Both the term “katei,” a translation of “home,” and the term “engei,” a translation of “horticulture,” began to be used in the Meiji era. Then, a newly created term “katei-engei” gained popularity to describe a happy family activity. In this paper, the author has made a research of the process of formation of this term by delving in literature related to horticulture in this country as well as Jogakuzasshi , a women's magazine of the time. As a result, it became clear that the term gradually became popular in the following way: 1) Iwamoto Yoshiharu advocated in Jogakuzasshi an ideal of “home” and “the happy circle within a family.” 2) For having a happy time, the housekeeping elements of cleanliness and decoration began to be included in a female role. 3) Household management began to be taken up in the magazine. 4) Gardening and horticulture were included in the household management. 5) Then, “katei-engei,” as a happy circle within a family, was given birth in the domain of horticulture. In other words, the movement upholding the importance of home and happy family activities, which are believed to be a modern family's origin, helped to clarify the female role within a family as to the household management, and brought “engei” into the home domain.