Kinkaku-ji The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Kinkaku-ji The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu § § § Shogun from 1368 to 1394 Rose to shogunate at age 9 Traveled to China; influenced by Chinese style § United Japan and brought peace to the area

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu § Protected by Buddhist priests during conflict of the Nanbokucho § 1367 ordained by Shun’oku Myoha § Spiritual support for life § 1395 takes full Buddhist orders § 1397 begins building of Relic Hall – the Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu § § § Yoshimitsu moves into Kinkaku-ji 1409 Ashikaga Yoshimitsu dies Kinkaku-ji becomes Zen temple named Rokuon-ji – Yoshimitsu’s posthumous name

Kinkaku-ji § Northwest corner of Kyoto § Yoshimitsu wanted entire temple covered in gold – only ceiling of 3 rd floor covered in gold leaf by his death § Once part of a larger group of buildings

Kinkaku-ji § Burned during Onin Wars of 1467 -77 but not destroyed § 1950 burned down by a radical monk The Temple of the Golden Pavilion – book by Yukio Mishima recounts events § 1955 rebuilt § 1987 recovered with 5 layers of gold leaf

Kinkaku-ji § Three floors § Each floor a different style 1 st floor – Shinden-zukuri style 2 nd floor – Buke- zukuri style 3 rd floor – Karayo style

First Floor Shinden-zukuri style § Typical of Heian period (794 -1185) § Complex with a central building (shinden) facing south surrounded by a veranda § Living quarters (tainoya) to east and west of shinden § Attached by wide halls (watadono)

First floor - § § § Privacy provided by movable screens Pond garden across from the main room Kinkaku-ji”s first floor called – The Chamber of Dharma Waters

Second floor § § § Built Buke-zukuri style Samurai Style (Cho-on-do) Simplified version of Shinden-zukuri Castle-like facility for protection Main building entered by a porch

Second Floor § Kinkaku-ji’s 2 nd floor is called The Tower of Sound Waves § Houses the Bodhisattva Kannon icon § Covered in gold leaf over Japanese Lacquer

Third Floor § Built in Karayo (Zen) Style § Buddha Hall § Round Head windows § Shelters an Amida triad and 25 Bodhisattvas § Covered in gold leaf over Japanese Lacquer § Called Superb Apex

Roof § Topped by a Golden Chinese Phoenix

Other Points of Interest § Pond – Mirror Pond Has many islands symbolizing The Isles of the Blessed Small island with a small stone pagoda. Hakuja-no-tsuka (the mound in memory of the white snake)

Other Points of Interest § Tea House –Sekka-tei Pillar made of nandin § Fudodo shrine close to exit stone fuo-myoc is enshrined as a guardian

Other points of interest: Chinese Gate Bell Tower Kitchen and Living Quarters Abbots Quarters

Other points of interest: Dragon’s Gate Falls Milky Way Spring Main Shin’un Gate Shrine

Sources: § www. japaneselifestyle. com. au/travel/gold en_pavilion. html § www. orientalarchitecture. com/japan/kyot o/kinkakuji. php § www. sacreddestinations. com/japan/kyoto-kinkakuji § www. shokokuji. or. jp/english/e_kinkakuji/history/

Sources: § www. shokokuji. or. jp/english/e_kinkakuji/guide/index. ht ml § www. shokokuji. or. jp/english/e_kinkakuji/history/index. ht ml § www. shokokuji. or. jp/english/e_shokokuji/history

Sources: § www. britannica. com/EBchecked/topic/54 0752/shinden-zukuri

Best Website § www. shokokuji. or. jp/english/e_kinkakuji/history/index. ht ml § Contains pictures, history and guide to The Golden Temple