Jump to content

Kinkaku-ji: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 35°02′22″N 135°43′46″E / 35.03944°N 135.72944°E / 35.03944; 135.72944
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted 1 edit by 23.16.221.107 identified as test/vandalism using STiki
Line 44: Line 44:
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'', 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'', 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 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'', 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 bring more emphasis on the surrounding landscape. What also can impact the what types of views can be seen from within the pavilion are the walls and fenestration. Most of the walls are made of shutters that can be manipulated by a person to allow a certain amount of light and air into the pavilion.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> As well as creating a new view by controlling the distance the shutter is raised to. The second floor, called ''The Tower of Sound Waves'',<ref name="orientalarch"/> is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or ''buke-zukuri''. There is a feeling of impermanence that is given off by the second floor suggested by the sliding wood doors and latticed windows. The second floor also consists of 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'']] (Jap. [[zen]]) style, also known as ''zenshū-[[butsuden]]-zukuri''. The building is topped with a bronze [[hōō|phoenix]] ornament.<ref name="dk2000"/> The zen typology depicts a more religious stand point for the pavilion, that was popular during the Muromachi period.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> The roof is in the shape of a pyramid and is thatched and has 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 phoenix ornament.[4] Noticeable from the outside is the amount of gold plated added to the upper stories of the pavilion. There is the implication of the upper stories being covered in gold leaf is because of what is housed on the inside, being 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.
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'', 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 bring more emphasis on the surrounding landscape. What also can impact the what types of views can be seen from within the pavilion are the walls and fenestration. Most of the walls are made of shutters that can be manipulated by a person to allow a certain amount of light and air into the pavilion.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> As well as creating a new view by controlling the distance the shutter is raised to. The second floor, called ''The Tower of Sound Waves'',<ref name="orientalarch"/> is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or ''buke-zukuri''. There is a feeling of impermanence that is given off by the second floor suggested by the sliding wood doors and latticed windows. The second floor also consists of 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'']] (Jap. [[zen]]) style, also known as ''zenshū-[[butsuden]]-zukuri''. The building is topped with a bronze [[hōō|phoenix]] ornament.<ref name="dk2000"/> The zen typology depicts a more religious stand point for the pavilion, that was popular during the Muromachi period.<ref name="Young, David 2007"/> The roof is in the shape of a pyramid and is thatched and has 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> Noticeable from the outside is the amount of gold plated added to the upper stories of the pavilion. There is the implication of the upper stories being covered in gold leaf is because of what is housed on the inside, being 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.


The Golden Pavilion is set in a magnificent 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 borrowed scenery that integrates the outside and the inside, creating an extension of the views surrounding the pavilion and connecting it with the outside world.<ref name="Young, David 2005"/> 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 deck|釣殿|tsuri-dono}} is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> The kinkaku-ji grounds were built according to descriptions of the [[Pure Land Buddhism#Overview|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 Golden Pavilion is set in a magnificent 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 borrowed scenery that integrates the outside and the inside, creating an extension of the views surrounding the pavilion and connecting it with the outside world.<ref name="Young, David 2005"/> 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 deck|釣殿|tsuri-dono}} is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.<ref name="kyotoasano01"/> The kinkaku-ji grounds were built according to descriptions of the [[Pure Land Buddhism#Overview|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"/>

Revision as of 09:46, 20 November 2013

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
Location
CountryJapan
Website
http://www.shokoku-ji.jp/k_about.html#

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] The garden complex is an excellent example of Muromachi period garden design.[3] The Muromachi period is considered to be a classical age of Japanese garden design.[4] The correlation between buildings and its settings were greatly emphasized during this period.[4] 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.[5] A minimalistic approach was brought to the garden design, by recreating larger landscapes in a smaller scale around a structure.[5]

It is designated as a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Landscape, and it is one of 17 locations comprising the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto World Heritage Site.[6] It is also one of the most popular buildings in Japan, attracting a large number of visitors annually.[7]

History

Painted photograph of Kinkaku in 1885.
Pavilion following the 1950 arson.

The site of Kinkaku-ji was originally a villa called Kitayama-dai, belonging to a powerful statesman, Saionji Kintsune.[8] Kinkaku-ji's history dates to 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionjis by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex.[8] When Yoshimitsu died, the building was converted into a Zen temple by his son, according to his wishes.[7][9]

During the Onin war, all of the buildings in the complex aside from the pavilion were burned down.[8] On July 2, 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 and schizophrenia) on September 29, 1955; he died of tuberculosis shortly after in 1956.[10] 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]

The present pavilion structure dates from 1955, when it was rebuilt.[2] The pavilion is three stories high, approximately 12.5 meters in height.[11] 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.[7] In 1984, the coating of Japanese lacquer was found a little decayed, and a new coating as well as gilding with gold-leaf, much thicker than the original coatings (0.5 µm instead of 0.1 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 the pavilion because of its underlying meaning. The gold employed was to mitigate and purify any pollution or negative thoughts and feelings towards death.[12] Other than the symbolic meaning behind the gold leaf, the Muromachi period heavily relied on visual excesses.[4] With the focus on the Golden Pavilion, how 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

The fishing deck and a small islet at the rear of the pavilion.
Roof ornament.

The Golden Pavilion (金閣, kinkaku) is a three-story building on the grounds of the Rokuon-ji temple complex.[3] The top two stories of the pavilion are covered with pure gold leaf.[3] The pavilion functions as a shariden, 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]

The pavilion successfully incorporates three distinct styles of architecture which are shinden, samurai, and zen, specifically on each floor.[11] Each floor of the Kinkaku uses a different architectural style.[2] The first floor, called The Chamber of Dharma Waters, 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.[11] This helps to bring more emphasis on the surrounding landscape. What also can impact the what types of views can be seen from within the pavilion are the walls and fenestration. Most of the walls are made of shutters that can be manipulated by a person to allow a certain amount of light and air into the pavilion.[11] As well as creating a new view by controlling the distance the shutter is raised to. The second floor, called The Tower of Sound Waves,[2] is built in the style of warrior aristocrats, or buke-zukuri. There is a feeling of impermanence that is given off by the second floor suggested by the sliding wood doors and latticed windows. The second floor also consists of a Buddha Hall and a shrine dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Kannon.[11] The third floor is built in traditional Chinese chán (Jap. zen) style, also known as zenshū-butsuden-zukuri. The building is topped with a bronze phoenix ornament.[3] The zen typology depicts a more religious stand point for the pavilion, that was popular during the Muromachi period.[11] The roof is in the shape of a pyramid and is thatched and has shingles.[13] Noticeable from the outside is the amount of gold plated added to the upper stories of the pavilion. There is the implication of the upper stories being covered in gold leaf is because of what is housed on the inside, being the shrines.[12] 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 Golden Pavilion is set in a magnificent Japanese strolling garden (回遊式庭園, kaiyū-shiki-teien, lit. a landscape garden in the go-round style).[9] The location implements the idea of borrowed scenery that integrates the outside and the inside, creating an extension of the views surrounding the pavilion and connecting it with the outside world.[13] The pavilion extends over a pond, called Kyōko-chi (鏡湖池, Mirror Pond), that reflects the building.[8] The pond contains 10 smaller islands.[11] 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.[11] Vantage points and focal points were established because of the strategic placement of the pavilion to view the gardens surrounding the pavilion.[4] A small fishing deck (釣殿, tsuri-dono) is attached to the rear of the pavilion building, allowing a small boat to be moored under it.[8] The kinkaku-ji grounds were built according to descriptions of the Western Paradise of the Buddha Amida, intending to illustrate a harmony between heaven and earth.[9] The largest islet in the pond represents the Japanese islands.[8] 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.[8]

  • Kinkaku-ji in snow.
    Kinkaku-ji in snow.
  • Interior.
    Interior.
  • The lower pond
    The lower pond

See also

References

  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 d Eyewitness Travel Guides: Japan. Dorling Kindersley Publishing (2000). ISBN 0-7894-5545-5.
  4. ^ 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.”.
  5. ^ a b Boults, Elizabeth, and Chip Sullivan. Illustrated History of Landscape Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons INc., 2010. N. pag. Print.
  6. ^ "Places of Interest in Kyoto (Top 15 most visited places in Kyoto by visitors from overseas)". Asano Noboru. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  7. ^ a b c Bornoff, Nicholas (2000). The National Geographic Traveler: Japan. National Geographic Society. ISBN 0-7922-7563-2.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto". Asano Noboru. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  9. ^ a b c Scott, David (1996). Exploring Japan. Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-679-03011-5.
  10. ^ 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
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ a b Gerhart, Karen M. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. N.p.: University of Hawaii Press, 2009. N. pag. Print.
  13. ^ a b Young, David, Michiko Young, and Tan Hong. The material culture of Death in medieval Japan. North Claredon, VT: Turtle Publishing, 2005. N. pag. Print.
  • Boults, Elizabeth, and Chip Sullivan. Illustrated History of Landscape Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Son, 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: Turtle 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. ISBN 978-0-618-91522-4. OCLC 144227752.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kinkaku-ji.

35°02′22″N 135°43′46″E / 35.03944°N 135.72944°E / 35.03944; 135.72944

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kinkaku-ji&oldid=582500930"