Kyoto, Japan - GOLDEN 3 of 3

After our traditional Japanese lunch at a hotel restaurant, we were off to the Golden Palace.

Kinkaku-ji or Golden Pavilion Temple was a Zen Temple built in the 14th century and used by the Shoguns as a retirement residence. Originally a villa belonging to a powerful statesman in 1397, when the villa was purchased from the Saionji family by shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and transformed into the Kinkaku-ji complex. When Yoshimitsu died the building was converted into a Zen temple by his son. During the Ōnin war (1467–1477), all of the buildings in the complex aside from the pavilion were burned down.

Our guide told us the sad story of 1950 when the pavilion was burned down by a 22-year-old novice monk, Hayashi Yoken, who then attempted suicide and later sentenced to seven years in prison, but was released because of mental illness. The new structure, 3 stores high (40 feet) dates from 1955, when it was rebuilt. The pavilion is three stories high (40 feet). In 1984, it was discovered that the gold leaf on the reconstructed building had peeled off, and replaced with 0.5 heavier gold leaf, five times the thickness of the gold leaf on the reconstructed building.

Gold was an important addition to the pavilion because of its underlying meaning. The gold employed was intended to purify any negative thoughts and feelings towards death. The pavilion functions as a shariden, housing relics of the Buddha's Ashes. The gold leaf covering the upper stories indicated the shrines housed inside. ... the outside nature is a reflection of the inside.

The Golden Pavilion is set in a Japanese strolling garden and extends over a pond, that reflects the building. The pond contains 10 smaller islands. The zen typology is seen through the rock composition; the bridges and plants are arranged in a specific way to represent famous places in Chinese and Japanese literature.

The five commandments at the front gate were profound: One shall
Not Kill, Not Steal, Not commit adultery, Not lie and Not Drink Too Much SAKE! Now that’s wisdom for seeing the world …sake but not too much. I did buy Sake with Gold Flakes in it … I guess that’s what you do there. Relaxing afternoon strolling in the gardens and people watching (brides, Japanese, and visitors from all over).Read more