May 7, 2008
Kyoto
Another Zen temple, this was established by Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1482 and he initially wanted it to be his retirement villa. He was the 8th Muromomachi Shogun. His intent was to cover the main structure in silver, to match Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion Temple), which was what his grandfather had built.
The plan was never carried out. He either never got around to it or just got caught up in his incense room or Noh plays. *grin* Irony of ironies though, the building intended to be a monument to ostentation ended up as a fine example of Japanese refinement and restraint (Kinkakuji I heard, is really dazzling..literally! well, it is gold-covered you know...)
Since I obviously could not visit Kinkakuji anymore due to my schedule in Nara as well as that temple being so much farther off, I really persevered in walking/wandering on and off the beaten path to at least try for a Ginkakuji look-see. For about 30 minutes or so I went from main road to side roads asking locals where this was (haha! the map just had an arrow pointing northwards and eastwards). Consequently, I saw a slice of typical Japanese life on the side roads. I even passed by a clean creek (here in our country, the equivalent would be a dirtyestero) and garbage collector (equivalent here would be the dirty dump truck).
Probably paying homage to the irony of how this temple wound up, I arrived before I could really get frustrated, only to find out it was under renovation. *Count 1 to 100* ....It did not deter me from paying up the entrance fee, and I enjoyed at least the lovely Japanese gardens surrounding the temple.
These are attributed to Soami (1465-1523) the famous landscape gardener, and consists of two contrasting sections that combine to create harmonious result. Soami is believed to have been the greatest landscape artist in medieval Japan and having his name attached to a temple in any way grants immediate distinction and prestige.
The first is a pond garden overlooked by the pavilion. It is a composition of rocks and plants designed to afford different perspectives from each viewpoint. The second garden features two sculpted mounds of sand, the higher one of which may symbolize the sacred Mt. Fuji (or..maybe it was just a mound of sand where you could get additional sand to replenish the walkways?). It was given the nickname Sea of Silver Sand due to its sparkling in the moonlight.
Schedule: Mid-Mar-Nov: daily 8:30-5; Dec-mid-Mar: daily 9-4:30
Admission: ¥600
How to get there:
If by bus: 5, 17, 102, 203, or 204 to Ginkakuji-michi (10 min); or 32 or 100 to Ginkakuji-mae (5 min)
If on foot: Along the Path of Philosophy from Nanzenji but its a long stroll...believe me...I don't see how it can be accomplished unless one has a lot of patience and time to ...uhmm....philosophize...
Kyoto
Another Zen temple, this was established by Ashikaga Yoshimasa in 1482 and he initially wanted it to be his retirement villa. He was the 8th Muromomachi Shogun. His intent was to cover the main structure in silver, to match Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion Temple), which was what his grandfather had built.
The plan was never carried out. He either never got around to it or just got caught up in his incense room or Noh plays. *grin* Irony of ironies though, the building intended to be a monument to ostentation ended up as a fine example of Japanese refinement and restraint (Kinkakuji I heard, is really dazzling..literally! well, it is gold-covered you know...)
Since I obviously could not visit Kinkakuji anymore due to my schedule in Nara as well as that temple being so much farther off, I really persevered in walking/wandering on and off the beaten path to at least try for a Ginkakuji look-see. For about 30 minutes or so I went from main road to side roads asking locals where this was (haha! the map just had an arrow pointing northwards and eastwards). Consequently, I saw a slice of typical Japanese life on the side roads. I even passed by a clean creek (here in our country, the equivalent would be a dirtyestero) and garbage collector (equivalent here would be the dirty dump truck).
Probably paying homage to the irony of how this temple wound up, I arrived before I could really get frustrated, only to find out it was under renovation. *Count 1 to 100* ....It did not deter me from paying up the entrance fee, and I enjoyed at least the lovely Japanese gardens surrounding the temple.
These are attributed to Soami (1465-1523) the famous landscape gardener, and consists of two contrasting sections that combine to create harmonious result. Soami is believed to have been the greatest landscape artist in medieval Japan and having his name attached to a temple in any way grants immediate distinction and prestige.
The first is a pond garden overlooked by the pavilion. It is a composition of rocks and plants designed to afford different perspectives from each viewpoint. The second garden features two sculpted mounds of sand, the higher one of which may symbolize the sacred Mt. Fuji (or..maybe it was just a mound of sand where you could get additional sand to replenish the walkways?). It was given the nickname Sea of Silver Sand due to its sparkling in the moonlight.
Schedule: Mid-Mar-Nov: daily 8:30-5; Dec-mid-Mar: daily 9-4:30
Admission: ¥600
How to get there:
If by bus: 5, 17, 102, 203, or 204 to Ginkakuji-michi (10 min); or 32 or 100 to Ginkakuji-mae (5 min)
If on foot: Along the Path of Philosophy from Nanzenji but its a long stroll...believe me...I don't see how it can be accomplished unless one has a lot of patience and time to ...uhmm....philosophize...
- Aug 15, '08 11:03 PM
ReplyDeletedelete reply
stormlizard wrote on Aug 16, '08
I can see that I must re-vist Kyoto in october.
PS; I've been invited to Okinawa. John.
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 16, '08
stormlizard said
I can see that I must re-vist Kyoto in october.
PS; I've been invited to Okinawa. John.
you must stay in Kyoto for more than 2 days at least...and please, do visit Kinkakuji for me...*as if its my place..hehehe*
now Okinawa would be one island I'd like to visit too...I really want to try for April visit and also go northwards (hopefully no earthquakes by that time)
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stormlizard wrote on Aug 16, '08
OK, I'll stay 3 days, then I should be able to see more than last time.
PS; Take a look at my photos from 2006 Kyoto Japan.
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 16, '08, edited on Aug 16, '08
stormlizard said
OK, I'll stay 3 days, then I should be able to see more than last time.
PS; Take a look at my photos from 2006 Kyoto Japan.
I've started a speed-scan of your Jap trip albums...:-) will be back later to leave comments...thanks for the tip!
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stormlizard wrote on Aug 16, '08
You're welcome.
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hugzone wrote on Aug 19, '08
Gawa ng Meralco?
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hugzone wrote on Aug 19, '08
Very serene...
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hugzone wrote on Aug 19, '08
Looks so simple but difficult to maintain.
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hugzone wrote on Aug 19, '08
Whose nga ba?
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hugzone wrote on Aug 19, '08
Okay. Balitaan mo kami ano yang nasa up.
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chitoirigo wrote on Aug 19, '08
Noong pumasyal kami sa isa sa mga ganitong sites, we were told by the tour-guide that it takes about two years of training to be considered qualified to do this. I cannot imagine me doing this (and only this) for 24 months! Well, maybe this will get you closer to your spirituality...
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 20, '08
now isn't it surprising? di ba dapat underground kc hich-tetch ika nga..
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 20, '08
I can imagine a boulder running down the hillside actually and squishing one of the buildings....bad cat!
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 20, '08
ah...tribute to one of my fave poets...to continue.."his house is in the village though"....and di nga lang nag-snow...
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 20, '08
hugzone said
Okay. Balitaan mo kami ano yang nasa up.
hay...wala rin..same pa rin..may nakita akong mga ads, lamps, shrine din yata..but the stairs looked inviting naman...it did look a bit deserted though, if only because I saw trash left out in the open..organized but still left out on display...
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 20, '08
chitoirigo said
we were told by the tour-guide that it takes about two years of training to be considered qualified to do this. I cannot imagine me doing this (and only this) for 24 months!
after reading this, I thought I should not complain...I was actually saying earlier - if this was a "sea" e bakit naman straight lines..dapat wavy-wavy and may ripples...e nakup...it would be difficult to rake that pala!
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 20, '08
hugzone said
Looks so simple but difficult to maintain.
I wonder what would have happened if children scampered across it...tapos me running after them (as if! but only as an excuse to make a mess..hehehe)
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hugzone wrote on Aug 20, '08
cuh888 said
I wonder what would have happened if children scampered across it...tapos me running after them (as if! but only as an excuse to make a mess..hehehe)
There would be a ninja waiting for you at the other end, with a cane to whip your sorry b....t
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cuh888 wrote on Aug 21, '08
hugzone said
There would be a ninja waiting for you at the other end, with a cane to whip your sorry b....t
and I thought I had an overactive imagination...tsk..tsk..