Ginkaku-ji Temple

Ginkaku-ji (lit. "Temple of the Silver Pavilion"), officially named Jisho-ji (lit. "Temple of Shining Mercy"), is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan.

In addition to the temple's famous building, the property features wooded grounds covered with a variety of mosses. This Japanese garden was supposedly designed by the great landscape artist Soami.

The Zen culture is not entirely represented in this garden because it was financed by the shogunate as a retreat and the primary use was aesthetic enjoyment. Instead of being designed by and for the use of monks, practitioners of zazen, or seated meditation.

The sand garden of Ginkaku-ji has become particularly well known; and the carefully formed pile of sand which is said to symbolize Mount Fuji is an essential element in the garden.

Ginkaku-ji Temple map.
Ashikaga Yoshimasa initiated plans for creating a retirement villa and gardens as early as 1460, and it functioned as a pleasure villa for the shoguns to rest from their administrative duties.

Yoshimasa arranged for this property to become a Zen temple under the name Jishō-ji.
The temple is today associated with the Shokoku-ji branch of Rinzai Zen.

General Gate (Somon).
Somon (lit. general gate) is the gate at the entrance of a Buddhist temple in Japan.

It often precedes the bigger and more important Sanmon.
See more at Sōmon - Wikipedia.

Bamboo Fence (left).

Middle Gate (Chumon).
The chumon (lit. middle gate) is situated between the entrance and the temple.

Sand path leading to the garden.

Kannon Bodhisattva Hall (Kannon-den).
The two-storied Kannon hall (Kannon-den), is the main temple structure.

Its construction began February 21, 1482 (Bummei 14, fourth day of the second month).
For the structure's design, Yoshimasa sought to emulate the golden Kinkaku-ji, which had been commissioned by his grandfather Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
It is popularly known as Ginkaku, the "Silver Pavilion," because of the initial plans to cover its exterior in silver foil, but this familiar nickname dates back only as far as the Edo period (1600–1868).

Pond with bridge.

Hachiman Shrine (Hachimansha).
Hachiman (which can also be read Yawata no kami) is the Shinto god of war and the divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people.

After the arrival of Buddhism in Japan, Hachiman became a syncretistic deity, fusing elements of the native kami worship with Buddhism (shinbutsu-shugo).
In the 8th century AD, he joined the Buddhist pantheon as Great Bodhisattva Hachiman (Hachiman Daibosatsu) where his jinja (Shinto shrines) and jingu (Shinto shrine of the Imperial family) were incorporated to shrines in Buddhist temples (tera).
See more at Hachiman - Wikipedia.

Abbot’s Quarters (Hojo) and Togudo.
The second of two surviving structures from the original construction is called the Togudo.

Completed in 1486, still in the Muromachi era, it contains the oldest surviving example of a shoin (small study) which served as Yoshimasa's private chapel.
In the northeast corner of the Togudo is a room called Dojinsai, of 4.5 mats, and it was this that served as Yoshimasa's study room.
The north wall contains two alcoves, one next to the other. In one, several shelves (chigaidana) provide varied storage space. In the other (tsukeshoin or shoin) there is a raised bench covered with wooden slats.

Washbasin (Temizuhachi).
Wash basin between the Abbot’s Quarters (left) and the Togudo (right).

Zen garden of dry sand (Ginsyadan).
Zen garden of dry sand with long beige stripes, seen from the front with an impression of central perspective, flowers and trees in the background.

Kogetsudai.
The carefully formed pile of sand which is said to symbolize Mount Fuji is an essential element in the garden.

Ouchi Stone (Ouchi ishi).
Ouchi stone floating in the Kinkyo-ike Pond.

Crossing the bridge towards the Observation Deck.

Wooded land covered with moss.
The property features wooded grounds covered with a variety of mosses.

Benzaiten Temple.
The Benzaiten temple is located on a small island in the middle of the pond. The vermilion torii gate can be seen through the trees.

Benzaiten (lit. "goddess of eloquence"), also simply known as Benten, is a Japanese Buddhist goddess who originated mainly from Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of speech, the arts, and learning, with certain traits deriving from the warrior goddess Durga.
Benzaiten is a female kami to Shinto with the name Ichikishima-hime-no-mikoto.
See more at Benzaiten - Wikipedia.