to indicate the semi-circular shape of the bridge. An engetsukyou may be built of stone or wood, but in either case because of the difficulty of crossing over them, they usually have handrails and steps. The style, introduced from China, was utilized in Heian period, shinden style gardens *shinden-zukuri teien 寝殿造庭園 and resurrected in Edo period pond stroll gardens *chisen kaiyuushiki teien 池泉回遊式庭園. When two arches are employed, it is called a meganebashi 眼鏡橋 (spectacles bridge). A good example is found at Koishikawa Kourakuen 小石川後楽園, Tokyo.
　

Koishikawa Kourakuen 小石川後楽園 (Tokyo)

　
REFERENCES:
　
EXTERNAL LINKS: 
　　
NOTES: 
　

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission.
掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。