Tokyo / Tea Gardens 1858
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Tokyo / Tea Gardens 1858
Tokyo: tea gardens on the outskirts of the city Date: 1858
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 14291369
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This image transports us back in time to the outskirts of Tokyo in the year 1858, where tranquility and tradition intertwine amidst the bustling cityscape. The serene tea gardens, nestled among lush greenery, offer a striking contrast to the urban landscape that lies just beyond their borders. Tokyo, then known as Edo, was undergoing rapid modernization during this period. The city was transforming from a feudal samurai stronghold into a bustling metropolis, with new roads, bridges, and buildings springing up at a remarkable pace. Yet, despite this transformation, the tea gardens remained an enduring symbol of Japan's rich cultural heritage. Tea, or "cha," was an essential part of Japanese life, both for its invigorating properties and for its role in social and ceremonial gatherings. The tea gardens, or "ocha no niwa," were places where tea was grown, harvested, and prepared for consumption. The gardens were meticulously tended by skilled tea cultivators, who carefully pruned the tea bushes, shaded them from the sun, and harvested the leaves at the optimal time to ensure the highest quality tea. The gardens depicted in this photograph are likely to have been part of a larger estate, belonging to a wealthy samurai or daimyo. The tea produced here would have been used for personal consumption, as well as for gift-giving and for use in formal tea ceremonies. The gardens would have been a place of relaxation and contemplation, a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of city life. This photograph, taken in 1858, provides a rare glimpse into the past, offering us a glimpse of a time when nature and tradition were an integral part of urban life in Tokyo. It serves as a reminder of the enduring beauty and resilience of Japan's cultural heritage, even in the face of rapid modernization.
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