Senganen - Shimadzu

A last look at Senganen - Shimadzu is a museum near Senganen.

Senganen - Senjingan

In 1814, a total of 3,900 people worked for three months to complete this job. In Japan, carving letters on rocks was not common. This action is considered to imply strong influence by Chinese culture.

Senganen - Takamasu

This is equipment used to distribute water. After storage here, groundwater is supplied to the pond at the front of the residence.

Senganen

These types of buildings are called “azumaya” in Japanese, a pavilion used for resting. It was a gift presented by the Ryukyu King in the early 17^th century. The baked tiles covering the floor have the same design as those used in a Chinese palace of the 3^rd century BC.

Lion Stone Lantern Senganen

This is the largest lantern in the garden. The capping stone has an area of approximately 1820 square feet or 169 square meters, on top of which sits and imaginary lion-like animal called “shishi.”

Tin-Roofed Gate Senganen

This gate was used as the main gate until the end of the 19^th century. It is notable for its finely crafted roof, produced with coveted Kagoshima tin. In Japan, only high-ranking citizens were allowed to make vermillion-colored gates.

Birthplace of Modern Satsuma Ware

Modern Satsuma ware, called “Satsuma” and highly valued as a treasure of the Orient by westerners, has its origins at Senganen.

The lord of the Satsuma clan in the closing days of the shogunate rule, Nariakira Shimadzu, built on this sport a factory complex called “Shuseikan” based on the current western production technology. A wide variety of industries including warship building flourished here.

One aspect of this advancement was the vigorous promotion of overseas trade, which led to the need for goods to export. Through improvement of traditional production techniques, modern Satsuma ware was developed to fill this need.

Nariakir, by building the Oniwa Kiln here, employing many potters and supporting extensive research, achieved the creation of a grand and dignified style of pottery used exclusively by the lord’s family.

“Satsuma” was at onetime the common-name for ceramics made anywhere in Japan for export during and since the Meiji Period.

Senganen - The birthplace of Modern Japan and Villa of the Shimadzu Clan

In the late 12th century, Minamoto-no-Yoritomo appointed Koremune Tadahisa as manor lord of the Shimadzu-no-sho and protector of the fiefs of Satsuma, Osumi and Hyuga. He took on the name of the demesne and became the first in the Shimadzu line. The Shimadzu was allowed to rule over Ryukyu (Okinawa) during the Edo ear and reigned over southern Kyushu as a non-hereditary daimyo (lord) of the Tokugawa Shogun.

Sengan-en is the official name for Iso Garden. Shimadzu Mitsuhisa made the O-iso Shimotsu Hamakado Residence of Kamat Izumo Masachka and built his residence there in 1658.

Their main residence was the Tsurumaru Castle constructed by the order of the 18th lord of the Shimadzu lehisa at the foot of Shiroyama. The residence in Sengan-en has been succeeded as a villa of the Shimadzu clan, for generations.

Sengan-en was designated as a National Cultural Asset in 1958.

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Built in 1857 - fired 150 lb. canon balls and used in battle