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This Momoyama
period garden is meant for viewing from within a building.
It was designed by the great tea master Sen-no-Rikyu
(1522-1591), with inspiration coming from the scenery of Mt Rozan
in China. A temple of the Shingon sect from 1674. |
| The main veranda
is a place to sit and admire the perfect small pond with it's steep
sloped background of topiary, rocks and waterfall. Surprisingly free
from crowds. |
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1236 - Zen Rinzai sect.
Built by the Heian period nobleman Kujo Michiie,
with the intention of rivalling the great temples of Nara. Rebuilt
during the 15th century after fire destruction. Fire again destroyed
many of the halls during the late Meiji period. The Sanmon
is the oldest main gate of a any Zen temple in Japan.
The garden of the Kaisando Hall: A path
from the entrance gate to the hall divides this garden into two very
different areas, kare-sansui on one side
and clipped shrubs with stream and small bridges on the other.
Garden of the Hojo, Abbot's Hall: This
hall was rebuilt in 1890 and has four different gardens laid out around
it. They were designed in 1939 by Mirei Shigemori.
The southern garden is a rock composition symbolising the sacred islands
of Eiju, Horai, Koryo and Hojo. The western garden has a checked pattern
of azalea-shrubs with moss and gravel. The northern garden again features
a checked design, but with smaller squares of stone and moss. The
eastern garden utilises cylindrical stones to represent the constellation
of the 'Great Bear'. |
Located south east
of central Kyoto, unusually free from crowds and offering two
distinctly different styles of Zen garden. |
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Kyoto was the imperial capital from 794 to 1869
when it was moved to Tokyo. The palace has suffered from fire damage
throughout it's history and has been rebuilt a number of times. The
palace of today comprises a number of buildings, many having been
residences of court nobles, all confined within a fine walled perimeter
- called Tsuiji.
The main garden, Oike-niwa, designed by
Kobori Ensho (1597-1647), is a landscaped
garden with a large pond for strolling around. A stream flows into
the pond from the Gonai-tei Garden, (inner
garden). The Gonai-tei is a delight of rocks, clipped shrubs, stone
lanterns and small bridges crossing the winding stream. |
A visit to the Imperial
Palace only suffers from the fact that you have to join a guided tour
with it's obvious time restraints. |
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'Temple of the Heavenly
Dragon'
1339 - Zen Rinzai sect.
Founded by Ashikaga Takauji (1305-58).
The temple's first abbot was Muso Soseki (Kokushi),
who established Rinzai Zen. The original temple was a large complex
of some 150 sub-temples but was destroyed by fire many times. The
current reconstruction dates from 1900. The main garden Sogenchi,
is one of the oldest landscape gardens in Japan and was designed by
Muso Soseki. A 'strolling' style pond garden it features a large pond
shaped to resemble the Chinese character for 'heart'. One of the 'Top
5' Zen gardens. |
| A popular garden
for school trips, so always busy. The bamboo forest north of the garden
is also of interest. |
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Formerly a residence for Emperor
Uda, it was known as the Imperial Palace
of Omuro.
When Uda abdicated it became the temple Ninnaji (founded in 888) with
Uda as it's first abbot. The present buildings are of the 17th cent.
and the complex belongs to the Shingon sect of Buddhism. The temple
houses many works of art and there is a fine 5-storey pagoda in the
grounds. It is also noted for the unique Omuro
Cherry trees, a low branched variety. |
The main garden
with its pond and expanses of raked gravel are viewed from walks
around the verandas of the main halls. |
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Taizo-in was established by Hatano
Shigemichi in 1404.
The oldest of the 40 sub-temples within the precincts of the temple
complex of Myoshin-ji. This quiet retreat
is noted for it's 'Dragon King Falls' and is also home to the painting
of Josetsu, 'Catching Catfish with a Gourd',
from the Ashikaga period. |
| Seemingly, not well
known - I was the only visitor all morning! |
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