ishibashi　石橋

KEY WORD :　architecture / gardens

Lit. stone bridge. A general term for a garden bridge made of stones, typically granite or schist. Ishibashi may be made of cut stones *kiri-ishibashi 切石橋 or stones left in their natural state. They may be functional or purely decorative and they may span water or may cross the dry stream *karenagare 枯流 of a dry landscape *karesansui 枯山水 garden. In the Heian period, large, arched bridges of cut stones were used primarily for functional purposes. In the Muromachi period, the rise of aesthetic values derived from Chinese Sung dynasty culture led to the use of uncut stones in one, two and three plank bridges in pond and stream gardens *chisen kaiyuushiki teien 池泉回遊式庭園. Good examples can be seen in the dry gardens at Tenryuuji 天竜寺 and Jishouji 慈照寺, Kyoto. In dry gardens such as the Taizouin 退蔵院 at Myoushinji 妙心寺 and Daisen-in 大仙院 at Daitokuji 大徳寺, Kyoto, smaller uncut stones were used as "bridges" to increase the illusion of a dry stream "flowing" beneath them. In the large and visually powerful gardens of the Momoyama period, large cut and uncut stones were frequently used in both pond gardens; Ni-no-maru 二の丸 at Nijoujou 二条城 and Sanbouin 三宝院 at Daigoji 醍醐寺, Kyoto, and in dry gardens; Nishihonganji 本願寺, Kyoto and Kyuu Tokushimajou Omotegoten teien 旧徳島城表御殿庭園 at Tokushima prefecture. In the Edo period traditional ishibashi continued to be used, but some innovations can also be seen. For instance, at Kenrokuen 兼六園 in Ishikawa prefecture, a stone bridge is arranged so as to suggest a flock of geese flying in formation. Or, at Sentou Gosho 仙洞御所 in Kyoto, there is frequent mixing of cut and uncut stones in the many bridges.

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