Kinkaku-ji

Is this not one of the most idyllic settings you have ever seen? Kinkaku-ji is a must see when visiting Kyoto. Kinkaku-Ji means "Temple of the Golden Pavilion" and it's pretty obvious how it got its name. The temple was constructed in 1398 by Yoshimitsu, the third Ashikaga shogun as a country estate. His son, Ashikaga Yoshimochi turned it into a Zen Buddhist temple. It was burned down twice in the 15th century - during the Onin War - but was rapidly rebuilt.

Unfortunately, what we see today is a reproduction built in 1955. The original was set ablaze in 1950 by an insane monk named Hayashi Yoken who was hell bent on committing suicide. He survived but his mother subsequently took her own life.

Each floor of the three story pavilion is built in a different architectural style. The first floor is a large room surrounded by a verandah in the shinden-zukuri (or shinden) style, a sort of aristocratic residential form of Japanese architecture. The second floor is the Buddha hall. It is done in buke-zukuri, a style reserved for the Samurai. The third floor is traditional Chinese Zen Buddhist architecture. And yes, that is real gold leaf that adorns the exterior.

Once again, Asian Historical Architecture has a wonderful website with a history and architectural details. The temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site.



	The weather couldn't have been more perfect (finally). Kara took the one on the left. Kyoko-chi (Mirror Pond). The stone islands are said to represent Buddhist creationism. A couple of rows down, you can spot the phoenix roof ornament, Next to that image is one of the Sosei kiosk, a tiny wooden pavilion in the lake, adjacent to the temple.




	I would normally prefer to travel in Spring or Summer, considering the Japanese climate. But the autumn leaves were quite beautiful. Above are two more photos taken by Kara. Of course, the obligatory tourist shot. Below: I'm not sure what these markers mean but they definitely have some significance. The pile around the rock is actually a thick layer of coins. Most people who passed threw coins at this spot.

	Another view of the phoenix roof ornament.