四百年前に宮床に建立された覚照寺境内の奥は大樹が生い茂り、北向きの谷間には沢水が流れ込み底なし沼となっていた。七つ森の麓で自然の猛威に晒される浄土の庭は、水の治めかたこそが要。
沼底に堆積した泥層をさらい、伐採木や栗石で堤体を固めてつくられた貯水地は、集中豪雨の濁流が浄土池に一気に流れ込むのを防ぎ、渇水期には浄土池の水の流れを絶やさないように庭園をささえている。
The depths of the grounds of the Kakushouji Temple, established in Miyatoko 400 years ago, are densely populated with large trees, and a bottomless swamp formed by the flow of mountain stream water in a north-facing valley. The Pure Land Garden, exposed to the natural forces at the foot of the Nanatsu-Mori, emphasizes the crucial control of the water.
Clearing the sediment layers on the swamp bottom and reinforcing the embankment with felled wood and chestnut stones, the reservoir prevents the swift flow of muddy waters during intense rainfall into the Pure Land Pond. It supports the garden to ensure a continuous flow of water in the Pure Land Pond during drought periods.
