The Shimazu-shi were the daimyo, or feudal lords, of Satsuma (Kagoshima), Ōsumi, and Hyūga provinces in Japan from the 13th century until the mid-19th. In other words, the Shimazu family were landholding magnates for around 500 years. The span of this clan makes European dynasties look like brief historical blips.
The feudal narrative of the Shimazu clan was on display behind glass in the Shoka-Shuseikan Museum in Sengan-en. There was the necessary protection from the Shogun’s samurai.
There were alliances with clans (Toyotomi) to battle the predominance of other clans (Tokugawa). Battles were won and lost. The fighting was inscribed on placemat-size paper in the same miniature style that I saw in the Osaka castle museum.
So where did the Shimazu family live while they ruled their domain? Since their house is now a Historical Heritage site, we went to the seaside community of Sengan-en a couple of train stops north of Kagoshima to find out. I wasn’t expecting the ostentation of San Simeon, or Mara Lago, but I was still struck by the simple unobtrusive beauty of the Shimazu house surrounded by its terraced gardens.
It was well hidden up the hill behind the rows of gift shops.
The interior was uncluttered and spare built around a zen garden with a fountain feeding a pond.
Horses had their own shrine.
And the lord of the manor, where did he sleep? Where else? On the floor.
In the 19th century a western influence added a couple pieces of furniture.
For this boorish visitor the whole spread looked like one big tea house.
But it was that Shinto thing, that melding with the environment making sure wherever you looked outside there was natural beauty.
And some stone sculpture like the big turtle on the grounds overlooking the sea below the volcano.
While we were crossing a stone bridge in the g/ardens, the volcano put on a show.
The highlight of our Shimazu stroll was coming across the cat shrine.
Facinating!
Not to quibble but half a century is 50 years. Did you mean half a millennium?