A Walk around Rikugien Gardens (Part 4) / 六儀園の散歩 （パート４）

The final splurge around Rikugien Gardens before heading off to my next destination.

次の目的地行く前に、六儀園の最後の探索。

"88 Views of Rikugien" No.44 & 45 Mizuwake-ishi (rock splitting a stream) and Makura-no-hora (the rock above that)

「六儀県八十八境」 四十四と四十五  「水分石」と「枕流洞」（しんりゅうどう・まくらのほら）

Chidori-bashi / 千鳥橋

Takimi-no-chaya / 滝見茶屋

Takimi-no-chaya: The Teahouse for Watching the Dragon is next to an arbor on a stream that runs through a gorge.  The water falls down through the rocks, sending off a spray.  From the arbor, there are good views of he Sleeping Dragon Rock and other scenes and one can hear the sound of the water.

滝見茶屋：あずまやの横を渓流が走り、岩の間から落ちて水しぶさをあげています。あずまやからは、滝や石組（水分石 / みずわけいし）などの景色や水音が楽しめます。

"88 Views of Rikugien" No.22 Garyu-seki and Horaijima

「六儀園八十八境」 二十二 臥竜石 （がりゅうせき）と蓬莱島 （ほらいじま）


Garyu-seki: This name refers to the rock half submerged in the pond that it appears to be a sleeping dragon, hence the name, "Sleeping Dragon Rock".  You can barely make it out in the picture above.

Horaijima: This is a small island in the pond made of stones, created based on a form of mysticism aimed at attaining supernatural powers.

臥竜石：龍の背のような姿を見せる石です。

蓬莱島：神仙思想を主題とした石組の一種で、典型的な洞窟石組（アーチ形）の島です。

Closer view of Horaijima / 蓬莱島

"88 Views of Rikugien" No.14 & 15 Imo-yama / Se-yama

「六儀園八十八境」 十四と十五 “妹山・背山”

Imo-yama / Se-yama: These two garden hills are located on Naka-no-shima, an island in the pond.  In former times, vernacular terms for "man" and "woman" were "se" and "imo" and the two hills are reminiscent of Izanagi and Izanami of Japan's ancient origin myth.

Another beautiful cherry blossom tree / また素敵な桜の木

"88 Views of Rikugien" No.81 & 84 Suiko-no-e and Fuyou-bashi

「六儀園八十八境」 八十一と八十四 “水香江 （すいこうのえ）”と“芙蓉橋 （ふようばし）”

And so concludes my walk of the Rikugien Gardens.  Next, I will be heading to the Kyu Furukawa Gardens.

六儀園の散歩が終了しました。次の目的地は旧古河庭園。