A TimeLine of Dates Relevant to Katsura

1579—Prince Toshihito was born; named Kosamaru at birth.
1588—Kosamaru became Kideyoshi’s adopted son.
1590—the house of Hachijô was established.
1591—Kosamaru was given the name Prince Toshihito by imperial order.
1601—Price Toshihito was promoted to the first order of imperial princes.
1602— Price Toshihito had a well dug and a teahouse built in the Hachijô residence in Kyoto.
1606—Price Toshihito went to Osaka Castle to thank Toyotomi Hideyori for construction work of some sort.
1616—Proposal was made for marrige between Price Toshihito and Lady Sen.  Also, Price Toshihito went to Senshô-ji to "view his melons" and "take a walk about Katsura."
1619—Prince Noritada was born to Price Toshihito and named Takomaro
1620— Price Toshihito’s mother died.A tea house was constructed at Lower Katsura.
1629— Price Toshihito died at age 50.  Coming-of-age ceremony held for Prince Noritada.
1641—The Middle Shoin at Katsura was build around this time.
1646—About this time, Prince Noritada went to Sakai and saw teahouses designed by Sen no Rikyu.
1649—By this time there were five teahouses at Katsura
1657— Prince Noritada was promoted to the second order of imperial princes.
1658—Ex-Emperor Go-Mizunoo visted the Katsura Palace.
1663—The Ex-Emperor Go-Mizunoo visted the Katsura Palace again.
1679—Karasuyama Suketada, who wrote the character for: moon" for the door fittings that form the New Palace, died.
1708—The whole village of Katsura was flooded; the Shôkin-tei and other buildings in the Katsura Palace were damaged.
1717—Jujimoto Sôhachirô, a retainer for the Kobori family, drew a pictures of the Outer Arbor and its stone toilet.
1721—Floodwater came up under the floor of the Shôkin-tei.
1722—Lord Kobori of Bichû (later Lord of Izumi) was given a wooden model of a water basin near the Outer Arbor, said to have been made by Kobori Enshû.
1753—Prince Kinhito went to the Katsura Palace.
1755—Prince Yakahito went with his consort and Pricne Kinhito to Katsura.
1759— Prince Yakahito went to Katsura.
1810—The name of the Kyôgoku family was changed to Katsura.
1828—A daughter named Princess Toshi, later to become Pincess Sumiko, was born to Emperor Ninkô.
1833—Emperor Ninkô’s son, Prince Miki, who was later to become Prince Misahito, was born.
1835—Prince Miki was named head of the Katsura family.
1842—Princess Toshi was named Imperial Princess Sumiko.
1862—Princess Sumiko became head of the house of Katsura.
1870— Princess Sumiko was given an allowance of 1,015 koku.
1871—The property on which the Katsura Palace stands was granted to the house of Katsura.
1873— Princess Sumiko allowance was terminated, and she was given a grant of 6.800 yen.
1881— Princess Sumiko died at age fifty-three.
1884—The Katsura Palace was put under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Ministry.
1934—Bruno Taut saw the Katsura Palace and wrote praises of it.  After his it acquired worldwide fame as an example of Japanese architecture.
1960—Kenzo Tange publishes "Katsura: Tradition and Creation in Japanese Architecture," and gives his take on Katsura Palace.
1983---Arata Isozaki publishes "Katsura Villa: The Ambiguity of Its Space."


Credits         Home         Start Tour         See TimeLine       3 Theories Article