Ryoanji: the Zen Temple in Kyoto with the most fascinating rock garden
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It is Japan’s most famous “hiraniwa” (flat garden void of hills or ponds) and reveals the stunning simplicity and harmony of the principles of Zen meditation.
Ryoan-ji Temple is famous for its mysterious rock garden, the most celebrated in Japan, which defies attempts at explanation. Enclosed by an earthen wall, fifteen carefully placed rocks seem to drift in a sea of raked white gravel. A viewing platform right above the garden gives visitors an unimpeded view, although from whatever angle you view the garden, you can never see all fifteen stones.
After sitting and pondering the garden’s “sermon in stone,” you can stretch your legs by touring the extensive grounds of Ryoan-ji Temple, which includes larger gardens with trees and moss, and the Kyoyo-chi pond, which is particularly striking in autumn. Once refreshed, you can return to the rock garden for another look before leaving.
The temple was built in 1450 by Daimyo Hosokawa Katsumoto (1561-1628), but no one knows for certain when the rock garden was made, who designed it, or what the designer’s intentions were. So what does the rock garden signify? You can only find out by seeing it for yourself.
【Tsukubai 蹲踞】吾唯知足 Ware tada taru wo shiru
Tsukubai, the stone wash basin for the tea room, a unique inscription, “I learn to only to be contented.” He who learns only to be contented is spiritually rich, while the one who does not learn to be contented is spiritually poor even if he is materially wealthy. This concept is important in the Zen spirit.
Address
13 Ryoanji-Goryo-no-Sita-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto
Tel. +81-75-463-2216
Fax. +81-75-463-2218
Access
From JR or Kintetsu “Kyoto station”.
Take the city bus #50 to “”Ritsumeikan daigaku-mae” stop.
it takes about 7 minutes walk to our temple from the stop.
From Hankyu railway “Omiya station”.
Take the city bus #55 to “Ritsumeikan daigaku-mae” stop.
it takes about 7 minutes walk to our temple from the stop.
From keihan railway “Sanjyo station”.
Take the city bus #59 to “Ryoanji-mae” stop.
Take Keifuku Kitano Line to “Ryoanji”.
it take about 7 minutes walk to our temple from the station.
Open
Mar – Nov 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m.
Dec – Feb 8:30.am-4:30p.m.
Admission
Adult 500yen
age 15 and under 300yen
If you have a chance, please try to take a look at this website!
#Ryoanji#竜安寺#世界遺産
AloJapan.com