岩波新书精选03: 京都

Kyoto is a living "history of Japan." No other city in Japan is as imbued with the vicissitudes and imprints of history as Kyoto. Wandering through Kyoto's streets and alleys, we can see the Heian aristocrats' yearning for the Tang Dynasty in the chessboard-like city layout, and discover traces of "The Tale of the Heike" in Rokuhara; turning a corner, we find the origins of tea ceremony and flower arrangement in the tea rooms of Ginkaku-ji Temple; and at Daigo-ji Temple, under the cherry blossom trees, linger the unfulfilled dreams of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Shrines, temples, gardens, and springs – the beauty of Kyoto lies not only in its scenic splendor but also in its profound history. Dividing space by time, and revealing time through space, we can explore different histories in different places. Professor Tatsusaburo Hayashiya of Kyoto University, with his familiarity and expertise in Kyoto, interprets the ancient capital, offering a glimpse into the history of a nation through one city.