Autumn leaves by Kasumiga-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

Against the brilliant afternoon sunlight, the autumn leaves are shining like the clouds of dazzling flames on the small artificial island called "Horai-jima (Mount-Penglai island)" floating in the center of "Kasumiga-ike pond (misty pond)." Horai-jima is the enchanted land of perpetual youth from Chinese mythology.

The evergreen needles of the red pines are quietly surrounding the maple leaves, and the moss-covered stone arrangement on the island is modestly accentuating the vivid, fiery hues of the autumn foliage.

The chilly, northern wind will soon fade these radiant leaves, causing them to scatter bit by bit. Finally, their flaming colors will be extinguished completely by the long, gloomy winter coming on.

Autumn leaves, with their vivid display of peak color followed by the inevitable fall, have long been regarded as a symbol of "Mono no aware" (the pathos of nature) in the traditional Japanese sense of beauty.

This ephemeral beauty deeply resonates with the Japanese perception of impermanence, in which the most splendid moments of our loves and lives always include the beginning of final decline.

Autumn leaves by Kasumiga-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

A late autumn breeze is gently ruffling the calm surface of the beautiful pond, creating tiny, shimmering ripples that are spreading across the water without disturbing its graceful calmness. 

The autumn leaves are gradually scattering and falling around the base of the trees, continuing to color the faded ground as if to weave a thick crimson carpet for the freezing winter.

Whereas cherry blossoms represent an explosion of life that blooms all at once and falls all together in spring, autumn leaves are often perceived as the perfected, mature beauty that gracefully appears and quietly fades away at the last moment.

Leaving behind faint, beautiful memories, the seasons are changing hurriedly. Beneath winter's cold sky, I will surely recall with nostalgia the blazing colors of such autumn leaves.

Autumn leaves by Kasumiga-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

When the vibrant autumn leaves finish scattering, a harsh, long winter must arrive here as always.

On the edge of the pond, as if to cherish the last remnants of late autumn, the maple leaves are vying with each other for flaming colors. The vermilion reflection of the leaves is sparkling faintly on the pond surface rippled by a chilly north wind.

"Yuki-tsuri" (snow hanging) ropes have already been attached from the top of an old black-pine tree to the lower branches to prevent their breaking under heavy snow during the long snowfall season.

The winter season of Kanazawa City is the unique combination of coldness, snow, and heavy skies, which is characteristic of the Sea of Japan coast.

Kanazawa City in winter is known for its extremely few sunny days. Clouds hang low, and rain or sleet falls intermittently. This “gloomy semidarkness” is said to create a psychological harshness and endurance. But this very harshness has nurtured the unique aesthetic sensibility of this old northern city.

The beauty of preparedness and endurance, which is symbolized by the snow-hanging ropes, has mothered the unique, traditional culture, like lacquerware, Kutani-ware porcelain, gold leaf, and Kaga-yuzen textiles, that stands out against the winter darkness.

Autumn leaves of Horaijima island: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves by Kasumiga-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves by Kasumiga-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden: Kanazawa-city

Autumn leaves by Kasumiga-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden: Kanazawa-shi

 

Autumn leaves around the fountain of Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

Kenroku-en is a garden of flowing water, where various watercourses, together with diverse plantings and stone arrangements, create the unique scenery of this historic Daimyo garden.

Abundant water drawn from the Saigawa River through the Tatsumi-yousui Canal is stored in Kasumiga-ike pond of this garden. This water then flows through underground channels and is spouted high into the air from this Japan's oldest fountain by utilizing the garden's natural difference of elevation. 

A teahouse once stood before this fountain, where the feudal lords of the Maeda family are said to have enjoyed tea ceremonies while admiring their treasured fountain throughout the changing seasons.

Autumn leaves around Midori-taki fall: Kenrokuen garden: Kanazawa-shi

The winding stream that has quietly flowed through the garden becomes a small artificial waterfall called Midori-taki (green falls), gently cascading into Hisago-ike (gourd-shaped pond) with a soft, continuous murmur.

Autumn leaves, which are dyed in vivid shades, gather around the waterfall as if embracing it, cherishing this modest cascade, while anticipating the swift passage of the seasons and adorning the final moments of late autumn.

Streaming water never stops and never retains the same form. It is always changing, yet remains water. In Japanese tradition, flowing water symbolizes the impermanence of this universe (Mujo), that is to say, the truth that all things must keep changing ceaselessly and freely.

Autumn leaves by Hisago-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves by Hisago-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves by Hisago-ike pond: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves of Yamazaki-yama: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves of Yamazaki-yama: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves of Yamazaki-yama: Kenroku-en garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

Autumn leaves of Yamazaki-yama: Kenrokuen garden (Kanazawa-city)

Autumnal tints: Kencho-ji

Just before the arrival of pale cold winter, being stimulated by a sudden drop in temperature, the various green leaves of deciduous trees are hurriedly becoming dyed in vivid hues of flame, creating a dazzling mosaic of autumnal tints.

The stone monument of Kanzan and Jittoku, which was donated by Kanzan-ji Temple in Suzhou of China, is standing still in this grove. These legendary Chinese Zen monks of Tang Dynasty, whose legends symbolize the eccentric spirit of Zen, seem to be enjoying this autumn-colored extravaganza, dancing with great glee and laughing uproariously.

As if to compete with the autumn leaves for beauty, the bright magenta flowers of Kantsubaki (Camellia in the Winter) are coming into full bloom and adding another graceful colors to this late-autumn spectacle.

Autumnal tints: Kencho-ji

The rapid fall of air temperature gives rise to the exquisite chemistry of deciduous trees for drying their leaves and letting them wear bright autumn colors before scattering.

This transformation makes it possible for these trees to endure cold winter and to revive in next spring.

The world is continuing to change ceaselessly moment by moment. We can sense this law of nature by noticing the various transformations of all living things that appear in the rapid changing of the seasons.

The autumn leaves, dyed in vivid flame colors, are glowing brilliantly in the afternoon sunlight that is beginning to tilt. The greenish-blue copper roof of the temple building is accentuating these blazing colors gently.

Autumnal tints: Kencho-ji

The bright yellow flowers of Tsuwabuki (Japanese silver leaf) are in full bloom against the flaming autumn leaves. These flowers bloom from late fall to early winter, and appear to be eagerly resisting the unavoidable loss of lively colors before wintry desolation deepens rapidly in this garden. 

This garden plant has long been popular as a plant that adorns gardens all year round, not only for its flowers which vividly bloom in late fall, but also for its evergreen variegated leaves.

Autumnal tints: Kencho-ji

The bamboo grove has stopped their vigorous growth and is quieting down in anticipation of the arrival of cold winter. The sudden drop in temperature is causing the deciduous leaves to flare up brightly before their falling.

Just like the glory of the sunset above the sea, this dazzling scene of late autumn can only be seen for a very short period of time. Soon, the cold winter winds must cause these autumnal tints to disappear one after another in the blink of an eye.