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Kinkaku-ji Temple Highlights (Golden Pavilion,Garden)
Kinkaku-ji Temple Highlights
The information about Kinkaku-ji Temple Highlights is presented here. Kinkaku-ji Temple has a number of highlights, including Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku), Fudo-do, and Garden, but Golden Pavilion and Garden are the two that must be seen. Golden Pavilion and Garden are beautiful on their own, but the combination of Golden Pavilion and Garden is said to be especially beautiful. Golden Pavilion and Garden are beautiful in all seasons, but the autumn leaves are especially beautiful. The snowy scenery of Golden Pavilion is spectacular and popular among photographers.
★Kinkaku-ji Temple (location,history)
【Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku, 金閣)】
Golden Pavilion was built in 1398 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (足利義満), the 3rd shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, but was destroyed by arson in 1950 and rebuilt in 1955. Golden Pavilion is a three-story wooden pavilion, the 1st floor is called to be “Hosui-in”, the 2nd floor is called “Choon-do”, and the 3rd floor is called “Kukkyo-cho”. Golden Pavilion houses the statues of Hokan Shaka Nyorai (Buddha) and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu on the 1st floor, and the statues of Iwaya Kannon and Shitenno on the 2nd floor. When Golden Pavilion was rebuilt in 1955, 100,000 pieces (2 kg) of 10 cm square gold leaf were used, and 200,000 pieces (20 kg) of 5 times thicker gold leaf were used in subsequent restorations. In 2020, about 10,000 pieces of 10 cm square gold leaf were used to repair the phoenix and damaged gold leaf under the eaves. Golden Pavilion is said to be one of the “Three Pavilions of Kyoto” along with Ginkaku (Silver Pavilion) at Ginkaku-ji Temple and Hiunkaku at Nishi Hongan-ji Temple.
【Phoenix (Houou, 鳳凰)】
Phoenix (Kyoto City Designated Cultural Property) was created when Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) was built. After that, Phoenix was removed during the dismantling and repair work in the Meiji period (1868-1912) when its tail was damaged, and it was saved from being destroyed in an arson fire. The current Phoenix is the 2nd generation and was installed in Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) in 1987.
【Fudo-do (Fudo Hall, 不動堂)】
Fudo-do was rebuilt by Ukita Hideie (宇喜田秀家) during the Tensho period (1573-1592). Fudo-do houses the stone statue of Ishi Fudo Myoo, said to have been created by Kobo-daishi Kukai, the founder of the Shingon sect, and the statue of Fudo Myoo created in the Kamakura period (1185-1333). Ishi Fudo Myoo is opened during Setsubun Festival (day before the first day of spring) and Gozan Okuribi (Fire Festival) on August 16th.
【Garden (庭園)】
Garden (Special Place of Scenic Beauty and Special Historic Site) is said to have been created by Saionji Kintsune (西園寺公経) when he built Hokusan-tei (Kitayama-tei), and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (足利義満) made major renovations, especially to Kyokochi Pond (鏡湖池). Later, Garden fell into disrepair due to Onin War (Onin-no-Ran) when trees were cut down, and it is said to have been restored around the Tenmon period (1532-1555) by Saisho Shotai (西笑承兌). In the late Edo period (1603-1867), Garden was restored to its original form as a pond fountain, but it is said that it was later renovated to its presentt appearance. Garden is a walking garden centered on Kyokochi Pond with a borrowed view of Mt. Kinugasa-yama. Garden covers an area of about 28,000 tsubo, and Kyokochi Pond alone covers an area of about 2,000 tsubo. In Kyokochi Pond, there are islands such as Ashihara-jima (Ashihara Island), Tsuru-shima (Tsuru Island), and Kame-shima (Kame Island), as well as strange and famous rocks such as Hosokawa-ishi (Hosokawa Stone), Hatakeyama-ishi (Hatakeyama Stone), and Akamatsu-ishi (Akamatsu Stone).
【Hojo (Hojo Hall, Main Hall, 方丈, 本堂)】
Hojo was rebuilt in 1678 with the donation of the 108th Emperor Go-Mizunoo. Hojo houses the statues of Sho-Kannon, Muso Kokushi (Muso Soseki), and Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
【Hojo Garden (方丈庭園)】
Hojo Garden is said to have been created by Soami, a painter, renga poet, and connoisseur in the Muromachi period (1336-1573). In Hojo Garden, there are Meryu-ishi (Meryu Stone), Hotei-ish (Hotei Stone), Soma-ish (Soma Stone), Banryu-ish (Banryu Stone), Roban-ish (Roban Stone), etc. Hojo Garden is usually closed to the public, but may be open to the public on special occasions.
【Daishoin (Daishoin Hall, 大書院)】
Daishoin is said to have been built during the Jokyo period (1684-1687). In 1759, Daishoin was decorated with fusuma paintings by the painter Ito Jakuchu, which are now in the Jotenkaku Art Museum. Daishoin is decorated with fusuma paintings such as beautiful cherry blossom drawings (Usuzumi-Zakura) painted by the Japanese-style painter Kato Toichi.
【Kuri (Kori, 庫裏)】
Kuri is said to have been rebuilt around 1835. Kuri was originally a kitchen, with an atrium and a smoke vent on the roof.
【Seka-tei (夕佳亭)】
Seka-tei (夕佳亭) was destroyed by fire in 1868 and rebuilt in 1874. It is said that the former Seka-tei was built to welcome the 108th Emperor Go-Mizunoo to Kinkaku-ji Temple during the Edo period (1603-1868). The floor pillars of Seka-tei are made of nandina tree (nanten), which is rare in tea ceremony rooms, and are called “nanten-no-tokobashira”.
【Other Highlights】
★Ginga-sen (銀河泉) is said to have been used by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu for tea water. Ganka-sui is said to have been used by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu to wash his hands.
★Rikusyu-no-matsu (pine trees, 陸舟の松) was planted by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and is said to be about 600 years old. Rikufune-no-matsu is a bonsai in the shape of a sailboat. Rikusyu-no-matsu is said to be one of the three pine trees in Kyoto, along with Yuryu-no-matsu at Yoshimine-dera Temple and Goyo-no-matsu at Hosen-in Temple.
★Anmin-taku (安民沢) is located on the mountainside behind Kyokochi Pond and is the source of water for Kyokochi Pond. In Anmin-taku, there is a stone pagoda called Hakuja-no-tsuka (White Snake Hill) , where white snakes are enshrined. Anmin-taku is also called Ushi-taku or Boun-taku, and is said to have been a place to pray for rain.
【Remarks】
National treasures, important cultural properties, and other cultural assets may be closed to the public.
金閣寺見どころ(Kinkaku-ji Temple Highlights)