2020 NO.29
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The Ties Binding the Heart of Japan
The Beauty of Knots, Refined by Unique Techniques
Bamboo fence knots
The Kenninji fence, named after a temple in Kyoto that is famous for its exquisite gardens and bamboo fencing. It provides isolation from the outside bustle, creating a tranquil space.
Hada Tamiki of Hada Zoen, one of the few landscapers today who has preserved the tradition of bamboo fence making techniques. His work includes the restoration and maintenance of Japanese gardens with historical significance. When making bamboo fences, he methodically places the vertical bamboo so that their joints do not line up left or right. He decides how to knot the black hemp-palm rope while calculating knot intervals and intensity, among other factors, aiming to balance both function and beauty of the knots.
Bamboo fences are woven with bamboo, and, more than just dividing the premises, they serve as a charming
backdrop to many Japanese gardens. By the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), bamboo fences were often
portrayed as stylish motifs in ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints) and were also adopted in the
homes of commoners.
Bamboo fences can be constructed to either make the inside garden visible from the
outside or to obscure the inside garden. The tying methods using a black hemp- palm rope also vary from
simple clean knots to decorative dimensional knots and knots with long, dangling working ends. Regardless,
however, there is a beautiful contrast of color between the bamboo and rope knots, adding a unique aesthetic
to Japanese townscapes while harmonizing with the rich colors of the four seasons.
This bamboo fence is at Koetsu Temple in Kyoto, which is famous for its Japanese garden. Split bamboo is tied in a rough diamond pattern, thus distinctively providing a view of the other side of the fence.
Using the best type of knot among several types is a testament to the level of his craftsmanship.