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Coordinates: 35°02′22″N 135°43′43″E / 35.0395°N 135.7285°E / 35.0395; 135.7285
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{{Short description|Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan}}
{{Short description|Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan}}
{{About|a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan|other topics translated as "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" or "Golden Pavilion Temple" in English|Temple of the Golden Pavilion (disambiguation)}}
{{About|a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan|other topics translated as "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" or "Golden Pavilion Temple" in English|Temple of the Golden Pavilion (disambiguation)}}
{{Page numbers needed|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox religious building
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Rokuon-ji
| name = Rokuon-ji
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| year_completed = 1397<br />1955 <small>(reconstruction)</small>
| year_completed = 1397<br />1955 <small>(reconstruction)</small>
}}
}}
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{{nihongo|'''Kinkaku-ji'''|金閣寺||{{literally}} 'Temple of the Golden Pavilion'}}, officially named {{nihongo|'''Rokuon-ji'''|鹿苑寺||{{literally|[[Sarnath|Deer Garden]] Temple}}}}, is a [[Zen]] [[Buddhist temples in Japan|Buddhist temple]] in [[Kyoto]], [[Japan]].<ref name="orientalarch">{{cite web |url=http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/japan/kyoto/kinkakuji.php |title=Kinkakuji Temple - 金阁寺, Kyoto, Japan |publisher=Oriental Architecture |access-date=2010-07-13}}</ref> It is one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto, attracting many visitors annually.<ref name="bornoff2000">Bornoff, Nicholas (2000). ''The National Geographic Traveler: Japan''. National Geographic Society. {{ISBN|0-7922-7563-2}}.</ref> 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 (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)|Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto]] which are [[World Heritage Site]]s.<ref name="kyotoasano02">{{cite web |url=http://kyoto.asanoxn.com/places/ps_popularity.htm |title=Places of Interest in Kyoto (Top 15 most visited places in Kyoto by visitors from overseas) |publisher=Asano Noboru |access-date=2010-07-15}}</ref>

⚫
{{nihongo|'''Kinkaku-ji'''|金閣寺||literally "Temple of the Golden Pavilion"}}, officially named {{nihongo|'''Rokuon-ji'''|鹿苑寺||literally "[[Sarnath|Deer Garden]] Temple"}}, is a [[Zen]] [[Buddhist temples in Japan|Buddhist temple]] in [[Kyoto]], [[Japan]].<ref name="orientalarch">{{cite web |url=http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/japan/kyoto/kinkakuji.php |title=Kinkakuji Temple - 金阁寺, Kyoto, Japan |publisher=Oriental Architecture |access-date=2010-07-13}}</ref> It is one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto, attracting many visitors annually.<ref name="bornoff2000">Bornoff, Nicholas (2000). ''The National Geographic Traveler: Japan''. National Geographic Society. {{ISBN|0-7922-7563-2}}.</ref> 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 (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)|Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto]] which are [[World Heritage Site]]s.<ref name="kyotoasano02">{{cite web |url=http://kyoto.asanoxn.com/places/ps_popularity.htm |title=Places of Interest in Kyoto (Top 15 most visited places in Kyoto by visitors from overseas) |publisher=Asano Noboru |access-date=2010-07-15}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[Image:Japon-1886-41.jpg|thumb|left|Painted photograph of the Golden Pavilion in 1885. The [[gold leaf]] is peeling off due to deterioration over time.]]
[[Image:Japon-1886-41.jpg|thumb|left|Painted photograph of the Golden Pavilion in 1885. The [[gold leaf]] is peeling off due to deterioration over time.]]
The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called ''Kitayama-dai'' (北山第), belonging to a powerful statesman, [[Saionji Kintsune]].<ref name="kyotoasano01">{{cite web |url=http://kyoto.asanoxn.com/places/kinkaku/kinkakuji.htm |title=Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto |publisher=Asano Noboru |access-date=2010-07-15}}</ref> Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by ''[[shōgun]]'' [[Ashikaga Yoshimitsu]] and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> When Yoshimitsu died the building was converted into a [[Zen Buddhism|Zen]] temple by his son, according to his wishes.<ref name="bornoff2000"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}}<ref name="fodors1996">Scott, David (1996). ''Exploring Japan''. Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. {{ISBN|0-679-03011-5}}.{{page number|date=June 2020}}</ref>{{page number|date=June 2020}}
The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called ''Kitayama-dai'' (北山第), belonging to a powerful statesman, [[Saionji Kintsune]].<ref name="kyotoasano01">{{cite web |url=http://kyoto.asanoxn.com/places/kinkaku/kinkakuji.htm |title=Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto |publisher=Asano Noboru |access-date=2010-07-15}}</ref> Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by ''[[shōgun]]'' [[Ashikaga Yoshimitsu]] and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> When Yoshimitsu died the building was converted into a [[Zen Buddhism|Zen]] temple by his son, according to his wishes.<ref name="bornoff2000"/><ref name="fodors1996">Scott, David (1996). ''Exploring Japan''. Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. {{ISBN|0-679-03011-5}}.{{page number|date=June 2020}}</ref>
[[Image:Burned Kinkaku.jpg|thumb|Golden Pavilion following the 1950 arson]]
[[Image:Burned Kinkaku.jpg|thumb|left|Golden Pavilion following the 1950 arson]]


During the [[Ōnin war]] (1467–1477), all of the buildings in the complex aside from the pavilion were burned down.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/>
During the [[Ōnin war]] (1467–1477), all of the buildings in the complex aside from the pavilion were burned down.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/>


On 2 July 1950, at 2:30 am, the pavilion was burned down<ref name="whe1">{{cite web |last1=Cartwright |first1=Mark |title=Kinkakuji |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Kinkakuji/ |website=World History Encyclopedia |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> 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]] and [[schizophrenia]]) on 29 September 1955; he died of [[tuberculosis]] in March 1956.<ref>{{cite book|author=Albert Borowitz|title=Terrorism for self-glorification: the Herostratos syndrome|url=https://archive.org/details/terrorismforself0000boro|url-access=registration|access-date=1 July 2011|year=2005|publisher=Kent State University Press|isbn=978-0-87338-818-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/terrorismforself0000boro/page/49 49]–62}} See: [[Herostratos syndrome]]</ref> 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]]'s 1956 book ''[[The Temple of the Golden Pavilion]]'',<ref name="orientalarch"/> and another in the ballet ''[[RAkU (ballet)| RAkU]]''.
On 2 July 1950, at 2:30 am, the pavilion was burned down<ref name="whe1">{{cite web |last1=Cartwright |first1=Mark |title=Kinkakuji |url=https://www.worldhistory.org/Kinkakuji/ |website=World History Encyclopedia |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=23 March 2021}}</ref> by a 22-year-old novice monk, Hayashi Yoken ({{Ill|Kinkaku-ji arson incident|ja|金閣寺放火事件}}), 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]] and [[schizophrenia]]) on 29 September 1955; he died of [[tuberculosis]] in March 1956.<ref>{{cite book|author=Albert Borowitz|title=Terrorism for self-glorification: the Herostratos syndrome|url=https://archive.org/details/terrorismforself0000boro|url-access=registration|access-date=1 July 2011|year=2005|publisher=Kent State University Press|isbn=978-0-87338-818-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/terrorismforself0000boro/page/49 49]–62}} See: [[Herostratos syndrome]]</ref> 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]]'s 1956 book ''[[The Temple of the Golden Pavilion]]'',<ref name="orientalarch"/> and another in the ballet ''[[RAkU (ballet)| RAkU]]''.


The present pavilion structure dates from 1955, when it was rebuilt.<ref name="orientalarch"/> The pavilion is three stories high, {{convert|12.5|m|ft|adj=off|sp=us|abbr=off|-1}} in height.<ref name="Young, David 2007">Young, David, and Michiko Young. The art of Japanese Architecture. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2007. N. pag. Print.{{page number|date=June 2020}}</ref>{{page number|date=June 2020}} 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.<ref name="bornoff2000"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} In 1984 the coating of Japanese lacquer was found to be a little decayed and a new coating, as well as gilding with gold-leaf, much thicker than the original coatings (0.5&nbsp;[[µm]] instead of 0.1&nbsp;µm), was completed in 1987. 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.<ref name="Gerhart, Karen M 2009">Gerhart, Karen M. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. N.p.: University of Hawaii Press, 2009. N. pag. Print.{{page number|date=June 2020}}</ref>{{page number|date=June 2020}} Other than the symbolic meaning behind the gold leaf, the Muromachi period heavily relied on visual excesses.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} 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.
The present pavilion structure dates from 1955, when it was rebuilt.<ref name="orientalarch"/> The pavilion is three stories high, {{convert|12.5|m|ft|adj=off|sp=us|abbr=off|-1}} in height.<ref name="Young, David 2007">Young, David, and Michiko Young. The art of Japanese Architecture. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2007. N. pag. Print.{{page number|date=June 2020}}</ref> The reconstruction is said to be a close copy of the original, although some have questioned whether such an extensive gold-leaf coating was used on the original structure.<ref name="bornoff2000"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.koetsuan.jp/kinkaku/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023011422/http://www.koetsuan.jp/kinkaku/index.html|script-title=ja:金閣寺大修復 金閣修復 五倍箔|language=ja|author=Kazuo Yaguchi|archive-date=23 October 2021|access-date=30 October 2022}}</ref> 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 (金閣 ''gold pavilion'') 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.<ref name="Gerhart, Karen M 2009">Gerhart, Karen M. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. N.p.: University of Hawaii Press, 2009. N. pag. Print.{{page number|date=June 2020}}</ref> Other than the symbolic meaning behind the gold leaf, the Muromachi period heavily relied on visual excesses.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992"/> 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.
{{clear|left}}


==Design details==
==Design details==


[[File:Kinkaku-ji 04.jpg|thumb|right|Roof ornament]]
[[File:Kinkaku-ji 04.jpg|thumb|right|Roof ornament]]
{{Infobox Chinese
| title=Kinkaku-ji
| kanji=金閣寺
| katakana=キンカクジ
| hiragana=きんかくじ
| romaji=Kinkaku-ji
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| title=Rokuon-ji
| kanji=鹿苑寺
| katakana=ロクオンジ
| hiragana=ろくおんじ
| romaji=Rokuon-ji
}}


The {{nihongo|Golden Pavilion|金閣|Kinkaku}} is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex.<ref name="dk2000"/> The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure [[gold leaf]].<ref name="dk2000"/> The pavilion functions as a ''shariden'' (舎利殿), housing relics of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] (Buddha's Ashes). The building was an important model for [[Ginkaku-ji]] (Silver Pavilion Temple) and [[Shōkoku-ji]], which are also located in Kyoto.<ref name="orientalarch"/> When these buildings were constructed, [[Ashikaga Yoshimasa]] employed the styles used at Kinkaku-ji and even borrowed the names of its second and third floors.<ref name="orientalarch"/>
The {{nihongo|Golden Pavilion|金閣|Kinkaku}} is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex.<ref name="dk2000"/> The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure [[gold leaf]].<ref name="dk2000"/> The pavilion functions as a ''shariden'' (舎利殿), housing relics of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] (Buddha's Ashes). The building was an important model for [[Ginkaku-ji]] (Silver Pavilion Temple) and [[Shōkoku-ji]], which are also located in Kyoto.<ref name="orientalarch"/> When these buildings were constructed, [[Ashikaga Yoshimasa]] employed the styles used at Kinkaku-ji and even borrowed the names of its second and third floors.<ref name="orientalarch"/>
Line 62: Line 47:
[[File:Kinkakuji Kyoto05s3s3990.jpg|thumb|left|The fishing deck and small islets at the rear of the pavilion]]
[[File:Kinkakuji Kyoto05s3s3990.jpg|thumb|left|The fishing deck and small islets at the rear of the pavilion]]


The pavilion successfully incorporates three distinct styles of architecture, which are shinden, samurai and zen, specifically on each floor.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} Each floor of the Kinkaku uses a different architectural style.<ref name="orientalarch"/>
The pavilion successfully incorporates three distinct styles of architecture, which are shinden, samurai and zen, specifically on each floor.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> Each floor of the Kinkaku uses a different architectural style.<ref name="orientalarch"/>


The first floor, called ''The Chamber of Dharma Waters'' (法水院, Hō-sui-in), is rendered in ''[[shinden-zukuri]]'' style, reminiscent of the residential style of the 11th century [[Heian period|Heian]] imperial aristocracy.<ref name="orientalarch"/> 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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} 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<ref name="Young, David 2007"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} and change the view by controlling the shutters' heights. The second floor, called ''The Tower of Sound Waves'' (潮音洞, Chō-on-dō ),<ref name="orientalarch"/> is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or ''[[buke-zukuri]]''. 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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} The third floor is built in traditional [[Chinese Chán|Chinese ''chán'']] (Jpn. [[zen]]) style, also known as ''zenshū-[[butsuden]]-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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}}
The first floor, called ''The Chamber of Dharma Waters'' (法水院, Hō-sui-in), is rendered in ''[[shinden-zukuri]]'' style, reminiscent of the residential style of the 11th century [[Heian period|Heian]] imperial aristocracy.<ref name="orientalarch"/> 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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> 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<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> and change the view by controlling the shutters' heights. The second floor, called ''The Tower of Sound Waves'' (潮音洞, Chō-on-dō ),<ref name="orientalarch"/> is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or ''[[buke-zukuri]]''. 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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> The third floor is built in traditional [[Chinese Chán|Chinese ''chán'']] (Jpn. [[zen]]) style, also known as ''zenshū-[[butsuden]]-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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/>


The roof is in a thatched pyramid with shingles.<ref name="Young, David 2005">Young, David, Michiko Young, and Tan Hong. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2005. N. pag. Print.</ref>{{page number|date=June 2020}} The building is topped with a bronze [[Fenghuang|''hōō'']] (phoenix) ornament.<ref name="dk2000"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} 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.<ref name="Gerhart, Karen M 2009"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} 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.
The roof is in a thatched pyramid with shingles.<ref name="Young, David 2005">Young, David, Michiko Young, and Tan Hong. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2005. N. pag. Print.</ref> The building is topped with a bronze [[Fenghuang|''hōō'']] (phoenix) ornament.<ref name="dk2000"/> 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.<ref name="Gerhart, Karen M 2009"/> 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===
===Garden design===
⚫
The Golden Pavilion is set in a Japanese {{nihongo|strolling garden|回遊式庭園|kaiyū-shiki-teien|lit. a landscape garden in the go-round style}}.<ref name="fodors1996"/> The location implements the idea of [[borrowing of scenery ("shakkei")]] 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 {{nihongo|''Kyōko-chi''|鏡湖池|Mirror Pond}}, that reflects the building.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> The pond contains 10 smaller islands.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> 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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> Vantage points and focal points were established because of the strategic placement of the pavilion to view the gardens surrounding the pavilion.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992"/> A small {{nihongo|fishing hall|釣殿|tsuri-dono}} or roofed deck is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> The pavilion grounds were built according to descriptions of the [[Pure Land Buddhism#Early history|Western Paradise of the Buddha Amida]], intending to illustrate a harmony between heaven and earth.<ref name="fodors1996"/> The largest [[islet]] in the pond represents the Japanese islands.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> 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.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/>
[[File:Kyoto-Kinkaku-ji-White-Snake.jpg|thumb|White Snake Pagoda of Kinkaku-ji]]
⚫
The Golden Pavilion is set in a Japanese {{nihongo|strolling garden|回遊式庭園|kaiyū-shiki-teien|lit. a landscape garden in the go-round style}}.<ref name="fodors1996"/> The location implements the idea of [[borrowing of scenery ("shakkei")]] 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 {{nihongo|''Kyōko-chi''|鏡湖池|Mirror Pond}}, that reflects the building.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> The pond contains 10 smaller islands.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> 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.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} Vantage points and focal points were established because of the strategic placement of the pavilion to view the gardens surrounding the pavilion.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}} A small {{nihongo|fishing hall|釣殿|tsuri-dono}} or roofed deck is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> The pavilion grounds were built according to descriptions of the [[Pure Land Buddhism#Early history|Western Paradise of the Buddha Amida]], intending to illustrate a harmony between heaven and earth.<ref name="fodors1996"/> The largest [[islet]] in the pond represents the Japanese islands.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> 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.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/>


The garden complex is an excellent example of [[Muromachi period]] garden design.<ref name="dk2000">''Eyewitness Travel Guides: Japan''. Dorling Kindersley Publishing (2000). {{ISBN|0-7894-5545-5}}.</ref>{{page number|date=June 2020}} The Muromachi period is considered to be a classical age of Japanese garden design.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992">“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.”.</ref>{{page number|date=June 2020}} The correlation between buildings and its settings were greatly emphasized during this period.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992"/> 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.<ref name="Boults, Elizabeth 2010">Boults, Elizabeth, and Chip Sullivan. Illustrated History of Landscape Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons INc., 2010. N. pag. Print.</ref>{{page number|date=June 2020}} A minimalistic approach was brought to the garden design, by recreating larger landscapes in a smaller scale around a structure.<ref name="Boults, Elizabeth 2010"/>{{page number|date=June 2020}}
The garden complex is an excellent example of [[Muromachi period]] garden design.<ref name="dk2000">''Eyewitness Travel Guides: Japan''. Dorling Kindersley Publishing (2000). {{ISBN|0-7894-5545-5}}.</ref> The Muromachi period is considered to be a classical age of Japanese garden design.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992">“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.”.</ref> The correlation between buildings and its settings were greatly emphasized during this period.<ref name="Pregil, Philip 1992"/> It was an artistic way to integrate the structure within the landscape. The garden designs were characterized by a reduction in scale, a more central purpose, and a distinct setting.<ref name="Boults, Elizabeth 2010">Boults, Elizabeth, and Chip Sullivan. Illustrated History of Landscape Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons INc., 2010. N. pag. Print.</ref> A minimalistic approach was brought to the garden design by recreating larger landscapes in a smaller scale around a structure.<ref name="Boults, Elizabeth 2010"/>


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:1930s Japan Travel Poster - 15.jpg|1930s travel poster
File:1930s Japan Travel Poster - 15.jpg|1930s travel poster
File:Kinkaku-ji entrance.jpg|Entrance and ticket booth
File:Kinkaku-ji entrance.jpg|Entrance and ticket booth
File:Kinkaku Snow E4.jpg|Kinkaku-ji in snow
File:Kinkaku-ji close up.jpg|Kinkaku-ji close up
File:Kinkaku-ji close up.jpg|Kinkaku-ji close up
File:Kinkaku-ji 03.jpg|Interior
File:Kinkaku-ji 03.jpg|Interior
File:Kinkaku-ji garden.jpg|Kinkaku-ji garden
File:Kinkaku-ji garden.jpg|Kinkaku-ji garden
File:Kinkaku-ji garden path.jpg|Kinkaku-ji garden path
File:Golden Pavillion 2010 03 29 32.jpg|The lower pond
File:Golden Pavillion 2010 03 29 32.jpg|The lower pond
File:Kinkaku-ji in November 2016 -02.jpg|During ''[[autumn leaf color|koyo]]''
File:Yōshū Chikanobu Kinkaku haiken.jpg|[[Toyohara Chikanobu]]
File:Yōshū Chikanobu Kinkaku haiken.jpg|[[Toyohara Chikanobu]]
File:Kinkaku in Kyoto.jpg|Backside of the Kinkaku-ji
File:Kyoto-Kinkaku-ji-White-Snake.jpg|White Snake Pagoda of Kinkaku-ji
File:Kinkaku-ji temple in Kyoto.jpg|Golden Pavilion in Kyoto
File:Kinkaku-ji temple in Kyoto.jpg|Kinkaku-Ji, Kyoto in May 2019
File:Kinkakuji Keychain from Japan, from personal collection, photographed by Yogabrata Chakraborty, on May 6, 2023.jpg|Kinkaku-ji keychain
</gallery>
</gallery>


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{{Commons category|Kinkaku-ji}}
{{Commons category|Kinkaku-ji}}
* [https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/ Official site of Kinkaku-ji]
* [https://www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/ Official site of Kinkaku-ji]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121005212116/http://shokoku-ji.jp/k_live.html Live camera feed of Kinkaku-ji (Japanese language)]
* [http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/japan/kyoto/kinkakuji.php Oriental Architecture – Kinkakuji Temple]
* [http://www.orientalarchitecture.com/japan/kyoto/kinkakuji.php Oriental Architecture – Kinkakuji Temple]
* [https://www.omamori.com/en/4_kinkaku-ji Omamori Charms Amulets of Kinkaku-ji Temple]
* [https://www.omamori.com/en/4_kinkaku-ji Omamori Charms Amulets of Kinkaku-ji Temple]
* {{Osmway|98115917}}
* {{Osmway|98115917}}



{{World Heritage Kyoto}}
{{World Heritage Kyoto}}
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Latest revision as of 07:45, 21 June 2024

This article is about a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. For other topics translated as "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" or "Golden Pavilion Temple" in English, see Temple of the Golden Pavilion (disambiguation).
Rokuon-ji
鹿苑寺
The shariden at Rokuon-ji,
commonly known as the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji) Map
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
SectZen, Rinzai sect, Shōkoku-ji school
DeityKannon Bosatsu (Avalokiteśvara)
Location
Location1 Kinkakuji-chō, Kita-ku, Kyōto, Kyoto Prefecture[1]
CountryJapan
Kinkaku-ji is located in Japan
Kinkaku-ji
Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates35°02′22″N 135°43′43″E / 35.0395°N 135.7285°E / 35.0395; 135.7285
Architecture
FounderAshikaga Yoshimitsu
Completed1397
1955 (reconstruction)
Website
www.shokoku-ji.jp/en/kinkakuji/

Kinkaku-ji (金閣寺, lit. 'Temple of the Golden Pavilion'), officially named Rokuon-ji (鹿苑寺, lit. 'Deer Garden Temple'), is a Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.[2] It is one of the most popular buildings in Kyoto, attracting many visitors annually.[3] 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 which are World Heritage Sites.[4]

History

[edit]
Painted photograph of the Golden Pavilion in 1885. The gold leaf is peeling off due to deterioration over time.

The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called Kitayama-dai (北山第), belonging to a powerful statesman, Saionji Kintsune.[5] Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex.[5] When Yoshimitsu died the building was converted into a Zen temple by his son, according to his wishes.[3][6]

Golden Pavilion following the 1950 arson

During the Ōnin war (1467–1477), all of the buildings in the complex aside from the pavilion were burned down.[5]

On 2 July 1950, at 2:30 am, the pavilion was burned down[7] by a 22-year-old novice monk, Hayashi Yoken (Kinkaku-ji arson incident [ja]), 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 and schizophrenia) on 29 September 1955; he died of tuberculosis in March 1956.[8] 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's 1956 book The Temple of the Golden Pavilion,[2] and another in the ballet RAkU.

The present pavilion structure dates from 1955, when it was rebuilt.[2] The pavilion is three stories high, 12.5 meters (40 feet) in height.[9] The reconstruction is said to be a close copy of the original, although some have questioned whether such an extensive gold-leaf coating was used on the original structure.[3] 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.[10] 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 (金閣 gold pavilion) 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.[11] Other than the symbolic meaning behind the gold leaf, the Muromachi period heavily relied on visual excesses.[12] 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

[edit]
Roof ornament

The Golden Pavilion (金閣, Kinkaku) is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex.[13] The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf.[13] The pavilion functions as a shariden (舎利殿), housing relics of the Buddha (Buddha's Ashes). The building was an important model for Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion Temple) and Shōkoku-ji, which are also located in Kyoto.[2] When these buildings were constructed, Ashikaga Yoshimasa employed the styles used at Kinkaku-ji and even borrowed the names of its second and third floors.[2]

Architectural design

[edit]
The fishing deck and small islets at the rear of the pavilion

The pavilion successfully incorporates three distinct styles of architecture, which are shinden, samurai and zen, specifically on each floor.[9] Each floor of the Kinkaku uses a different architectural style.[2]

The first floor, called The Chamber of Dharma Waters (法水院, Hō-sui-in), is rendered in shinden-zukuri style, reminiscent of the residential style of the 11th century Heian imperial aristocracy.[2] 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.[9] 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[9] and change the view by controlling the shutters' heights. The second floor, called The Tower of Sound Waves (潮音洞, Chō-on-dō ),[2] is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or buke-zukuri. 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.[9] The third floor is built in traditional Chinese chán (Jpn. zen) style, also known as zenshū-butsuden-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.[9]

The roof is in a thatched pyramid with shingles.[14] The building is topped with a bronze hōō (phoenix) ornament.[13] 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.[11] 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

[edit]

The Golden Pavilion is set in a Japanese strolling garden (回遊式庭園, kaiyū-shiki-teien, lit. a landscape garden in the go-round style).[6] The location implements the idea of borrowing of scenery ("shakkei") 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 Kyōko-chi (鏡湖池, Mirror Pond), that reflects the building.[5] The pond contains 10 smaller islands.[9] 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.[9] Vantage points and focal points were established because of the strategic placement of the pavilion to view the gardens surrounding the pavilion.[12] A small fishing hall (釣殿, tsuri-dono) or roofed deck is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.[5] 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.[6] The largest islet in the pond represents the Japanese islands.[5] 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.[5]

The garden complex is an excellent example of Muromachi period garden design.[13] The Muromachi period is considered to be a classical age of Japanese garden design.[12] The correlation between buildings and its settings were greatly emphasized during this period.[12] It was an artistic way to integrate the structure within the landscape. The garden designs were characterized by a reduction in scale, a more central purpose, and a distinct setting.[15] A minimalistic approach was brought to the garden design by recreating larger landscapes in a smaller scale around a structure.[15]

[edit]
  • 1930s travel poster
    1930s travel poster
  • Entrance and ticket booth
    Entrance and ticket booth
  • Kinkaku-ji close up
    Kinkaku-ji close up
  • Interior
    Interior
  • Kinkaku-ji garden
    Kinkaku-ji garden
  • The lower pond
    The lower pond
  • Toyohara Chikanobu
    Toyohara Chikanobu
  • White Snake Pagoda of Kinkaku-ji
    White Snake Pagoda of Kinkaku-ji
  • Kinkaku-Ji, Kyoto in May 2019
    Kinkaku-Ji, Kyoto in May 2019
  • Kinkaku-ji keychain
    Kinkaku-ji keychain

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tourist Facilities of Japan - Kinkaku-ji Temple Garden". Japan National Tourism Organization. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Kinkakuji Temple - 金阁寺, Kyoto, Japan". Oriental Architecture. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  3. ^ a b c Bornoff, Nicholas (2000). The National Geographic Traveler: Japan. National Geographic Society. ISBN 0-7922-7563-2.
  4. ^ "Places of Interest in Kyoto (Top 15 most visited places in Kyoto by visitors from overseas)". Asano Noboru. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto". Asano Noboru. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  6. ^ a b c Scott, David (1996). Exploring Japan. Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-679-03011-5.[page needed]
  7. ^ Cartwright, Mark. "Kinkakuji". World History Encyclopedia. UNESCO. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  8. ^ Albert Borowitz (2005). Terrorism for self-glorification: the Herostratos syndrome. Kent State University Press. pp. 49–62. ISBN 978-0-87338-818-4. Retrieved 1 July 2011. See: Herostratos syndrome
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h Young, David, and Michiko Young. The art of Japanese Architecture. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2007. N. pag. Print.[page needed]
  10. ^ Kazuo Yaguchi. 金閣寺大修復 金閣修復 五倍箔 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b Gerhart, Karen M. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. N.p.: University of Hawaii Press, 2009. N. pag. Print.[page needed]
  12. ^ a b c d “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.”.
  13. ^ a b c d Eyewitness Travel Guides: Japan. Dorling Kindersley Publishing (2000). ISBN 0-7894-5545-5.
  14. ^ Young, David, Michiko Young, and Tan Hong. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2005. N. pag. Print.
  15. ^ a b Boults, Elizabeth, and Chip Sullivan. Illustrated History of Landscape Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons INc., 2010. N. pag. Print.

References

[edit]
  • 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

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[edit]
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