Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts
Showing posts with label garden. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Bukkosekitei Garden by Mirei Shigemori

 


Komyozenji Temple is a 13th Century Rinzai Zen Temple adjacent to Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in Fukuoka.


The temple is famous for its two gardens designed by the great 20th Century master, Mirei Shigemori.


In 2016 photography of the gardens was banned, and a few years later the temple was closed to the public for renovation.


These photos were taken on two visits to the temple long before the banning of photography and visitots.


The Bukkosekitei garden is in front of the temple and is a fairly simple karensansui-style garden of raked pebbles and rocks.


The rocks are arranged in groups of three five, and seven, Shichigosan.


They are meant to represent the Chinese character for "light", hikari.


There seems to be some confusion about whether the garden can be viewed now. I recently saw some photos of this front garden taken in October 2024, but all websites still have the temple as closed.


The rear garden at the temple is spectacular and was one of the gardens that originally piqued my interest in Japanese gardens and will post shots of it in a couple of days....


Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Kobori Enshu Garden at Raikyuji Temple

 

Kobori Enshu ( 1579 - 1647 ) was an aristocrat most well known for being a Tea Master.


He was also a painter, poet, and probably the most influential garden designer of the early Edo Period.


His garden at Raikyuji Temple is considered one of his earliest garden designs.


Raikyuji is a Rinzai Zen Temple  located in the castle town of Takahashi in Okayama.


The castle, Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, is one of the 12 castles in Japan still with an original tenshu, or keep, and  is also the highest castle in Japan.


Raikyuji Temple's founding date is unknown but it was rebuilt here in 1339 as Ankokuji Temple.


In the early 16th century the temple was developed by the lord of the castle, Ueno Yorihisa. His grave is at the temple.


The temple was destroyed in a battle in 1575 but was rebuilt by the victors.


Following the Battle of Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu installed Kobori Masatsugu to rule the area.


The castle was still in a state of disrepair after the battle of 1575 so Kobori lived in and administered the area out of Raikyuji Temple.


Following his death in 1604 control passed to his son Kobori Masakazu who would later become known by the name Enshu.


He lived at the temple for 15 years and is believed to have designed the garden during that time.


The garden can be viewed from both the Shoin and building next door.


On the north side of the shoin is a small pond garden to the rear of the main hall.


The garden features heavily-pruned azalea bushes.


Obviously, when they are in bloom in May then the garden takes on quite a different appearance.


the focal point of the garden is a Crane Island with its upright central stone.


Behind it is a Turtle Island, though it is somewhat hidden.


The garden incorporates the "borrowed scenery" of Mount Atago behind it.


A stone lantern dating to 1339 is a focal point of the garden between the two buildings.


In 1974 the garden was registered as National Scenic Beauty Spot.


On this trip I visited Takahashi on Day 6 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage. The previous post was on the photogenic Kiyama Temple.


Thursday, October 10, 2024

Gardens at Raizan Sennyoji Temple

 


The pond garden at Raizan Sennyiji Temple is said to be one of the oldest gardens in all of Kyushu.


The temple is situated on the slopes of Mount Raizan in southern Fukuoka near the border with Saga.


The temple itself is said to have been founded about four centuries before Buddhism was officially introduced to Japan in the 6th century.


The pond garden is said to date back to the Muromachi Period (1336-1573)


Many temple gardens, like this one, were designed to be viewed from the Shoin study.


That is closed off to the public, but from the Reception Hall there are several viewpoints looking into the garden.


The main hall is above the garden, and from the corridor leading up to it there are also some views looking into and then down onto the garden.


The first garden you see on entering the temple grounds however is a dry landscape garden built around a huge maple tree.


Said to be 400 years old, the maple was planted by Kuroda Tsugukata in 1573 when he restored the temple.


There are a lot of maples at Sennyoji, so it is a popular spot in the autumn.


It also has a remarkable Thousand-Armed Kannon.


Sennyoji is somewhat off the beaten track with very limited access by bus, so most people drive.


I visited on day 75 of my walk along the Kyushu Pilgrimage.


I will be doing three more posts on this temple as it has a lot to see, including the lower temple area and the rakan statues on the hillside, and the Kannon and Founders Hall.


The previous post was on Ryuzenji Temple which I visited earlier in the morning


Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Yomeiji Temple Garden

 


Yomeiji is a Soto Zen temple in the former castle town of Tsuwano in the mountains of western Shimane.


It was founded in 1420 and has been the family temple for successive lords of the domain since then.


It has a thatched roof and many "treasures" to be seen, but for now I will concentrate on the garden.


Actually there are two gardens, with the last two photos of this post showing the older garden in front of the main hall.


It, however, can only be seen from a distance, though it is said that in earlier times a corridor surrounded it.


The main garden is to the rear of the priests residence.


It is not known when the garden was created nor who designed it.


The temple was rebuilt in the mid 18th century following a major fire, so it is believed the garden dates from that time.


The main focus is a Turtle Island connected by a bridge in a Koi pond.


A small waterfall runs in the hillside behind.


While the garden can be enjoyed from within the main viewing room, it is actually a stroll garden so can be explored a little.


The temple is located a short walk up a small valley off of the main area of town and is well worth a visit, especially with the Fall foliage.


Entry is only 300 yen and includes access to the temples Treasure House.


The garden is suitable for viewing all year round. These photos were taken over several visits at different times of the year.


In the next post in this series I will show the architecture and art of Yomeiji.


The previous post in this series exploring Tsuwano was on the Sagimai Heron Dance held every year.