2014年3月13日

Kyoto Ryoan-ji Temple

Catch an invisible world in the space between the rocks

来自 Tomoko Kamishima

社团作家

The rocks maintain tension between one another

Besides the rock garden, Ryoan-ji Temple has a beautiful pond and two excursion gardens in the precinct

The mysterious rock and sand garden of Ryoan-ji Temple

Folding screen and lamp at the doorway of the temple building

A group of rocks on the moss-coated island

There are many rocks in many places in the precinct of Ryoan-ji Temple

Stone Buddha statue near the temple buildings

Huge numbers of people flock to Ryoan-ji Temple everyday

Moss-coated rock and bamboo fence on the way to the rock garden

People were permitted to step out onto the garden in the old days

Miniature garden for the blind - they are encouraged to touch and feel it

Since Queen Elizabeth II visited its rock garden and highly praised it in 1975, huge numbers of people have flocked to Ryoan-ji Temple everyday. Fifteen rocks are arranged into five groups on the moss-coated islands and they are scattered about in a rectangular white sand garden. We see plenty of space between them. And most parts of the rocks are buried deeply under the ground, so they look like they are floating on a sandy sea. You might see the world in this space. Or you might feel time piling up above the space. The rocks maintain tension between one another to create a perfect balance. The garden shows you something invisible. Very Zen.