Today, ink monochrome painting is the art form most closely associated with Zen Buddhism. The immigrant Chinese prelates were educated men who introduced not only religious practices but also Chinese literature, calligraphy, philosophy, and ink painting to their Japanese disciples, who often in turn traveled to China for further study. Chan was enthusiastically received in Japan, especially by the samurai class that wielded political power at this time, and it became the most prominent form of Buddhism between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries. Chan, as it is known in China, was transmitted to Japan and took root there in the thirteenth century. Zen traces its origins to India, but it was formalized in China. Deities and scriptures can offer only limited assistance. But in either case, it is the result of one’s own efforts. This awakening can happen gradually or in a flash of insight (as emphasized by the Sōtō and Rinzai schools, respectively). Someday, I’d like to go to a tea ceremony with scenery as beautiful as this.The essential element of Zen Buddhism is found in its name, for zen means “meditation.” Zen teaches that enlightenment is achieved through the profound realization that one is already an enlightened being. It has a view of the garden with a waterfall. Though I haven’t seen many tearooms yet, I’d say that this is one of the best. We were only able to see it, but I get why it is exclusive. There is a reservations-only tea room in Konchi-in Temple, also known as Hasso-seki. I’d like to assume that tea masters would like visitors to slow down and maybe do a little meditation on the way to the tea garden. Walk on the stones instead, but you have to be careful. Since moss is vital to Japanese gardens, you can’t step on them and potentially damage them. They are 6 cm higher than the ground and are 3 or 5 cm away from each other. They are called tobi-ishi or skipping stones. These circular stone pathways run through the moss garden and to the tea garden. This symbolizes reality as the extension of the painting or vice versa. It’s a road painting similar to the pathway. In the next picture, the pathway leads to a 300-year-old painting at the door. You won’t see many people there, so it really gives off a tranquil vibe.īeautiful stoned uneven pathways often lead people to significant parts of the temple or essential objects. There is one beautiful moss garden at Konchi-in temple. It grows in most Japanese gardens and imperial palaces, giving a rich green carpet look. In Japan, moss is considered an essential element. The rock formation in the picture is called, Tsurukame no Niwa, which means Crane and Tortoise Garden. And it takes them hours to trim the leaves of just one tree! In important places like this, only well-trained and informed gardeners can. Our tour guide said that even the cut of the trees has meaning, and not just anyone can do it. It is like the garden is extended even to the hills outside the temple. The trees appear perfectly aligned, from the tallest ones to the shortest, flowing towards the rock formations. The garden gives you a two-dimensional scene, all thanks to the trees and hills in the background. Konchi-in temple is the best example of a shakkei, meaning borrowed scenery. There were cherry blossom trees, hence equally splendid. So, imagine this place in autumn, primarily brown, orange, and red. Okay, here are some of the things I understood and remember based on my notes and the pictures I took. However, I didn’t know that every detail in the garden has cultural, religious, and historical representations. Overall, I see Japanese gardens as beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The rock and tree formations, landscape designs, and the temple’s interior designs all have meanings. You can sit there, look at the garden and let your imagination run wild with meanings and interpretations of everything. When we were there, I was surprised to learn that Japanese rock gardens are full of symbolisms. I just wanted to bring my mom to see some beautiful scenery. Before the tour, I didn’t expect to learn much. I didn’t know then, but it has one of the finest Zen gardens in Kyoto. My mom and I went on a tour in Nanzen-ji Temple. I sought to learn more about Japanese culture, history, and religion. And to celebrate my 3rd anniversary being here, I wanted to do something different and try something new. Therefore, it is only fitting that Japanese gardens give people tranquility and peace of mind. Japanese Zen gardens or karesansui, which means dry landscape gardens, are created by Buddhist monks to help with their meditation. It is said that Kyoto is the center of Zen Buddhism in Japan, so the most sublime Zen temples are there.
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