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The Ryoan-ji temple is probably one of the most talked about, most famous temple in Kyoto. This temple also known as the temple of the peaceful dragon was a declared a World heritage site in 1994 by UNESCO. The temple belongs to the Myoshinji School of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. History The site was originally the property and residence of one of the branches of the Fujiwara family during the Heian period. The earliest known temple on this site dates back to 983. It served as the retirement home of an emperor and later became a temple known as Tokudaiji (also referred to as Enyuji). In the Muromachi period a military commander called Hosokawa Katsumoto built his mansion on this site. However he was killed in the Onin Wars and willed that 120 acres of his estate become a temple. This is when Ryoan-ji as we know it came in to existence. The original temple along with many famous temples of Kyoto was destroyed in this very war. Subsequently the temple was reconstructed in 1488-89 and it is believed that Ryoan-ji’s celebrated rock garden was established in this period. What to see: The first sight that will greet you once you enter the temple ground is the beautiful “mirror shaped” pond or the Kyoyochi. Created in the 12th century by the Tokudaiji family this pond has a very romantic trivia attached to it. The pond is also known as Oshidori ke or the pond of mandarin ducks as it is populated by these ducks. These mandarin ducks chose just one mate in their lifetime and even if their mate dies they do not chose a second mate. Needless to say, this particular pond is very popular with young couples. The most famous part of this temple is the rock garden. Ryoanji’s rock garden is revered allover as a veritable masterpiece of Japanese culture. The first thing about this temple that will strike you about this temple is its simplicity-a simplicity that is almost stark. This striking garden is 30 by 10 meters in dimension and is near impossible to photograph in totality. The garden is designed in the traditional Karesansu or dry landscape design. The garden contains 15 rocks ordered on a plane of white pebbles in such a way that tourists can see only 14 of them at once, no matter what angle the garden is viewed from. It is said that only when you attain spiritual enlightenment as a result of deep Zen meditation, can you see the last invisible stone. Philosophy of the temple:
The philosophy of Zen Buddhism is summed up effectively by the inscription around the stone water basin in front of the Zorokuan, the famous tea room.
If the square hole that holds the water in the middle of the basin is included as the radical then the four inscribed letters read as “The knowledge that is given is sufficient". Zen propagates that knowledge in itself is enough. It is not necessary that knowledge have a practical end use. The concept of contentment is held in high esteem by this religion. To be content is equated with being morally and spiritually rich. To be content is to free from greed and thus from the material trappings of this world. Ideally this would be the stage when you will be able to see the 15th stone in the garden! So though you may not attain nirvana by visiting Ryoan-ji you are sure to have an unforgettable experience that will make you richer in a way that wealth cannot.
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