Wikipedia

Shinobazu Pond

TheShinobazu Pond(Không đành lòngTrì,Shinobazu no Ike)is a pond withinUeno Park(a spacious public park located in theUenosection ofTaitō, Tokyo,Japan), and a historically prominentShitamachifeature often appearing in history and works of art. The park occupies the site of the formerKan'ei-ji,a temple closely associated with theTokugawashōguns,who had built it to guardEdo Castleagainst the northeast, a direction believed to be unlucky by traditionalgeomancy.The temple was destroyed during theBoshin War.The pond, although modified many times and even once drained, is natural.

Shinobazu Pond and Benten-dō Temple, Tokyo

Position and Dimensions

edit
The Shinobazu Pond and its subdivisions

Situated in the south of Ueno Park, the pond is divided in three sections (see map), one called Lotus Pond(Liên の trì,Hasu no Ike)because of the plants that during the summer completely cover its surface, one called Boat Pond(ボート の trì,Bōto no Ike)from the rental boats it hosts, and the third called Cormorant Pond(Đề の trì,U no Ike),which lies within the limits of theUeno Zooand takes its name from the birds that inhabit it.

The pond has a circumference of about 2 km and a surface of about 1,100,000m2.To the north it borders with the Ueno Zoo, to the east withKeisei Ueno Station,to the south and to the west with Shinobazu Dori. At its center liesBenten Island(Biện thiên đảo,Benten-jima)on which stands theBenten-dō(Biện thiên đường),a temple dedicated to the goddessBenzaiten.

The park is divided in three parts by two promenades.

Name Surface (10,000m2) Average Depth (cm) Water volume (1000m3)
Boat Pond 30 86 26
Lotus Pond 55 84 46
Cormorant Pond 25 92 23

Origin of the name

edit

According to the stone inscription on Benten Island, the area between the Ueno Plateau and the Hongo Plateau used to be calledShinobugaoka(Nhẫn ヶ khâu),and the pond just took its name from it, but there are alternative theories. According to one, the early nameShinowazu(Tiêu luân tân,Shino wa zu)due to the presence of bamboo grass later turned into Shinobazu. Another claims the name comes from the habit of young men and women to meet secretly here.

History and Changes

edit
A woodblock print byUtagawa Hiroshigeshowing on the right half the pond and the Benten-dō (Edo period,Tenpō11 (about 1840))

In theJōmon periodthe entire place used to be just a cove ofTokyo Bay.Later, some centuries into theCommon Era,the sea withdrew, leaving behind extensive marshes that covered most of the oldShitamachi.The pond is what remains of those marshes. We know that by the 15th Century the present name was already in use.

In 1625 theEdo shogunatehad theKan'ei-jibuilt here as a counterpart toHieizan'sEnryakujiin West Japan. The temple's founder Jigen Daishi (Tenkai), likingLake Biwa,had Benten Island built in imitation of Chikubushima, and then the Bentendo on it. At the time the island was accessible only by boat, but later a stone bridge was added on the east, making it possible to walk to it.

The pond's shape until the beginning of theMeiji Erawas very different from now, in particular the northern part where the Ueno Zoo is, which was much wider. At the time, the Aiz Omega wa flowed into it. In 1884 however, a cooperative horse racing company, wanting to open a racing track, had the pond partly filled, bringing it to the present shape and size. The first horse race took place in the November of the same year in the presence of theEmperor,and until 1892 races took place every spring and summer.

In 1907 theKangetsukyō Bridge(Quan nguyệt kiều,Kangetsukyō)was built toward the west in occasion of the Tokyo Industrial Fair, making it possible to walk across the whole pond. In 1929 more work divided the pond in four distinct parts. The boat rental business, which continues to the present day, was started in 1939. Today's Cormorants Pond is the result of the fusion of two of those four sections.

During the Pacific War water was pumped out and the pond divided into rice paddies (the so-calledShinobazu Tanbo(Không đành lòng điền phố,Shinobazu tanbo).There was later, among others, a plan to build a baseball field on it, but in 1949 it was decided to return the pond to its original form which we still see today.

In September 1967 a hole was opened by accident in the pond during the construction ofTokyo Metro Chiyoda Line,and approximately 30 thousand tons of water flowed away.

In the years between 1990 and 1994, the city authorities installed water purification equipment.

Nature

edit

Birds

edit

The pond hosts several dozens of types of migratory and stationary birds, whose number at times is over ten thousand. Among them particularly numerous aretufted ducks,pochard,andnorthern pintails.

Fish

edit

The pond contains numerous species of fish.

Plants

edit

The lotuses of Lotus Pond, fully grown in summer, cover the entire surface of the water, hiding it almost completely.

Water lilies at Shinobazu Pond

Other Fauna

edit

In June 2006,alligator snapping turtles,which are a non-native species, were found in the pond, and there is the possibility that they are breeding. Since then, authorities have posted warnings against alligator snapping turtles and snapping turtles.

Famous Literary Works That Mention The Pond

edit

Nearby Places of Interest

edit
Boats in Shinobazu Pond

Access

edit

Other information

edit
  • The area around the pond used to be theMeccaof Tokyo'shomeless,but in 2006 the area was cordoned off and the homeless sent away.
  • In the video gameShin Megami Tensei IVthe player's party encounter and kill a powerful demon in the pond.

References

edit
  • Archive Material and Leaflet from the Shitamachi Museum

This article is a translation of the articleKhông đành lòng trìof Japanese Wikipedia accessed in January 2008. The references above quoted are those of the original article.

Some material also taken from the following source:

edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related toShinobazu Pond.

35°42′41″N139°46′12″E/ 35.71139°N 139.77000°E/35.71139; 139.77000

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shinobazu_Pond&oldid=1258945946"