上古の庭

Did the ancient gods truly reside in massive rocks? Here at the Joko no Niwa garden of Matsuo Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, that very belief takes shape. Matsuo Taisha, one of Kyoto’s oldest shrines, holds a garden that echoes ancient rituals. The Joko no Niwa, or Upper Ancient Garden, recreates the sacred grounds, the iwakura, where gods were believed to dwell. Two central rocks symbolize the enshrined god and goddess of Matsuo Taisha. Other stones embody the deities in their retinue. The placement of these stones isn’t random. They represent a sacred mountain, inaccessible to humans, where only the gods hold court. This garden whispers the story of ancient worship, a time when nature itself was divine. Matsuo Taisha’s history began in 701 AD. The Hata clan, immigrants from the Korean kingdom of Baekje, built the shrine. They enshrined the god and goddess of Mount Matsuo, weaving their beliefs into the fabric of this place. The Joko no Niwa stands as a testament to this ancient faith, a place where you can almost feel the presence of the ancient gods. The garden offers a unique perspective. It’s designed to evoke a sense of being in a high mountain setting. This is accomplished through careful placement of rocks and plantings. The Joko no Niwa stands in stark contrast to the shrine’s more modern gardens. It’s a raw, almost primal space, stripped of ornamentation and filled with the quiet power of nature. It’s a space to contemplate the ancient past, to imagine a time when gods lived in stones.