Chris Wilson
Sakuteiki
A thousand years ago a court noble wrote the first guide to the philosophy of creating a Japanese garden. Called Sakuteiki or Records of Garden Making, it is the oldest known gardening manual in the world.
In todays Japan where ultra futuristic design sits next to buildings that have stood for two thousand years the people have retained a deep affinity to gardening yet with so little private outdoor space the gardens they produce are the antitheses to the formal creations of sakuteiki, yet their creators and owners are no less proud of them.
The gardens they create are gloriously eclectic affairs made from polystyrene containers that once held fresh fish, speakers and radios, yogurt pots on string to a vast array of plastics containers all displayed on what is often a mere twelve inch strip in front of their property.
One of the joys of capturing these images has been the conversations with people who are so pleased that someone has taken an interest in what they are growing.
Sakuteiki is part of an extended project on aspects of everyday life in Japan.
photos : copyright Chris Wilson
A thousand years ago a court noble wrote the first guide to the philosophy of creating a Japanese garden. Called Sakuteiki or Records of Garden Making, it is the oldest known gardening manual in the world.
In todays Japan where ultra futuristic design sits next to buildings that have stood for two thousand years the people have retained a deep affinity to gardening yet with so little private outdoor space the gardens they produce are the antitheses to the formal creations of sakuteiki, yet their creators and owners are no less proud of them.
The gardens they create are gloriously eclectic affairs made from polystyrene containers that once held fresh fish, speakers and radios, yogurt pots on string to a vast array of plastics containers all displayed on what is often a mere twelve inch strip in front of their property.
One of the joys of capturing these images has been the conversations with people who are so pleased that someone has taken an interest in what they are growing.
Sakuteiki is part of an extended project on aspects of everyday life in Japan.
photos : copyright Chris Wilson
