Yūbikan

The Yūbikan (有備館) is an Edo period structure located in what is now the city of Ōsaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It served as a han school for the Date clan of Sendai Domain, and is the oldest existing educational structure in Japan. The building, together with its surrounding gardens, were designated a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty in 1932.[1]

Yūbikan
有備館
Yūbikan in April 2016
Yūbikan is located in Miyagi Prefecture
Yūbikan
Yūbikan
Yūbikan is located in Japan
Yūbikan
Yūbikan (Japan)
General information
Architectural styleShoin-zukuri
LocationŌsaki, Miyagi, Japan
CountryJapan
Coordinates38°39′27″N 140°51′49″E
Inaugurated1677
Ownercity of Ōsaki

Overview

A predecessor of the Yūbikan was a han school originally constructed in 1633, within the second bailey of Iwadeyama Castle, by the second generation head of the Iwadeyama-branch of the Date clan, Date Munetoshi. Intended to serve as the domain's academy, it burned down and was rebuilt by the third generation head, Date Toshichika and was named Shungakukan (春学館). It was relocated to its present location in 1691 and was renamed ‘'Yūbikan.

The building is in the shoin-zukuri style of architecture, with a single story, plain wooden walls, and a thatched roof.[2] After the Meiji restoration, a part of the building was renovated, but the original style remained unchanged. Repairs were made again in 1974.

The gardens were constructed by the Date clan's tea master Shimizu Dokan, under the fourth generation head, Date Murayasu in 1715. The garden is a walk-around garden containing a pond with a circumference of about 500meters, and employs the backdrop of the ruins of Iwadeyama Castle for borrowing of scenery ("shakkei").[3] It is rare example of a daimyō garden in the Tōhoku region.

The Yūbikan and its gardens remained property of the Date clan until 1970, when it was donated to the town of Iwadeyama, which later became part of the city of Ōsaki.[4]

The Yūbikan main structure was severely damaged in the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, during which 30 of its 33 supporting columns were damaged, causing the roof to collapse. Landslides also damaged parts of the gardens The building and its gardens were repaired and reopened to the public in 2016.[4]

It is a short walk from Yūbikan Station on the JR East Rikuu East Line.

See also

References
  1. "旧有備館および庭園". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  2. "Cultural Property in Miyagi". Miyagi Prefectural Government. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. "Yūbikan - Gardens" (in Japanese). Miyagi Prefecture. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
  4. "Miyagi Prefecture - Monuments" (in Japanese). Ōsaki City. Retrieved 8 August 2017.
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