, officially named , is a
Zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...
Buddhist temple
A Buddhist temple or Buddhist monastery is the place of worship for Buddhists, the followers of Buddhism. They include the structures called vihara, chaitya, stupa, wat and pagoda in different regions and languages. Temples in Buddhism represen ...
in
Kyoto
Kyoto (; Japanese: , ''Kyōto'' ), officially , is the capital city of Kyoto Prefecture in Japan. Located in the Kansai region on the island of Honshu, Kyoto forms a part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kobe. , the ci ...
,
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
.
It is one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto, attracting many visitors annually.
[Bornoff, Nicholas (2000). ''The National Geographic Traveler: Japan''. National Geographic Society. .] It is designated as a National Special Historic Site, a National Special Landscape and is one of 17 locations making up the
Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto
The UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) encompasses 17 locations in Japan within the city of Kyoto and its immediate vicinity. In 794, the Japanese imperial family moved the capital to Heian- ...
which are
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
s.
History
The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called ''Kitayama-dai'' (北山第), belonging to a powerful statesman,
Saionji Kintsune
was a ''waka'' poet and Japanese nobleman active in the early Kamakura period. He is designated as a member of the .
He was also a major contributor to the ''Shinchokusen Wakashū'' anthology.
In 1222AD he was appointed as the Chancellor of th ...
.
Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by ''
shōgun
, officially , was the title of the military dictators of Japan during most of the period spanning from 1185 to 1868. Nominally appointed by the Emperor, shoguns were usually the de facto rulers of the country, though during part of the Kamakur ...
''
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
was the third '' shōgun'' of the Ashikaga shogunate, ruling from 1368 to 1394 during the Muromachi period of Japan. Yoshimitsu was Ashikaga Yoshiakira's third son but the oldest son to survive, his childhood name being Haruō (). Yoshimitsu ...
and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex.
When Yoshimitsu died the building was converted into a
Zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...
temple by his son, according to his wishes.
[Scott, David (1996). ''Exploring Japan''. Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. .]
During the
Ōnin war
The , also known as the Upheaval of Ōnin and Ōnin-Bunmei war, was a civil war that lasted from 1467 to 1477, during the Muromachi period in Japan. ''Ōnin'' refers to the Japanese era during which the war started; the war ended during the Bunmei ...
(1467–1477), all of the buildings in the complex aside from the pavilion were burned down.
On 2 July 1950, at 2:30 am, the pavilion was burned down
by a 22-year-old novice monk, Hayashi Yoken, who then attempted suicide on the Daimon-ji hill behind the building. He survived, and was subsequently taken into custody. The monk was sentenced to seven years in prison, but was released because of mental illnesses (
persecution complex
A persecutory delusion is a common type of delusional condition in which the affected person believes that harm is going to occur to oneself by a persecutor, despite a clear lack of evidence. The person may believe that they are being targeted by a ...
and
schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social withdra ...
) on 29 September 1955; he died of
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
in March 1956. During the fire, the original statue of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was lost to the flames (now restored). A fictionalized version of these events is at the center of
Yukio Mishima
, born , was a Japanese author, poet, playwright, actor, model, Shintoist, Nationalism, nationalist, and founder of the , an unarmed civilian militia. Mishima is considered one of the most important Japanese authors of the 20th century. He was ...
's 1956 book ''
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
is a novel by the Japanese author Yukio Mishima. It was published in 1956 and translated into English by Ivan Morris in 1959.
The novel is loosely based on the burning of the Reliquary (or Golden Pavilion) of Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto by a young Bud ...
'',
and another in the ballet ''
RAkU''.
The present pavilion structure dates from 1955, when it was rebuilt.
The pavilion is three stories high, in height.
[Young, David, and Michiko Young. The art of Japanese Architecture. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2007. N. pag. Print.] The reconstruction is said to be a copy close to the original, although some doubt such an extensive gold-leaf coating was used on the original structure.
In 1984, it was discovered that the gold leaf on the reconstructed building had peeled off, and from 1986 to 1987, it was replaced with 0.5 μm gold leaf, five times the thickness of the gold leaf on the reconstructed building. Although Japanese gold leaf has become thinner with the passage of time due to improved technology, the 0.5 μm gold leaf is as thick as traditional Japanese gold leaf.
Additionally, the interior of the building, including the paintings and Yoshimitsu's statue, were also restored. Finally, the roof was restored in 2003. The name Kinkaku is derived from the gold leaf that the pavilion is covered in. Gold was an important addition to the pavilion because of its underlying meaning. The gold employed was intended to mitigate and purify any pollution or negative thoughts and feelings towards death.
[Gerhart, Karen M. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. N.p.: University of Hawaii Press, 2009. N. pag. Print.] Other than the symbolic meaning behind the gold leaf, the Muromachi period heavily relied on visual excesses.
With the focus on the Golden Pavilion, the way that the structure is mainly covered in that material creates an impression that stands out because of the sunlight reflecting and the effect the reflection creates on the pond.
Design details
![Kinkaku-ji 04](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Kinkaku-ji_04.jpg)
The is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex.
The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure
gold leaf
Gold leaf is gold that has been hammered into thin sheets (usually around 0.1 µm thick) by goldbeating and is often used for gilding. Gold leaf is available in a wide variety of karats and shades. The most commonly used gold is 22-kara ...
.
The pavilion functions as a ''shariden'' (舎利殿), housing relics of the
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
(Buddha's Ashes). The building was an important model for
Ginkaku-ji __NOTOC__
, officially named , is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the constructions that represents the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period.
History
Ashikaga Yoshimasa initiated plans for creating a retirem ...
(Silver Pavilion Temple) and
Shōkoku-ji
, formally identified as , is a Buddhist temple in northern Kyoto, first founded in 1382 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, with the existing temple complex having undergone several periods of extensive reconstruction and rebuilding in the succeeding eras.
...
, which are also located in Kyoto.
When these buildings were constructed,
Ashikaga Yoshimasa Ashikaga (足利) may refer to:
* Ashikaga clan (足利氏 ''Ashikaga-shi''), a Japanese samurai clan descended from the Minamoto clan; and that formed the basis of the eponymous shogunate
** Ashikaga shogunate (足利幕府 ''Ashikaga bakufu''), a ...
employed the styles used at Kinkaku-ji and even borrowed the names of its second and third floors.
Architectural design
![Kinkakuji Kyoto05s3s3990](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Kinkakuji_Kyoto05s3s3990.jpg)
The pavilion successfully incorporates three distinct styles of architecture, which are shinden, samurai and zen, specifically on each floor.
Each floor of the Kinkaku uses a different architectural style.
The first floor, called ''The Chamber of Dharma Waters'' (法水院, Hō-sui-in), is rendered in ''
shinden-zukuri
''Shinden-zukuri'' (寝殿造) refers to an architectural style created in the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan and used mainly for palaces and residences of nobles.
In 894, Japan abolished the ''kentōshi'' (Japanese missions to Tang China) ...
'' style, reminiscent of the residential style of the 11th century
Heian imperial aristocracy.
It is evocative of the Shinden palace style. It is designed as an open space with adjacent verandas and uses natural, unpainted wood and white plaster.
This helps to emphasize the surrounding landscape. The walls and fenestration also affect the views from inside the pavilion. Most of the walls are made of shutters that can vary the amount of light and air into the pavilion
and change the view by controlling the shutters' heights. The second floor, called ''The Tower of Sound Waves'' (潮音洞, Chō-on-dō ),
is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or ''
buke-zukuri
''Shinden-zukuri'' (寝殿造) refers to an architectural style created in the Heian period (794-1185) in Japan and used mainly for palaces and residences of nobles.
In 894, Japan abolished the ''kentōshi'' (Japanese missions to Tang Chin ...
''. On this floor, sliding wood doors and latticed windows create a feeling of impermanence. The second floor also contains a Buddha Hall and a shrine dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Kannon.
The third floor is built in traditional
Chinese ''chán'' (Jpn.
zen
Zen ( zh, t=禪, p=Chán; ja, text= 禅, translit=zen; ko, text=선, translit=Seon; vi, text=Thiền) is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China during the Tang dynasty, known as the Chan School (''Chánzong'' 禪宗), and ...
) style, also known as ''zenshū-
butsuden
Main hall is the building within a Japanese Buddhist temple compound ('' garan'') which enshrines the main object of veneration.Kōjien Japanese dictionary Because the various denominations deliberately use different terms, this single English ...
-zukuri''. It is called the ''Cupola of the Ultimate'' (究竟頂, Kukkyō-chō). The zen typology depicts a more religious ambiance in the pavilion, as was popular during the Muromachi period.
The roof is in a thatched pyramid with shingles.
[Young, David, Michiko Young, and Tan Hong. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2005. N. pag. Print.] The building is topped with a bronze
''hōō'' (phoenix) ornament.
From the outside, viewers can see gold plating added to the upper stories of the pavilion. The gold leaf covering the upper stories hints at what is housed inside: the shrines.
The outside is a reflection of the inside. The elements of nature, death, religion, are formed together to create this connection between the pavilion and outside intrusions.
Garden design
The Golden Pavilion is set in a Japanese .
The location implements the idea of
borrowing of scenery ("shakkei")
Borrowed scenery (; Japanese: ; Chinese: ) is the principle of "incorporating background landscape into the composition of a garden" found in traditional East Asian garden design. The term borrowing of scenery ("shakkei") is Chinese in origin, a ...
that integrates the outside and the inside, creating an extension of the views surrounding the pavilion and connecting it with the outside world. The pavilion extends over a pond, called , that reflects the building.
The pond contains 10 smaller islands.
The zen typology is seen through the rock composition; the bridges and plants are arranged in a specific way to represent famous places in Chinese and Japanese literature.
Vantage points and focal points were established because of the strategic placement of the pavilion to view the gardens surrounding the pavilion.
A small or roofed deck is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.
The pavilion grounds were built according to descriptions of the
Western Paradise of the Buddha Amida, intending to illustrate a harmony between heaven and earth.
The largest
islet
An islet is a very small, often unnamed island. Most definitions are not precise, but some suggest that an islet has little or no vegetation and cannot support human habitation. It may be made of rock, sand and/or hard coral; may be permanent ...
in the pond represents the Japanese islands.
The four stones forming a straight line in the pond near the pavilion are intended to represent sailboats anchored at night, bound for the ''Isle of Eternal Life'' in Chinese mythology.
The garden complex is an excellent example of
Muromachi period
The is a division of Japanese history running from approximately 1336 to 1573. The period marks the governance of the Muromachi or Ashikaga shogunate (''Muromachi bakufu'' or ''Ashikaga bakufu''), which was officially established in 1338 by t ...
garden design.
[''Eyewitness Travel Guides: Japan''. Dorling Kindersley Publishing (2000). .] The Muromachi period is considered to be a classical age of Japanese garden design.
[“Pregil, Philip, and Nancy Volkman. Landscapes in History: Design and Planning in the Eastern and Western tradition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1992. N. pag. Print.”.] The correlation between buildings and its settings were greatly emphasized during this period.
It was a way to integrate the structure within the landscape in an artistic way. The garden designs were characterized by a reduction in scale, a more central purpose and a distinct setting.
[Boults, Elizabeth, and Chip Sullivan. Illustrated History of Landscape Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons INc., 2010. N. pag. Print.] A minimalistic approach was brought to the garden design, by recreating larger landscapes in a smaller scale around a structure.
Gallery
File:1930s Japan Travel Poster - 15.jpg, 1930s travel poster
File:Kinkaku-ji entrance.jpg, Entrance and ticket booth
File:Kinkaku-ji close up.jpg, Kinkaku-ji close up
File:Kinkaku-ji 03.jpg, Interior
File:Kinkaku-ji garden.jpg, Kinkaku-ji garden
File:Golden Pavillion 2010 03 29 32.jpg, The lower pond
File:Yōshū Chikanobu Kinkaku haiken.jpg, Toyohara Chikanobu
, better known to his contemporaries as ,
was a Japanese painter and printmaker who was widely regarded as a prolific woodblock artist during the Meiji epoch.
Names
Chikanobu signed his artwork . This was his . The artist's was ; and it w ...
File:Kyoto-Kinkaku-ji-White-Snake.jpg, White Snake Pagoda of Kinkaku-ji
See also
*
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
is a novel by the Japanese author Yukio Mishima. It was published in 1956 and translated into English by Ivan Morris in 1959.
The novel is loosely based on the burning of the Reliquary (or Golden Pavilion) of Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto by a young Bud ...
by Yukio Mishima, a novel loosely based on the 1950 destruction of Kinkaku-ji
*
Buntenkaku in Nagoya, modeled after the Golden Pavilion
*
Ginkaku-ji __NOTOC__
, officially named , is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the constructions that represents the Higashiyama Culture of the Muromachi period.
History
Ashikaga Yoshimasa initiated plans for creating a retirem ...
*
Shōkoku-ji
, formally identified as , is a Buddhist temple in northern Kyoto, first founded in 1382 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, with the existing temple complex having undergone several periods of extensive reconstruction and rebuilding in the succeeding eras.
...
*
Chūson-ji
is a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It is the head temple of the Tendai sect in Tōhoku region of northern Honshu. The temple claims it was founded in 850 by Ennin, the third chief abbot of the sect. ...
with golden Konjiki-dō
*
Golden Tea Room
The was a portable gilded '' chashitsu'' (tea room) constructed during the late 16th century Azuchi–Momoyama period for the Japanese regent Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi's tea ceremonies. The original Golden Tea Room is lost, but a number of recon ...
*
*
Notes
References
* Boults, Elizabeth, and Chip Sullivan. ''Illustrated History of Landscape Design''. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
* Gerhart, Karen M. ''The Material Culture of Death in Medieval Japan''. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2009.
* Pregil, Philip, and Nancy Volkman. ''Landscapes in History: Design and Planning in the Eastern and Western Tradition''. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 1992.
* Young, David, and Michiko Young. ''The Art of Japanese Architecture''. North Claredon, VT: Tuttle Publishing, 2007.
* Young, David, Michiko Young, and Tan Hong. ''Introduction to Japanese Architecture''. North Claredon, VT: Periplus, 2005.
Further reading
*
*
Schirokauer, Conrad; Lurie, David; Gay, Suzanne (2005). A Brief History of Japanese Civilization. Wadsworth Publishing. . OCLC 144227752.
External links
Official site of Kinkaku-jiOriental Architecture – Kinkakuji TempleOmamori Charms Amulets of Kinkaku-ji Temple*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kinkaku-Ji
14th-century Buddhist temples
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1955
20th-century Buddhist temples
Buddhist temples in Kyoto
World Heritage Sites in Japan
Myoshin-ji temples
Special Places of Scenic Beauty
Special Historic Sites
Religious buildings and structures destroyed by arson
Important Cultural Properties of Japan
Rebuilt buildings and structures in Japan
1397 establishments