Have you ever wondered what it’s like to stand in front of a temple that holds a history spanning centuries? Here you are, standing before the Ryousho-ji temple, a breathtaking example of Zen architecture. Ryousho-ji is a Rinzai Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto. It is part of the Myoshin-ji school of Zen Buddhism. This peaceful temple boasts a garden that is considered one of the finest examples of kare-sansui, which translates to “dry landscape”.
The garden is a rectangle of 248 square meters, composed of fifteen stones of different sizes carefully placed in five groups. It is surrounded by white gravel, which is meticulously raked daily by the monks. The only vegetation in the garden is some moss surrounding the stones. Ryousho-ji was built on an estate that belonged to the Fujiwara clan in the 11th century. The first temple, the Daiju-in, and the pond were built in that century by Fujiwara Saneyoshi. In 1450, the powerful warlord Hosokawa Katsumoto acquired the land and founded the Zen temple. There is some debate as to exactly when the garden was built, but it is believed to have been created between 1450 and 1473.
The garden at Ryousho-ji is meant to be viewed from a seated position on the veranda of the hojo, the residence of the abbot. The stones are cleverly placed so that the entire composition cannot be seen at once, creating a sense of mystery and contemplation. The garden’s meaning is left open to interpretation. It is believed to represent islands in a sea, a tiger family crossing a river, or even the concept of infinity. The Ryousho-ji temple, with its remarkable garden and its rich history, is a place of both historical significance and spiritual serenity. It is worth visiting while you have the chance to step into a world where time has stood still.