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 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.

Fallen leaves: Kenroku-en garden (Kanazawa-city)

 

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 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)

Cherry blossoms: Kenroku-en Garden (Kanazawa-city)

In this Kenrokuen Garden, the Sakura (Somei-yoshino) trees, which have been quietly growing in the shadow of the evergreen pine trees, are now stimulated by the arrival of the bright spring sunlight and are wholeheartedly blooming all over the place.

The vivid cherry blossoms in full bloom are reflected on the water surface of the Kyokusui (winding stream) which is flowing ceaselessly like the passage of time.

Soon, at the end of their lives, the cherry blossoms will immediately begin to scatter in unison and their pale pink petals float and flow on the calm surface of the Kyokusui stream, as the graceful gift from this beautiful springtime which must leave in a hurry. 

Cherry blossoms: Kenroku-en Garden (Kanazawa-city)

Under the vivid blue sky, the drooping slender branches of the old weeping cherry tree are bearing countless pale-pink blossoms, which are shining brightly in the spring sunlight while shaking in the soft breeze. 

I wonder how many springs this old cherry tree has welcomed quietly and joyfully to blossom in such a marvelous manner.  

 

Cherry blossoms: Kenroku-en Garden (Kanazawa-city)

The pale blossoms of Somei-yoshino are floating over the tranquil surface of the Kyokusui stream like graceful auspicious clouds. 

Although Somei-yoshino is especially popular for Hanami (flower viewing) of spring in Japan, sadly its flowering period is very brief. Their blossoms must scatter hurriedly within about one week after their full bloom. 

They are initially pale pink, but, as the end of their lives approaches, they gradually lose their freshness of colors and become dull white just before falling like sudden snow simultaneously.

Such transitoriness of the blossoms seems to be harmonious with the quietly flowing water of the winding stream, which reminds us of the ephemeral and swift changes of this world.

Cherry blossoms: Kenroku-en Garden (Kanazawa-city)

Kyokusui streams are the groundwork of the elegant landscape of this Kenrokuen Garden, which may be called "the garden of flowing water." 

The shallow, winding streams slowly weave through the mossy ground and exquisite rock works like the flowing handwriting of an ancient calligrapher.

The water of these streams is taken from the upper reaches of the Saigawa River and flows into this magnificent Kasumiga-ike Pond (misty pond) through the Tatsumi-yosui (southeast waterworks). This abundance of water flows into the fountain, streams, waterfalls and small ponds, all of which elegantly decorate this peaceful green garden.

Cherry blossoms: Kenroku-en Garden (Kanazawa-city)

In front of the red gate of Seison-kaku Pavilion.

Old black pine trees and Someiyoshino cherry blossoms.