JAPANESE GARDENS - View topic 67 pe thegazetteromania.myforum.ro

Understanding Japanese Gardens
Japanese gardens (Kanji 日本庭園, nihon teien) are seen in temples, some seen in ruins of feudal lords’ mansions and others seen in residences of politicians and businesspeople. In addition, some of them were created in sites of public facilities and hotels.

Commonly, Japanese gardens have pond in the centre, and inequalities of the ground or artificial hills on which garden stones, trees and plants are placed, in order to represent seasonal changes in the scenery. One of the popular techniques used in the gardens are the technique to express the way the water flows from deep in the mountains and gradually becomes bigger stream by creating artificial water falls. There are also popular technique to stand and combine rocks and stones, and technique to imitate Penglaishan, a crane island, and a turtle island in order to add religious meaning the garden. Lanterns, arbours and tea houses are also often placed throughout. Since the Muromachi era, gardens in which water current is expressed not by using water but by stones, sand and plants have appeared. This technique is called “dry landscape” style. After the Edo Period, the technique called “borrowed scenery”, which takes advantage of the landscape outside the garden, was also used.

Kenrokuen Garden is by far the most famous part of Kanazawa. Originally built as the outer garden of Ishikawa castle, it was opened to the public in 1875. It is considered one of the "three most beautiful gardens in Japan" and is filled with a variety of trees, ponds, waterfalls and flowers stretching over 25 acres (100,000 m²). In winter, the park is notable for its yukitsuri — ropes attached in a conical array to trees to break up snow as it falls, thereby protecting the trees from damage.

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Ryoan-ji Temple (竜安寺). Ryoan-ji Temple in Kyoto is famous for its Zen garden, which is considered to be one of the most notable examples of the "dry-landscape" style.
Some say Ryoan-ji Temple garden is the quintessence of Zen art, and perhaps the single greatest masterpiece of Japanese culture. Surrounded by low walls, an austere arrangement of fifteen rocks sits on a bed of white gravel. That's it: no trees, no hills, no ponds, and no trickling water. Nothing you could describe as romantic, distracting or pretty.

So what is it all about? Well, it certainly focuses the mind. Unlike Stonehenge, the Pyramids, Angkor Wat, Salisbury Cathedral, or the temples of Luxor, Ryoan-ji can hardly inspire you with technical achievement, religious imperative or sheer scale. But its minimalism inspires something else – contemplation, introspection, and deliberation on the transience of our own humanity.

No one knows who laid out this simple garden, or precisely when, but it is today as it was yesterday, and tomorrow it will be as it is today. Behind the simple temple that overlooks the rock garden is a stone washbasin called Tsukubai said to have been contributed by Tokugawa Mitsukuni in the 17th century. It bears a simple but profound four-character inscription: "I learn only to be contented". The rest of the grounds are worth a look too - particularly the large pond. Open daily 8am-5pm (Mar-Nov), 8.30am-4.30pm (Dec-Feb). Admission ¥500. Nearest bus stop: Ryōanji-mae.

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Korakuen Garden
Korakuen Garden (後楽園) is one of Japan's official Three Great Gardens and hence Okayama's number one attraction. The name means "Garden of Pleasure After", a reference to a famous Confucian quote stating that a wise ruler must attend to his subjects' needs first and only then attend to his own. Entering through the South Gate, the first impression is that of a giant lawn, crisscrossed with wide paths and the occasional teahouse to break the monotony. But the interesting stuff is lurking on the sides: waterfalls, tiny shrines, miniature maple forests, a lotus pond, even a greenhouse filled with orchids and cacti. Cross the Moon-Viewing Bridge (Tsukimi-kyo) from the front of Okayama Castle to get in. Entry ¥350, open 8 AM to 5 PM daily.

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The Imperial Palace Tokyo (皇居 Kokyo) is the home of the Emperor of Japan (the Japanese head of state). The actual Imperial Palace building was part of the Edo Castle. It is surrounded by a moat and a high wall and occupies the most expensive square kilometre in the world. The Imperial Palace Tokyo is located within the Chiyoda ward.

The inner palace gardens and buildings are closed to the public except on January 2 and December 23, when the imperial family makes a public appearance; foreigners can also apply online to join a guided tour at other times, but you must book in advance. Depending on demand, you sometimes can get in at relative short notice. Expect to share your tour with hundreds of other tourists. Tours are conducted in Japanese, but English audio guide is provided free of charge. There is no charge for this tour.

The Imperial Palace Tokyo was destroyed by allied bombing during World War II, even though it was not supposed to be targeted. It was rebuilt in the same style in 1968. It is the fact that the building is relatively new and does not display the beauty one may expect from a royal residence after seeing so many wonderful temples and shrines throughout Japan. While the gardens are beautiful in sections, the best gardens are definitely in the Imperial Palace East Gardens.

Is it worth see the inner Imperial Palace? Yes, for what it represents, but not for its gardens or architecture. If you want to see a beautiful garden, see the Imperial Palace East Gardens.

Imperial Palace Tokyo Map - See the layout of palace and gardens
The Imperial Palace East Gardens, however, are open to the public daily except Mondays and Fridays. Kept in impeccable shape, the gardens are particularly beautiful during the March and April plum and cherry blossom seasons. Entrance is free through a number of gates; most visitors use the Otemachi gate near the subway station of the same name.

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Golden Pavilion Kyoto Japan: The Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku) is literally covered in gold - gold leaf. The Golden Pavilion is World Heritage listed and surround by beautiful gardens.

Golden Pavilion History
Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion) is a popular name for one of the main buildings of this temple, which is properly called Rokuon-ji Temple. In the 1220’s it was the comfortable villa of Kintsune Saionji.

Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion)

Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After three years, he began to build Kitayamaden and he made a aparte effort to make it a breath-taking site. He indulged in his peaceful life in this serene setting. After Yoshimitsu’s death, Kitayamaden was made into a Zen temple in accordance with his will. All the buildings of those days came to ruin except Kinkaku. The garden, however, remains as it was in former days and can be enjoyed as it was hundreds of years ago. Rokuon-ji Temple was inscribed as World Cultural Heritage in 1994.

Golden Pavilion - Building:
Kinkaku was formally called Shariden. The elegant, harmonious building consists of three types of architecture. The 1st floor is Shinden-zukuri, the palace style. It is named Ho-sui-in. The 2nd floor is Buke-zukuri, the style of the samurai house and is called Cho-on-do. The 3rd floor is Karayo style or Zen temple style. It is called Kukkyo-cho.

Both the 2nd and 3rd floors are covered with gold-leaf on Japanese lacquer. The roof, upon which the Chinese phoenix settles, is thatched with shingles.

Recently, 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 autentic ones, was given to the building and was completed in 1987. Furthermore, the beautiful painting on the ceiling and the statue of Yoshimitsu were restored, with utmost care, to their original splendour. Points of interest: The name of the pond is Kyoko-chi (Mirror pond). The pond contains many large and small islands. Climbing a few steps, you stand at the edge of another small pond, An-min-taku. The small stone pagoda on the island is called Hakuja-no-tsuka (the mound in memory of the white snake).

The classic tea house is called Sekka-tei. In Sekka-tei there is a celebrated pillar made of a nandin. The house was restored in 1997. On the way to the exit of the temple, you will find the small Fudodo shrine where the stone Fudo-myoc (Acara) is enshrined as a guardian.

Open daily 9am-5pm, admission ¥500. Nearest bus stop: Kinkakuji-michi or Kinkakuji-mae.

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