I went out to take photos when I saw the snow on the neighbour’s roof. It wasn’t enough to cover the ground, but it gave slight colour to the scenery.
I went to Nijo Castle and Shinsen-en.
At Nijo Castle only a little snow remained.
Showing posts with label gardens: Kyoto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardens: Kyoto. Show all posts
Thursday, 11 February 2010
a snowy morning
We hardly ever have snow in central Kyoto nowadays, it might lie briefly a couple of times a year. I seem to remember it used to be more often when I first started living here. Global warming? It could be.
I went out to take photos when I saw the snow on the neighbour’s roof. It wasn’t enough to cover the ground, but it gave slight colour to the scenery.
I went to Nijo Castle and Shinsen-en.
At Nijo Castle only a little snow remained.
I went out to take photos when I saw the snow on the neighbour’s roof. It wasn’t enough to cover the ground, but it gave slight colour to the scenery.
I went to Nijo Castle and Shinsen-en.
At Nijo Castle only a little snow remained.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Tenryu-ji Temple
Tenryu-ji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto
天龍寺（京都/嵐山）
I think Tenryu-ji Temple’s attraction is the garden.
It has been known as Tenryu-ji and belonged to the Rinzai Zen sect of Buddhism since its founding in 1345 by the first Ashikaga shogun, prior to that the land had been a temple and for a time a detached palace.The temple has a long history, however it has suffered fire many times and the present day structures are mostly built within the last 200 years.
The garden around the pond has never been affected by the fires and is said to closely resemble the original.
It was designed by a priest Muso Soseki, who also designed the garden of Saiho-ji, Koke-dera or Moss Temple. It is a strolling style garden but the path around the pond is closed to the public.
Nevertheless it still has an open-spaced cheerful atmosphere with a backdrop of mountains showing seasonal colours throughout the year.
天龍寺（京都/嵐山）
I think Tenryu-ji Temple’s attraction is the garden.
It has been known as Tenryu-ji and belonged to the Rinzai Zen sect of Buddhism since its founding in 1345 by the first Ashikaga shogun, prior to that the land had been a temple and for a time a detached palace.The temple has a long history, however it has suffered fire many times and the present day structures are mostly built within the last 200 years.
The garden around the pond has never been affected by the fires and is said to closely resemble the original.
It was designed by a priest Muso Soseki, who also designed the garden of Saiho-ji, Koke-dera or Moss Temple. It is a strolling style garden but the path around the pond is closed to the public.
Nevertheless it still has an open-spaced cheerful atmosphere with a backdrop of mountains showing seasonal colours throughout the year.
Sunday, 28 June 2009
Heian Shrine Shin-en garden
Shin-en garden, Heian Jingu Shrine, Okazaki Park, Kyoto
平安神宮 神苑(京都/岡崎公園)
I sometimes take guests to Heian (Jingu) shrine, but there aren’t many occasions we visit the garden partly because there’s an admission fee but mainly because of a lack of time.
Today I’ll show you its garden. The second week of June I was requested to take guests to the garden even though they had been to the shrine on a bus tour. I heard that they didn’t enjoy the shrine and it didn’t make any sense wishing to go there again.
When we arrived I finally understood they wanted to see its garden, not the shrine itself.
Japanese iris was almost in full-bloom and water lilies were just coming into bloom. The garden was breathtakingly beautiful.
I’ve been there many times and didn’t appreciate it much. The visit changed my opinion. The garden is transformed by the flowers. It is also a popular destination for cherry blossom viewing which should be lovely as well.
Those two buildings were transferred from the Imperial Palace when the garden was built in 1912 by a prominent gardener Ogawa Jihei, the pioneer of the modern Japanese garden.
Official site/The Garden (English)
Official site/Access (English)
平安神宮 神苑(京都/岡崎公園)
I sometimes take guests to Heian (Jingu) shrine, but there aren’t many occasions we visit the garden partly because there’s an admission fee but mainly because of a lack of time.
Today I’ll show you its garden. The second week of June I was requested to take guests to the garden even though they had been to the shrine on a bus tour. I heard that they didn’t enjoy the shrine and it didn’t make any sense wishing to go there again.
When we arrived I finally understood they wanted to see its garden, not the shrine itself.
Japanese iris was almost in full-bloom and water lilies were just coming into bloom. The garden was breathtakingly beautiful.
I’ve been there many times and didn’t appreciate it much. The visit changed my opinion. The garden is transformed by the flowers. It is also a popular destination for cherry blossom viewing which should be lovely as well.
Those two buildings were transferred from the Imperial Palace when the garden was built in 1912 by a prominent gardener Ogawa Jihei, the pioneer of the modern Japanese garden.
Official site/The Garden (English)
Official site/Access (English)
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters (6)
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters, Kyoto
南禅寺方丈(京都)
"還源庭" (Kangen-tei Garden) literally means “back to origin”.
南禅寺方丈(京都)
"還源庭" (Kangen-tei Garden) literally means “back to origin”.
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters (5)
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters, Kyoto
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
Roji tea garden
“龍吟庭” (Ryugin?-tei Garden) literally means “Dragon growling”.
”涵龍池” (Kanryu-chi? Pond) literally means “Dragon soaking”.
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
Roji tea garden
“龍吟庭” (Ryugin?-tei Garden) literally means “Dragon growling”.
”涵龍池” (Kanryu-chi? Pond) literally means “Dragon soaking”.
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters (4)
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters, Kyoto
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
“華厳の庭” (Kegon Garden)
According to the notice board of the garden; the word “Kegon” means “flower decoration” and is the core idea of Kegon sutra.
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
“華厳の庭” (Kegon Garden)
According to the notice board of the garden; the word “Kegon” means “flower decoration” and is the core idea of Kegon sutra.
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters (3)
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters, Kyoto
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
“六道庭” (Roku-do garden)
In contrast to the former garden, this represents six realms in Buddhist cosmology.
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
“六道庭” (Roku-do garden)
In contrast to the former garden, this represents six realms in Buddhist cosmology.
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters (2)
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters, Kyoto
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
“如心庭” literally means “as the mind”. The stones are laid out in the form of the letter mind and the garden represents the state of enlightenment.
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
“如心庭” literally means “as the mind”. The stones are laid out in the form of the letter mind and the garden represents the state of enlightenment.
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters (1)
Gardens at Nanzen-ji Hojo Abbot’s Quarters, Kyoto
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
Hojo, the Abbot's Quarters, of Nanzen-ji temple has some gardens.
This is the oldest one and it is said to be the work of Kobori Enshu during the Edo period.
南禅寺方丈 (京都)
Hojo, the Abbot's Quarters, of Nanzen-ji temple has some gardens.
This is the oldest one and it is said to be the work of Kobori Enshu during the Edo period.
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Saiho-ji Temple a.k.a. Koke-dera, Moss Temple
Saiho-ji Temple(Koke-dera/Moss Temple), Katsura, Kyoto
西芳寺/苔寺(京都/桂)
A friend had applied for permission to visit Saiho-ji(西芳寺) temple and asked me to join him. Saiho-ji or Koke-dera has long been top of my wish list of places to visit. I had never taken the trouble to apply even my interest was high, because the temple only accepts visitors after a written application. It sounded a lot of bother to go through.
Of course I said I would go.
It costs 3,000yen to visit. Some think it’s outrageous, but I don’t. In fact, I like the attitude. They accept visitors as a religious occasion. The visitors have to do syakyo(写経), copying Hannyashinnkyo(般若心経) Heart Sutra, which consists of 260 or more Kanji, Chinese characters, with Indian ink and a brush. Before that we chant the sutra 3 times with monks. –Though it doesn’t have to be done perfectly. Then we are free to walk around the garden.
People mostly go there to see the garden.
But it provides a good opportunity to experience things like that. As I concentrated copying characters, I didn’t think of anything and just focused on characters, although sitting with folded legs was killing me with pins and needles.
The temple is more familiarly called Koke-dera, because the garden is covered with moss.
The moss looks like green velvet carpets.
It’s recorded that it wasn’t covered with moss when the garden was created. With passing time moss has grown and covered the ground to give a much prettier, calm atmosphere to the garden which can’t be created by hand, requiring natural help to make the site just perfect.
西芳寺/苔寺(京都/桂)
A friend had applied for permission to visit Saiho-ji(西芳寺) temple and asked me to join him. Saiho-ji or Koke-dera has long been top of my wish list of places to visit. I had never taken the trouble to apply even my interest was high, because the temple only accepts visitors after a written application. It sounded a lot of bother to go through.
Of course I said I would go.
It costs 3,000yen to visit. Some think it’s outrageous, but I don’t. In fact, I like the attitude. They accept visitors as a religious occasion. The visitors have to do syakyo(写経), copying Hannyashinnkyo(般若心経) Heart Sutra, which consists of 260 or more Kanji, Chinese characters, with Indian ink and a brush. Before that we chant the sutra 3 times with monks. –Though it doesn’t have to be done perfectly. Then we are free to walk around the garden.
People mostly go there to see the garden.
But it provides a good opportunity to experience things like that. As I concentrated copying characters, I didn’t think of anything and just focused on characters, although sitting with folded legs was killing me with pins and needles.
The temple is more familiarly called Koke-dera, because the garden is covered with moss.
The moss looks like green velvet carpets.
It’s recorded that it wasn’t covered with moss when the garden was created. With passing time moss has grown and covered the ground to give a much prettier, calm atmosphere to the garden which can’t be created by hand, requiring natural help to make the site just perfect.
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
The Ryoan-ji gardens
Ryoan-ji Temple, Kyoto
竜安寺(京都)
If anyone thinks of visiting Kyoto, Ryoan-ji(竜安寺) might be an automatic choice to visit. The “must see” reputation means everyone goes and the temple is always busy from morning to evening. The main attraction, the dry rock garden, is far from tranquil viewed from amongst the crowds.
What attracts so many people? It’s the mystery of the garden.
Almost no historical records remain and both the designer and the concept behind it are still unknown. Many scholars and researchers have given their reasons, but it is still been a controversial issue.
Forget about all the fuss and simply enjoy the garden seems to be the best way.
The roof of the Abbot quarter in front of the garden is being restored right now. That the view of the garden is different from usual because of the scaffolding and a temporary extended stage might seem to detract from it but it also means we can approach much closer to the stones and the different view might not be so bad after all for those who have visited previously.
The dry rock garden is what is most associated with this temple but it has a pleasant and much larger garden to stroll around. The precinct was originally the second house of an aristocratic family in the Heian period and retains some of the character of a private home. We can enjoy the two different styles of Japanese garden, a Zen rock garden and an aristocratic strolling garden.
The pond might have been used for a boating party by aristocrats who probably enjoyed the Moon Viewing there as well.
竜安寺(京都)
If anyone thinks of visiting Kyoto, Ryoan-ji(竜安寺) might be an automatic choice to visit. The “must see” reputation means everyone goes and the temple is always busy from morning to evening. The main attraction, the dry rock garden, is far from tranquil viewed from amongst the crowds.
What attracts so many people? It’s the mystery of the garden.
Almost no historical records remain and both the designer and the concept behind it are still unknown. Many scholars and researchers have given their reasons, but it is still been a controversial issue.
Forget about all the fuss and simply enjoy the garden seems to be the best way.
The roof of the Abbot quarter in front of the garden is being restored right now. That the view of the garden is different from usual because of the scaffolding and a temporary extended stage might seem to detract from it but it also means we can approach much closer to the stones and the different view might not be so bad after all for those who have visited previously.
The dry rock garden is what is most associated with this temple but it has a pleasant and much larger garden to stroll around. The precinct was originally the second house of an aristocratic family in the Heian period and retains some of the character of a private home. We can enjoy the two different styles of Japanese garden, a Zen rock garden and an aristocratic strolling garden.
The pond might have been used for a boating party by aristocrats who probably enjoyed the Moon Viewing there as well.
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
The garden of Toji-in Temple
the garden, Toji-in Temple, Kyoto
等持院(京都)
I love the Japanese garden. I like how it looks, but I love the idea and symbolism behind it. The more I get to know the details, more I like it.
One of my favourite gardens is Toji-in(等持院) garden near Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji. Those two temples are always busy, by comparison Toji-in is very quiet and calm and the least known to visitors.
Toji-in used to have a much bigger precinct, but most of the land has been sold; it’s difficult to imagine how glorious the old days must have been now. In the past Mt.Kinugasa was incorporated as part of it’s totality as “borrowed scenery”(借景), sadly a university expanded its premises between the two destroying the effect.
Look on the bright side.
This garden was designed for viewing different scenes while walking along the meandering path encompassing the ponds, it is in the Strolling garden style(回遊式庭園). The layout is carefully arranged and makes us feel it’s much more spacious than it actually is.
Inside the tea house.
The platform was where the shogun was seated.
The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of Muromachi shogunate, and grandfather of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who founded Kinkaku-ji temple, and Ashikaga Yoshimasa who founded Ginkaku-ji was his great great grandson.
Takauji asked Muso Soseki, a prominent monk and garden designer for guidance. It later became the Ashikaga dynasty’s funeral temple and all their shogun were buried here and their statues are kept at Reiho-den.
The first time I went there, Reiho-den was very dark and surrounded by 15 Ashikaga shoguns’ statues with their crystal eyes was kind of spooky and I hurried out genuinely afraid. Nowadays the statues are back-lit and are behind glass for protection, there’s even an alarm in place now. I guess so many statues and ornaments have been stolen from temples and shrines recently that sadly it’s a necessary precaution.
Azaleas have just finished.
The garden would be pretty with azalea in spring
and Japanese Maples in autumn.
等持院(京都)
I love the Japanese garden. I like how it looks, but I love the idea and symbolism behind it. The more I get to know the details, more I like it.
One of my favourite gardens is Toji-in(等持院) garden near Kinkaku-ji and Ryoan-ji. Those two temples are always busy, by comparison Toji-in is very quiet and calm and the least known to visitors.
Toji-in used to have a much bigger precinct, but most of the land has been sold; it’s difficult to imagine how glorious the old days must have been now. In the past Mt.Kinugasa was incorporated as part of it’s totality as “borrowed scenery”(借景), sadly a university expanded its premises between the two destroying the effect.
Look on the bright side.
This garden was designed for viewing different scenes while walking along the meandering path encompassing the ponds, it is in the Strolling garden style(回遊式庭園). The layout is carefully arranged and makes us feel it’s much more spacious than it actually is.
Inside the tea house.
The platform was where the shogun was seated.
The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of Muromachi shogunate, and grandfather of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu who founded Kinkaku-ji temple, and Ashikaga Yoshimasa who founded Ginkaku-ji was his great great grandson.
Takauji asked Muso Soseki, a prominent monk and garden designer for guidance. It later became the Ashikaga dynasty’s funeral temple and all their shogun were buried here and their statues are kept at Reiho-den.
The first time I went there, Reiho-den was very dark and surrounded by 15 Ashikaga shoguns’ statues with their crystal eyes was kind of spooky and I hurried out genuinely afraid. Nowadays the statues are back-lit and are behind glass for protection, there’s even an alarm in place now. I guess so many statues and ornaments have been stolen from temples and shrines recently that sadly it’s a necessary precaution.
Azaleas have just finished.
The garden would be pretty with azalea in spring
and Japanese Maples in autumn.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)