THE 200-YEAR CRAFTSMAN - Preserving Cultural Heritage and Garden Craftsmanship in Kyoto, Japan.

Abstract

This thesis cover the process and results of a case study that was made in Kyoto, Japan in 2019. The intention is to produce an example of how cultural heritage preservation in a culturally important garden might be conducted, with focus on knowledge preserving and sharing. Research on cultural heritage in gardens is a relatively new field, and material accessible in English on Japanese preservation efforts is especially scarce. This thesis aims to aid in this issue. The study was conducted with the assistance of Kyoto-based garden landscaping company Ueyakato Landscape Co., LTD., and covers the work that they do at the National Place of Scenic Beauty-garden Murin-an. Ueyakato Landscape has multiple ongoing cultural preservation works and have over their almost 200-year history as a company developed certain methods to preserve their craftsmanship and knowledge.

The survey was done through a combination of literal studies, participation-based research where the author took part in a three-day work experience at Murin-an, as well as interviews with the CEO of Ueyakato Landscape and the head gardener of Murin-an. The thesis concludes with a discussion of the researched methods, and brings to light some of the similarities and differences between Ueyakato’s approach and the historical preservation that is carried out in Sweden. The thesis highlights and presents multiple elaborate and extensive systems that are in place to share and develop knowledge of garden crafts at Ueyakato and Murin-an Garden, and reflects on the logistics and background on said systems. While many of the efforts are carried out by Ueyakato, it is also revealed that there is an intricate ongoing triangular relationship between the Cultural ministry of Japan, Kyoto City and Ueyakato Landscape that deeply affects Murin-an garden and the efforts that are done there to bring public awareness of its historical values.