Ryumonaku literary means “Dragon Gate (Toryumon) Waterfall” and found in many Zen temples. It shows us the way to be an enlightened person through the Buddhist training with Kannnon‘s wisdom.

In the 13th century, Japan adopted Zen (school) earnestly and it changed Japanese gardens. Zen wanted facilities of temple, including garden, to be a place for its practice or training and they are to be visualizations of the scriptures. Ryoumonbaku is a means to achieve the aim.

Ryoumonbaku is a name of the waterfall in Hekigenroku (『碧巌録』The Blue Cliff Record), a compilation of Zen stories in the 12th century.

In one of stories, a monk asked his master what “the enlightened” means. He replied in a poem:

This poem is based on an old story in the Book of the Later Han in the 5th century:

The Book of the Later Han doesn’t reveal what kind of fish could overcome the fall but Taiping Guangji in the 10th century tells us the ones:

シカさん

Dragon is a guardian of Buddhism and a deity of water. Fushimi Inari used to be a famous for the faith in Dragon (and serpent).

Due to these stories, carps climb up “Dragon gate waterfall” and become dragons. The master cited this as an example to understand the way to be enlightened.

“Fishes climb up the fall to became dragons but people still looking for them in the fall,” means the monk looking for what he think “the enlightened” somewhere (in the fall) though he (a carp) could be an enlightened person, i.e., we could be the enlightened persons thorough Zen training and with a help of Kannon.

たけちよ

The monk means,”You are to be a Buddha (enlightened person) . Why you try to find it in other places in stead of in yourself?”

The Ryoumonbaku is also called “Totyumon (登竜門).” The one in Zen temple usually has stones stands for three dams, a carp, and Kannon: The carp climbs up the three waterfalls to reach Kannon in order to be a dragon with her wisdom. (Kannon is a male deity but many Japanese people think he is a male one.)

The Ryumonbaku in Tenryuji temple

The Ryumonbaku in Tenryuji is a good example. In the garden belongs to Dai Hojo (大方丈), you’ll find the Ryumonbaku in the red circle.

There used to be an actual waterfall but today it is a Karesansui garden. 1, 2, and 3 in blue means the three dams.

“観音” is a Kannon-seki stone stands for Kannon and “鯉” is a Gyori-seki stone stands for a carp.

Take a close look at the lower part of the fall. There are “脇石 (Waki Ishi)”  stones and “水落石 (Mizuochi Ishi. 2 and 3).” They tell us it used to be a real waterfall there because installing a Mizuochi Ishi between Wakiishis is the traditional way of making a waterfall in Japanese garden described in Sakuteiki (『作庭記』) , the oldest text book in the 11the century for garden making.

And the upper part of the fall. “観音” is a 観音石 (Kannon Seki) and “鯉” is a 鯉魚石 (Rigyoseki/ Carp stone). The carp faces the last difficulty and on the verge of reaching the Kannon’s wisdom to be a dragon.

Ryoumanbakus in other places

The most important one is in the upper garden of Saihoji temple but it doesn’t open up the gate for us because only monks could be in the garden for their training.

I guess the one to be found easily is in Kinkakuji temple. There is a small Ryumonbaku behind Shariden (Golden pavilion) though only a few people pay attention to it. This one has only one dam. You’ll find it along the pathway.

The carp figurine of Koiyama (Atomatsuri of Gion Matsuri) is becoming a dragon.

七里ヶ浜親方

Koinobori in Tango no Sekku (A ceremony for boys) is based on this poem.

The Tsukubai of Ryoanji temple gives us a message: Chisoku. It means “I already know I have all I want to have.”

Tsukubai (Washbasin) 蹲

The Rock Garden belongs to a Hojo of Ryoanji temple. In the backyard of the facility, there is a Tsukubai (wash basin). It is a replica of the one Mitsukuni Tokugawa (one of Ieyasu’s grandson) donated in the 17th century.

七里ヶ浜親方

The authentic one. We can’t see it usually.

The washbasin has a square hole and looks like an old Japanese coin. Around the hole, there are four letters. They make four Kanji with the square individually.

They read in clockwise;

“吾”(ware)

“唯”(tada)

“足”(taru)

“知”(siru).

We can find a sentence “吾唯知足” in the washbasin.

The sentence means “I already know I have all I want to have.”

There is a description near the washbasin. It put it:

This is a replica of a Tsukubai (washbasin) belongs to Zorokuan tea room of Ryoanji. It reads that I already know I have all I want to have. It is believed that Mitsukuni Tokugawa (one of grandsons of Ieyasu Tokugawa) donated it (to Ryoanji). The sentence was inspired by the following sentences in Yuikyogyo sutra: 知足之人雖貧而富 不知足者雖富而貧. This thought is the most important thing of Zen and Sado. It brings us peace.

不知足者雖富而貧　知足之人雖貧而富

Yuikyogyo sutra is a compilation of the Buddha’s last teachings and considered as his will. Let us make a inspection on it.

Those who know they have all they want to have are rich though they are poor, the sentence means what now we have is precious.

Our desire, or greed, is infinite. With it, we can’t be fulfilled. In Buddhism, desire is a cause of Ku that makes us suffer. If we are content with what we have, i.e., the current state, we can get rid of Ku. This don’t mean to maintain the status quo but means we can find our overlooked happiness in front of us. I’m afraid this explanation is abstract but just think about what I mean. I suppose you’ll find infinite hope. 合掌

Zen words are short sentences lead us to Zen. I’ll post some of them occasionally. Zen is a way to understand the aim of Buddhism and I’ll show you it before tell you the words. 合掌

たけちよ

In Japanese, we say “Zen is a way to understand the truth of Buddhism” but I say “aim” in stead of “the truth” because I suppose “aim” would be better to understand it.

What is the “aim” of Buddhism?

The aim and three principals

A brochure available written by Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai shows us the answer. It puts it, “Over 2,500 years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha realized the origin of the sufferings of this world and revealed the path to go beyond them.” This is the “aim.”

He found three principles for it: 諸行無常(Shogyo Mujo), 諸法無我(Shohoh Muga), and 涅槃寂静(Nehan Jyakujo).

諸行無常(Shogyo Mujo)

諸行無常(Shogyo Mujo) means that nothing is eternal and everything is changeable. This principal doesn’t deny the existence of everything. It means everything is a process or a result of changing or vanishing.

In a nutshell, he found everything we see and everything inside of us a process or a result of changing or vanishing.

諸法無我(Shohoh Muga)

諸法無我(Shohoh Muga) means 因縁(In-nen) give birth to the processes or the results. 因(In) and 縁(Pronounced “En” individually) are “cause” of everything we see and everything inside of us.

Due to 因縁(In-nen), many things and phenomena are born and cease to exist without cease, i.e., everything, including us, in the universe is changing without stopping. With this principle, we found there is no “我(Ga).”

“我(Ga)” means “i” or “myself.” The idea doesn’t deny “I am”, or our existence. In this principal, “I am” or “our existence” is a process or a result of changing or vanishing caused by many things and phenomena that are born and cease to exist.

Shakyamuni Buddha realized that people found their existence “fixed” and this idea made them suffer.

涅槃寂静(Nehan Jyakujo)

Understanding and getting rid of the cause of sufferings, we could be in Nirvana.

What is Zen?

Zen is one of the way to reach “the aim” of Buddhism through experiences, not words. Zen words guide you to them.

Next post is 知足(Chisoku), the words found in Ryoanji temple.合掌

Zen Words 2: Chisoku 我唯足知につき英語で説明

The Tsukubai of Ryoanji temple gives us a message: Chisoku. It means "I already know I have all I want to have."

kyotokankoyagi.com

2025.02.13

In this post, I’ll show you an itinerary to enjoy the autumn leaves in Kyoto in late November or early December: Tofukuji tempole, Komyoin temple, Korinin temple, Ryoanji temple, and Toji. We can enjoy the best autumn leaves and night illumination. The 4 out of 5 destinations are Zen temples.

Start at JR/ Keihan Tofukuji sta.東福寺駅からスタート

JR/ Keihan Tofukuji station at 8:10

たけちよ

The view on Gaunkyo bridge.

It takes about 10 minutes to Tofukuji usually but it would take 20 minites in autumn leaves season due because we take photos on Gaunkyo bridge (the red annotation on the map).

1. Tofukuji temple 東福寺の紅葉

About Tofukuji temple 東福寺について

Tofukuij used to be have thousands of Sakura trees. And they were cut down in the 15th century because Sakura admirers visited the temple and they prevented the monks from Buddhist training in calmness every spring. Later, the temple planted Kaede trees. Today, it was known as one of the most poplar and crowded place to enjoy autumn leaves in Kyoto despite the monk’s will.

Tofukuji has 2 places to visit. The stroll garden and Honbo garden.

Tsutenbashi bridge　通天橋付近

The stroll garden is located in Sangyoku Kan valley in the temple (Tofukuji is a large complex of facilities),

います。）雑誌などでみると、東福寺の紅葉は色彩が有無を言わさず迫ってくるような印象を受けますが、実際は繊細さが際立っています。

シカさん

Tsutenkyo bridge

There is a bridge called Tsutenkyo bridge. First, we stroll around the valley and admire the iconic view from the bridge.

お福さん

Tsutenkyo is abridge over the stream in the valley.

七里ヶ浜親方

The iconic view from Tsutenkyo bridge. The one in the photo is Gaunkyo bridge we crossed on the way to Tofukuji temple.

There are beautiful mosses. Enjoy the leaves fell off on them.

Honbo garden　本坊庭園

Honbo means a main facility in a temple. The one of Tofukuji is surrounded by  four gardens designed by Shigemori Mirei, the prominent garden artist in the 20th century.

たけちよ

My favorite garden artist.

In the north garden, we can enjoy extraordinary “Gradation” if we can visit there in proper time.

The south garden is a very impressive Karesaunsui. It stands for Hassou Jodou, the eight important events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama.

Tsytenkyo bridge from Honbo.

To Komyoin temple 光明院に向け出発

It takes about 5 minuites on foot.

2. Komyoin temple 光明院の紅葉

About Komyoin temple 光明院について

Komyoin temple is one of the most underrated place in Kyoto. It is a sub-temple of Tofukuji. As referred before, the garden was designated Shigemori Mirei. He is known as “Sessyu in Showa period.”

たけちよ

Sessyu is a Zen monk and artist in the 15th century. He is a master of Japanese ink painting. Mirei is a Karesansui garden designer and Karesansui is a developed Japanese garden under the influence of Chinese ink painting imported in the 14th century.

Komyoin is also known as “Niji no Kokedera (A moss temple in the rainbow)” and we can admire beautiful mosses.

Komyoin temple, the best Zen garden in Kyoto

Komyoin is solemn, uderrated temple but has the best Zen garden to meditate in Kyoto. Let us visit there in four seasons and enjoy cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, and snow!

kyotokankoyagi.com

2018.04.25

Hashintei garden 波心庭

They are exquisite autumn leaves in the Karesansui Avant-garde.

Near the entrance アプローチ付近

The path to the entrance is an extravaganza.

To JR Kyoto sta.  JR京都駅に向け出発

We head for JR Kyoto sta. by way of JR Tofukuji sta.

3. Near JR Kyoto sta.

たけちよ

Lunch time, BAAAHHH!!!

Have a lunch in the restaurant near the station.

4. Subway Kyoto sta.　地下鉄京都駅

Around 13:00, we take subway Karasuma line for Kokusai Kaikan. Get off at Kitaoji sta. and go to Kitaoji bus terminal located next to the station.

At Kitaoji bus terminal, go to BLUE BUS STOP E or G.

• E: 205
• G; 204, 206

Take 204, 205, and 206 and get off at Daitokuji mae bus stop.

It takes about 5 minutes from Daitkuji mae bus stop to Korin in temple.

5. Korinin temple 興臨院の紅葉

About Korinin temple 興臨院について

ドラゴン船

In 2024, we can visit Korinin from 9/28 to 12/15.

Korinin is a sub-temople of Daitokuji temple and the best and the most underrated place to admire autumn leaves in Kyoto. It is not open to public usually but it opens up the gate for us in spring and fall.

七里ヶ浜親方

THE BEST PLACE ON THE PLANET. DO NOT MISS IT, RIGHT?

The garden in front of Hoji is a Karesansui and the one located in the backyard is extraordinary. We can enjoy the exquisite colors in the exquisite leaves every year without fail.

The ground with mosses is covered with the fallen leaves casually.

シカさん

EXQUISITENESS in TRANQUILITY. Sakuras in Haradanien and autumn leaves in Korinin are spectaculars.

To Ryoanji temple 龍安寺に向け出発

6. Ryoanji temple 龍安寺の紅葉

About Ryoanji temple 龍安寺について

Ryoanji has the most famous Karesansui garden called “The Rock Garden” and we can admire the autumn leaves there. It also has a large stroll garden and we can enjoy beautiful ones there.

The Rock Garden 石庭

The Rock Garden is a garden belongs to Hojo. Karesansui garden has no plants usually but we can admire the autumn leaves as Shakkei. Shakkei is an art of appreciating Japanese garden. We take advantage or the object as a background.

The meaning of Ryoanji Zen Rock Garden

No one tells the meaning of "The Rock Garden" of Ryoanj in Kyoto precisely despite its fame. Fortunately, we have some hypotheses. In this article, we make an inspection on the garden with them.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2019.08.05

The Rock Garden of Ryoanji hides religious syncretism in Japan

The Zen garden/Rock Garden of Ryoanji temple is one of the most famous gardens in Japan. In this article, we learn about the religious syncretism (Shinto, Buddhism) it hides behind.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2022.02.22

The Back yard 方丈庭園

The hojo also has a backyard garden as Korinin temple. The Rock garden is crowded but the backyard is very quiet.

This is a wash basin located there.

The Kanjis read in clockwise;

“吾”(ware)

“唯”(tada)

“足”(taru)

“知”(siru)

“吾唯知足” read “ware tada taru wo shiru.”

The following are my translation:

I already have all I want to have./ I’ve just find I have what I want to have.

シカさん

Famous Zen words.

The stroll garden and Kyotchi pond 鏡容池

We stroll around Kyochi pond. The pond used to be more famous than the rock garden in the old days.

To JR Kyoto sta. 京都駅に向け出発

七里ヶ浜親方

Not the one we got off some 1 hour before, right?

7. Near Kyoto sta. 京都駅

たけちよ

Dinner time, BAAAH!!!

After dinner, we head for the night illumination at Toji temple. About 10 minutes walk.

8. Toji (Night illumination)　東寺の紅葉 （ライトアップ）

About  about temple 東寺について

Toji is famous for so-called 3-D mandala and the pagoda. The night illumination in spring and fall is one of the best night illuminations in Kyoto. We can enjoy the pagoda in Mizukagami in both season.

Toji temple autumn leaves night illumination 2025

Toji provides us with autumn leaves night illumination and special night visit to Kodo hall in 2024. We can admire so-called "3-D mandala" at night.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2022.10.31

Toji temple Sakura/ Cherry blossom night illumination 2026

Toji offers us the most amazing Sakura illumination in Kyoto. In this article, you can learn the ways to them with introduction of the temple.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2018.09.17

Mizukagami is an art of admiring something. In fall, there usually no wind and we can enjoy a clear Mizukagami.

シカさん

Mizukagami is a reflection. Check this out.

What is Mizukagami, a.k.a., reflection 水鏡につき英語で説明

Mizukagami is a reflection on water, especially pond. In this post, I'll show you what it is and the idea hiding behind it. 合掌

kyotokankoyagi.com

2023.11.12

Toji is one of a few places the autumn leaves in vivid red.

THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• This page Introduction, the meaning of Japanese gardens, Karesausui of pre-Muromachi era, and Karesansui of post-Muromachi era
• Page 2  The reasons for the development

The following is the contents of this article.

Introduction

The rock garden of Ryoanji temple is often called “Zen garden” though it sounds strange to Japanese people. We never call it Zen garden at all. It is a Karesansui (garden).

In this post, we learn what Karesansui is overviewing a short history of it. 合掌

What do Japanese traditional gardens mean?

Karesanui garden is a type of Japanese traditional garden which hides our respect and gratitude for nature.

たけちよ

It’s a long story. Check out the link below.

The Rock Garden of Ryoanji hides religious syncretism in Japan

The Zen garden/Rock Garden of Ryoanji temple is one of the most famous gardens in Japan. In this article, we learn about the religious syncretism (Shinto, Buddhism) it hides behind.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2022.02.22

The way of traditional garden making is described in Sakuteiki , the oldest text book for Japanese gardening written in the 11th century.

シカさん

It is the most important and influential book for Japanese gardening.

Sakuteiki put it:

”石を立てん事、まづ大旨をこゝろふべき也。

一、地形により、池のすがたにしたがひて、よりくる所々に、風情をめ□□□□、生得の山水をおもはへて、その所々は□こそありしかと、おもいひよせ〱たつべきなり。”

Translation (summary):

To make gardens, remember the following;

1. Make a close inspection of the land and pond(s), Compose a garden as though it was a landscape in nature taking into consideration what real mountains and water (sea, river, stream. pond, etc.) are.

七里ヶ浜親方

In a nutshell, Sakuteiki wants a land and at least one pond. And it asks garden designer and constructor to duplicate nature in the gardens they make.

The gardens described in Sakuteiki belong to residences of aristocrats.They were large enough to have ponds and streams.

たけちよ

Of course there were many types of gardens since 11th century. But they are in the ways Sakuteiki indicates because the foundation of Japanese garden making is written in it.

Karesansui of pre-Muromachi period

たけちよ

Summary of the Karesansui in Sakuteiki. We call it “Karesansui of Pre-Muromachi period.”

Sakuteiki also describes Karesansui.

”池もなく鑓水もなき所に、石をたつる事あり、これを枯山水となづく。”

Karesansui: (In some place in a garden,) To place rocks on the ground, not in ponds or streams.

Basically, rocks in a traditional garden are stuck in water (usually a pond or a small steam) and Sakuteiki says that we can place rocks in Tsukiyama (artificial small mountain ) or Nosuji (a peak of small artificial hill ) exceptionally.

七里ヶ浜親方

Take a look at the photo. Rocks are in the pond. Under the surface, these rocks are surrounded by small rocks which work as reinforcement. That’s a basic way to place rocks.

On the other hand, There also are rocks behind them and they are just on the ground (actually they are stuck into the ground), not surrounded by any rocks.

The Karesansui of post-Muromachi period

たけちよ

Summary of the Karesansui of Post-Muromachi period.

七里ヶ浜親方

Now take a look at the rock garden of Ryoanji.

1. Ryoanji has a large stroll garden but the rock is separated from is with walls, i.e., it is a individual garden.
2. The garden is flat and has no artificial mountains.

In next chapter, we learn how such gardens were developed.

THE GIST OF THIS ARTICLE

• This page　Introduction, what is religious syncretism, Shinto found in The Rock Garden
• Page 2　Four kinds of Niwa, Buddhism found in The Rock Garden, Conclusion　

The following is the contents of this page.

Introduction

The Zen garden/Rock Garden of Ryoanji temple is one of the most famous gardens in Japan.

In this post, we learn about the religious syncretism it hides behind in historical point of view.

七里ヶ浜親方

It’s gonna be a long story, O.K.?

What is religious syncretism?

Religious syncretism means a fusion of diverse religious belief.

Japan has Shinto, the indigenous religion to it for centuries. No one can tell when it was originated but some ruins tell us that it has over 2,000 years of history.

In the 6th century, Buddhism was brought to our country from India. Since then, both of them have been fused and coexisted in a phenomenon called Shinbutsu Shugo(神仏習合).

We can find an example of this coexistence in “The rock garden” of Ryoanji.

Shinto found in The Rock Garden

Niwa and Kami

“The Rock garden” is a kind of Teien (Garden in English). The word is derived from “Niwa.”

In the authentic sense, Niwa means a place where some activity is carried on. The most important thing took place there were ritual and prayer.

In prehistoric times, our ancestors considered mountains as one of the places to which Kami descend. Kami, known as Shinto Deity today, is spirit(s) we found in natural phenomena or nature itself.  For example, mountains provided our ancestors with wild food resources and were very closed to them and they showed respect and gratitude for nature.

They left the mountains

In Yayoi period (300 BC to 300 AD), rice cultivating was brought to Japan from ancient China, our ancestors left mountains and started to live in plains for rice paddy but they still considered mountains as one of the most sacred places.

『古事記(Kojiki)』, the earliest chronicle on Japanese history, describes Kami and the history of the Japanese Imperial family, puts it: 於御諸山 拜祭意富美和之大神前.

The sentence shows us the way a priest carries out a ritual in the mountain (山).

In the 6th century, Shinto shrines were developed as permanent place to hold ritual under the influence of Buddhism. They were build with Chinshu no Mori forest (糺の森) as a substitute for the mountains because they still wanted the sacred place for rituals and prayers though they left the places they used to live in.

Niwa for rituals

『古事記(Kojiki)』also puts it: 爾出雲國造之祖・名岐比佐都美、餝青葉山而立其河下、將獻大御食之時、其御子詔言「是於河下、如青葉山者、見山非山。若坐出雲之石之曾宮、葦原色許男大神以伊都玖之祝大廷乎。」

It narrates a ritual held in a garden where a tree ornamented with lots of leaves and the tree is a substitute for mountain. It shows us that the garden was a place for ritual but a mountain was still in need as a place for ritual.

『日本書記(Nihon Shoki)』, the second oldest chronicle on Japanese history puts it: 天照大神、手持寶鏡、授天忍穗耳尊而祝之曰「吾兒、視此寶鏡、當猶視吾。可與同床共殿、以爲齋鏡。」復勅天兒屋命・太玉命「惟爾二神、亦同侍殿內、善爲防護。」又勅曰「以吾高天原所御之穗、亦當御於吾兒。」

This is one of the most famous episodes in Japanese mythology. It describes Amaterasu Ohomikami (天照大神), the ancestor of the Imperial family, gave Ameno Oshihomimi (授天忍穗耳尊) a rice plant and an order to feed Japan with it. Now Ameno Oshihomimi is permitted to reign the country. The rice plant he were given used to belong to Yuniwa(齋庭), the sacred garden.

『万葉集(Manyoshu)』, the oldest compilation of Waka poem and known as the source of the name of the Imperial period Reiwa, puts it: 尓波(Niwa)奈加能 阿須波乃可美尓 古志波佐之 阿例波伊波々牟 加倍理久麻泥尓.

The poem is roughly translated in modern Japanese as 庭中の阿須波の神に小柴さし我れは斎はむ帰り来までに. It means that I hold a small ritual and pray that I shall come back here again in Niwa.

The Wakas in Manyoshu were composed by people in various classes. It tells us that Niwa was a popular place for rituals those days.

The most appropriate example for the usage of Niwa is Gion Matsuri festival. It was started as a Buddhist ritual called Gion Goryoe held in a private garden of the emperor called Shinsen-en. It may sound strange to you but it is very appropriate in terms of the role of Niwa.

Komyoin temple is a tiny temple of Rinzai school. It is the best place to meditate in Zen garden though it has scarce visitors. Even Japanese tourists, except “Kyoto enthusiasts”, have little knowledge about it.

たけちよ

About Zen garden?

Zen garden or Karesansui? 枯山水庭園英語で説明

"Zen garden" sounds strange for us. It is a Karesansui (garden). In this post, we learn what Karesansui is overviewing a short history of it.

kyotokankoyagi.com

2023.06.12

The short history of Komyoin temple and Mirei Shigemori

Compared to other temple like Kyomizu dera, Komyoin temple is rather new to Kyoto. It was built in 1391 by Kinzan Minsyo as a sub-temple of Tofukuji temple. The Zen rock garden was built in 1939 by a famous garden designer Mirei Shigemori. He is the most outstanding garden designer in the 20th century. “Hashin no niwa,” the Zen garden of Komyoin is one of his masterpieces. We have scarce information on the temple and its garden but I suppose the huge typhoon in 1934 devastated the original garden; It put many temples and gardens in Kyoto into debris.

1934 is a critical year not only for the gardens but for Mirei. Japanese garden always has no blue prints. Garden designers and temples were at a loss for reconstructing them. He made large inspection on 300 temples and gardens for 3 years to find the tradition of Japanese garden designing, especially that of rock garden, was on the verge of extinct. His through study of the art of gardening and the odyssey around the archipelago for a third of a decade made him a Zen garden master.

Hashin no niwa, or 波心の庭, the Zen rock garden of Komyoin

What’s the meaning of the garden?

The Zen rock garden of Komyoin is called “Hasini no niwa (波心庭).” It is named after a Zen riddle. Take a look at the Kanji letters on the hand scroll in the picture above. It  reads “無雲生嶺上　有月落波心 (kumo no reijyo ni syozurukoto nakunba   tukino hasin ni otsuru ari ).”

An apprentice asked a Zen master, “What is the Buddhism?”.  He answered “If we have no clouds, we can see the moon on the surface (of water)”.

What did he mean? I’ll show you the answer later.

The best garden to meditate in Kyoto.

Let me explain the most important idea about the Zen Buddhism is “即今、当処、自己 (Sokkon, tohsyo, jiko).”

即今(sokkon) stands for “this moment, not yesterday, not tomorrow, not today.”

当処(tohsyo) stands for “here, or the place you are in.”

自己(jiko) stands for “myself.”

IDEST, the words mean “I live my life right here, right now.”

Zen garden is a place to exercise the idea. All we can do is to under stand the fact that “I live my life right here, right now”, not to meditate. Of course you can meditate if you would like to!

Let us be in the garden!

The construction of the Zen garden

The rock garden

Komyoin temple is known as “虹の苔寺(Niji no koke dera. Moss temple in rainbow.).” Mirei Shigemori is famous for his art of stones and moss. In Hasin no niwa, stones standing on a velvet-like moss showing off their physical strength. The ground covered with moss stands for “州浜 (suhama),” or beach with small inlets. Take a look at the place the arrow indicates. There are small stones. They indicate splash of sea water for which white pebbles stand.

The garden has 75 stones. There are three grouping of three stones (Indicated in the picture with numerals) and the left. Each grouping stands for “三尊(sanzon), the way we line up Buddhist statues. In sanzon, we put main statue in center and sub-statues in the both side of the main. In the garden, each grouping means “釈迦三尊 (Syaka sanzon : Buddha, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra),” “阿弥陀三尊 (Amida sanzon : Amitabha, Guanyin, and Mahasthamaprapta,” and “薬師三尊 (Bhaisajyaguru, Suryaprabha, and Candraprabha.” And in the end, theses three grouping stand for Amida sanzon. There are five buildings to admire the garden.

“If we have no clouds, we can see the moon on the surface (of water)”, what does it mean?

The answer is “If your mind is clear, you can find the Buddhism in the reflection of the moon on the surface of water.”

The approach

Behind the entrance gate, there is an approach to the entrance. We gain the expectations to the garden.

観庭楼 Kan tei roh

Kan tei roh means “A house to see garden.” It is the largest building around the garden. We can have Japanese tea (Not always).

The entrance belongs to Kan tei roh.

It has stunning corridors. Each of them are made of one piece of long board. I’ve never seen such long boards in any other places. About 26 feet.

方丈　Hojo

The most important building. There are statue of Buddha and alter.

書院 Shoin

Shoin is a study in Buddhist temple. In this shoin, we can enjoy view of the garden through “吉野窓 (Yoshino mado).” We enjoy views of the garden through Yoshino mado as though it was a flame of a picture.

The glasses are hand-crated. Their uneven surface make the garden blurred.

 羅月庵

It is said there is a tea house to admire the moon on the east sky. It’s “Ragetsu an” but we can not find it. I suspect it is a house behind the maple trees.(indicated with the arrow)

両行庵 Ryo koh an

There is also a tea room. It is open to public in fall. We have a complete view of the garden.

Typical expression in Japanese language

Let us learn about Japanese language. There is a signboard at the entrance gate of Komyoin.

It literally reads; We don’t expect many visitors. If you don’t thirst for the garden, I’m afraid you better leave here because your entrance might hurt the pride of the garden. Before make your decision, ask yourself what you would like to. Behind this gate, behave yourself with decency. We believe in YOU. We thank you in advance.

It actually means; Behave yourself, or leave here right now. No rioters allowed.

Komyoin is a very solemn place. Only serious person has a permission to enter but if you said to visitor “Behave yourself, or leave here right now,” you would be a person with no decency. So, the writer warned visitor with gentle expressions.

It is a typical way in Japanese language; we don’t want to hurt others’ pride.

Japan and  Nature

Let us learn about one more peculiar thing in Japan. Take a look at the picture. It was taken inside of Kan tei roh. You can see the garden inside of a house and there are no walls. It is a typical construction of Japanese residence.

Instead of walls, we have “障子 (syouji), a sliding door”.  Shoji is put into ditches in floor and ceiling and we can pull it out easily. In the first picture, there is only one shoji but in the second picture, we can put many more shoji in the diches and these shoji work as a wall. This construction of house depends on our attitude toward Nature.

In Japanese language, Nature is translated “自然 (sizen)” but I suppose these words are quite different. The most different thing between two words is the way we treat it. For Japanese people, Nature is not an object at all. For example, we can say “We conquer Mt. Fuji.” There is nothing wrong with the sentence semantically but it sounds very strange to us because Nature is not an object to be conquered. For us Nature is not an object but a state; We are in Nature. This is the proper expression of our attitude. We are in Nature and Nature is close to us.

We detest to be separated from Nature and our attitude to it make large contribution to things indigenous to our country. 合掌

For seasons in Komyoin

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

About Kohrin-in

Official name　Enichi san Komyoin 慧日山光明院

Address　 15-809, Honcho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto city, 605-0981

Phone no.　075-561-7317

Official Website : Not available.

Open hours: 8:00am – twilight

Entrance admission fee:300yen

Access to Komyoin

Get off at JR/Keihan Tofukuji station. It takes 10 minuites to Komyoin on foot.

たけちよ

On Nov. 26th, Migoro.

A short history of Kohrin-in

In the 1520’s, Hatakeyama Yoshifusa, the federal lord of Noto region (Today’s Ishikawa and Toyama prefecture) founded a small sub-temple of Daitokuji temple. The temple was named “Korin-in” after the Buddhist name of the founder. He invited “Shoh-kei”, the most reliable monk of Daitokuji as a co-founder. In a decade, the temple was caught by the fire and burnt down and the Hatakeyamas went into decline.

In 1581, Maeda Toshiie, one of  the most prosperous federal lord at that time in Kaga, today’s Ishikawa pref., made a great contribution to the restoration of the temple and make the temple his “Bodai-ji”.

Each Japanese family belongs to Bodai-ji and we worship our ancestors there. It may sound strange a lord of Kaga (It is about 160 mile from Kyoto to Kaga.) had a family temple in Kyoto but he had a good reason. In those days, to have a family temple in the capital is a thing to be proud of.

From 1975 to 1978, the temple restored anew. Some gates and the dry rock garden was reconstructed and “Kuri”, a residence of monks.

These days, it opens to public during short periods of time in spring and fall.

The construction of Kohrin-in

The entrance gate 表門

This is one of the oldest gate and classified as Important Cultural Property of Japan.

Karamon 唐門

Building in a typical Zen-style in Muromachi period (1336 – 1573). It is also classified as Important Cultural Property of Japan.

It has a window called “Kato mado (花頭窓)”. There is a built-in bench in front of it.

In the days of old, visitors waited on it, and admire the garden taking advantage of the window as a frame. (Today it is prohibited to be seated on it.)

The dry garden 方丈前庭園（水源一滴の庭）

The garden was rebuilt in the restoration in the 1974 by Kinsaku Nakane, a famous gardener in the 20th century.

Sometimes, we cannot tell what a dry garden in Zen temple means but it is not the case of the garden in Korin-in.

Take a look at the picture. In front of it, we can see a rock bridge. It stands for a bridge in Kokusei-ji temple in the ancient China. The temple gave birth to the Tendai school of the Buddhism. In the ancient times, hermits called “Kanzan” and “Jittoku” inhabited there. Zen monks admire the way of life they took and often draw them in a hand scroll and make poem about them.

Take another look at the garden. Behind the bridge, there are mountains. They stand for Mt Horais. In the ancient China, it is believed that “Sennin” lives there. Sennin is a hermit who exercise the art of eternity in deserted place.

In front of the mountains, there is a place filled with white sands. It means ocean.

This garden means : A rain drop fell on the Mt. Horais make a stream and runs under the bridge. In the end, it make vast ocean.

It implies the way the Buddhism spread around all over the world.

Hojo 方丈

“Hojo” is a building in Buddhist temple.The hojo in Kohrin-in is built in the typical Zen fashion. Take a look at the picture above. The Hojo has 6 rooms. Let us discuss about them. (Sorry, we are not allowed to take picture!)

1 Shichyu 室中

Shichyu is the most important room in Hojo. There are statue of Buddha and a monk called “Shoh-kei”, the monk who co-fouded Kohrin-in.

Usually, a statue of a deity in a temple stays at the center in front of the back wall but there is a statue of Shoh-kei at the center instead in Kohrin-in. This is a peculiarity in a temple of the Daitokuji school. They put a statue of the co-founder of a temple at the center.

2 Rai no ma 礼の間

This is a reception room. It has “Shohji”, kind of sliding doors work as wall. An artist named Beisai Muraishi painted grape vines on them. They are printed in very subtle way. The leaves looks like birds who are flying away.

3 Danna no ma 檀那の間

“Danna” is a patron of temple. After the reception room, they go to the room.

In Zen temple, Danna no ma is the best place to admire the garden because V.I.P.s are deserved to the privilege to be there. Almost all Zen temples, including Korin-in, don’t allow us to be in Danna no ma. All we can do is to see the garden in front of it.

4 Ehatsu/Ihatsu no ma 衣鉢の間

A dressing room. Ihatsu has a special meaning. “I” means garment of Buddhist monk and “Hatsu” means a bowl they uses. In Japanese saying, “We inherit the Ihatsu.”. Buddhist monk inherits the necessities, i.e. I and Hatsu from elder monk.

When we learn something important from others, we say “We inherit the Ihatsu.”. For example, we can say a maiko (She is an apprentice of geiko) inherits Ihatsu from an elder geiko.

5 Minzo 眠蔵

Minzo stands for ” a place to sleep”. Actually a monk used to sleep there because he could go into Shichyu and bring important things out there in case of emergency like fire.

6 Shoin 書院

Shoin is a tiny study for monk.The shoin in Korin-in is a replica of the origin of shoin. (We can see it at Ginkakuji temple.)

Corridor

There are corridors around Hojo. We can find something funny on them. The soup bowl and mushroom. The carpenter put these into knots of corridor.

7 Tsume zuka and Kinshin toh 爪塚と琴心塔

Things related to Koto, a strumming instruments is enshrined there.

The woman at the center of the picture plays the Koto.

8 Tara yoh jyu 多羅葉樹

Before paper was invented, we used leaf of the tree as post card. We wrote down letters with bamboo pencil. Even in these days, we use it as post card.

9 Back yard

You can see something beyond words. We discuss about it later.

Kankyo tei, a tea room（涵虚亭）

Kankyo tei (涵虚亭) was named after the poem written by Su Shi, a Chinese poet in the 11th century. The word 涵 means fertility, 虚 means void and 亭 means hut. I suspect the name has something to do with Yin-yang philosophy. It is donated by Gendo Yamaguchi, a prosperous merchant in the 1920’s.

Today, it is not used as tea room but let us learn about how we enter it.

We are seated on the bench.

The bell is rang.

We walk on the passage indicated by stones.

We wash our hands at wash basin and head for the entrance.

Kankyo tei has two entrances. One is “Nijiri guchi” and the other is “Kijin/Kinin guchi”.

Nijiri guchi is a traditional entrance of tea house. It is a small sliding door and we bent down to get into a room. It is based on the Zen creed : we have to bent down knees with no consideration to the classes we belong because we are treated equal in tea room.

Kankyo tei was built in the 20th century, it is under the modern influence and has Kijin/Kinin guchi. We don’t bent down when we enter room through it.

In front of Kijin/Kinin guchi, there are stones tightened with rope. These stones called “Seki mori ishi”. They say “Don’t enter here.”. I suppose the host here believes eveyone must be treated equal.

Take a look at Katoh mado of the entrance again. There are bamboos put together with rope. They has the same meaning as Seki mori ishi. In this case, it means “Don’t be seated.”.

ATTENTION : We are not allowed to enter the room and take picture. It is a photo of a postcard I bought at Korin-in. We always can see the room behind the white arched door.

When we entered the room by Nijiri guci, it looks like this. The room is called “Sumi ita tsuki yojyo daime chashitsu”.

“Sumi ita tsuki” means “With sumi ita”. Sumi ita is a small wooden floor in front of the white door. In this room, a Host is seated to the right to the door to serve tea to guests. At tea ceremony, the host explains what a hand scroll hanging on the wall means but she/he cannot see it in the place they are in. So, they seat themselves on sumi ita to see it.

“Yojo” means “four tatami mats” and “daime” is a kind of tatami mat. “Chashitsu” is tea room.

In a nutshell, “Sumi ita tsuki yojyo daime chashitsu” means “A tearoom that has four daime-tatami mats and sumi ita on which a host to sit”.

That is a traditional way to enter the room.

These days, we enter the room by way of corridor to observe the room.

Gosyuin of Korin-in

In this fall, we can have Goshuin of Korin-in temple. 300 yen.

Spring time in Kohrin-in

We have Japanese maple at the entrance. The red ones and the green ones. The green ones turn red.

We can see tiny flowers of Japanese maple.

In rock garden, there are flowers called “Satsuki”.

In the back yard, we enjoy green maples. The prelude for the autumn colors.

Autumn in Kohrin-in

The leaves in the passage to the entrance is rather common autumn colors.

But in the back yard, we admire the most beautiful autumn leaves in Kyoto. They tuns colors in sensitive and exquisite way. Beyond words!

We cannot see these colors in any other places.

This color is fantastic. Half red, half purple.

Around twilight, Korin-in is illuminated. Beyond description, BAAAAAAH!!!!

About Kohrin-in

Official name　Kohrin-in 興臨院

Address　Kyoto city, Kita ward, Murasakino Daitokuji cho, 80, 603-8231

Phone no.　075-491-7636

Official Website : Not available.　You can have info. on Kohrinin at Kyoto shyunju website.

Open schedule in spring : 2018 March 17– June 10 (Except March 20 and 21)

Open hours : 10:00am – 4:30pm

Entrance admission fee :Adult 600yen, High school student and Junior high school student 400yen, Primary school children 300yen

Access to Kohrin-in

From JR Kyoto sta.

Take kyoto municipal subway karasuma line for Kokusai kaikan and get off train at Kitaoji sta.

Go to Kitaoji bus terminal adjacent to Kitaoji sta..

At G bus stop in Kitaoji bus terminal, take bus no. 206.

Get off bus at Daitokuji-mae bus stop.