GOLDEN PAVILION
Golden Pavilion Kyoto
Japan: The Golden Pavilion
(Kinkakuji) is literally covered in gold - gold leaf. The Golden Pavilion is World Heritage listed and surround by
beautiful gardens.
Golden Pavilion is the popular name for one of the main buildings
of a Buddhist Japanese temple in Kyoto
Japan. The name Golden Pavilion comes
from the Japanese term Kinkakuji, which
literally means the temple of the Golden Pavilion(金閣寺). Rokuon-ji
(鹿苑寺 Deer Garden Temple) is the formal name of the temple complex in
which the Golden Pavilion is found.
Golden Pavilion
Golden Pavilion - History
In the 1220’s it was the
comfortable villa of Kintsune Saionji.
Yoshimitsu,
the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After three
years, he began to build Kitayamaden and he made a special 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 original
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.
Golden Pavilion 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).
Stone pagoda Golden Pavilion
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.
Organised guided tours are available in English to the Golden Pavilion.
These are available as half day tours including
Kyoto Imperial Palace and
Nijo Castle, or day tours including
Kiyomizu Temple,
Nijo Castle and
Sanjusangendo.
Golden Pavilion Tour Options
Kyoto Day Tour - Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Sanjusangendo, Kiyomizu
Temple
Kyoto and Nara Day Tour - Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Todaiji
Kyoto Morning Tour - Golden Pavilion, Nijo Castle, Kyoto Imperial Palace |
