There is a record showing that c.a. 620, SOGA no Umako built a square-shaped pond on his residential premises and thus he was called 'shima-daijin' (the minister of islands) as his garden was unusual and won popularity.
また620年ごろ蘇我馬子が邸宅敷地に方形の池を設け、このために「嶋大臣」と呼ばれ、この庭園が珍しく、評判になっていたという記録がある。