Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto

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Ryoanji (The Temple of the Dragon at Peace) is a Zen temple (1450), located ibn the Northwest of Kyoto. Its famous "Karesansui" rock garden (UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage Site) is consists of 15 moss-covered boulders. Its a place for meditation and enlightenment. The interior of the "Kur"-the main temple building is a well-conserved house and one can see the essence of Japanese house architecture. The garden is superb with a beautiful bridge and a large pond. Its a good place for promenade.

In December 1994, this temple was designated as World Heritage by UNESCO. Ryoanji (Temple of the peaceful dragon) is in the northwest section of Kyoto, not far from Kinkakuji. This is a temple belonging to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai branch of the Zen sect.

For a wonderful description, please see http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/kyoto/ryoanji.html

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Hosokawa emperors (Uda, Kazan, Ichij¡§¡©, Go-Suzaku, Go-Reizei, Go-Sanj¡§¡©, and Horikawa) are enshrined in what are today known as the "Seven Imperial Tombs" at Ryoan-ji.

An object of interest near the rear of the monks quarters is the carved stone receptacle into which water for ritual purification continuously flows. This is the Ry¡§¡©an-ji tsukubai, which translates literally as "crouch;" and the lower elevation of the basin requires the user to bend a little bit to reach the water, which suggests supplication and reverence. The kanji written on the surface of the stone are without significance when read alone. If each is read in combination with Ï¢ (kuchi), which the central bowl is meant to represent, then the characters become çî, êæ, ðë, ò±. This is read as "ware tada taru (wo) shiru" and translates literally as "I only know plenty" (çî = ware = I, êæ = tada = only, ðë = taru = plenty, ò± = shiru = know).
The meaning of the phrase carved into the top of the tsukubai is simply that "what one has is all one needs" and is meant to reinforce the basic anti-materialistic teachings of Buddhism.
The absence of a dipper is intended to imply that the water is for the soul only and that it is necessary to bend the knee in humility in order to receive its blessing.

To many, the temple's name is synonymous with the temple's famous karesansui (dry landscape) rock garden, thought to have been built in the late 1400s. The garden consists of raked gravel and fifteen moss-covered boulders, which are placed so that, when looking at the garden from any angle (other than from above) only fourteen of the boulders are visible at one time. It is traditionally said that only through attaining enlightenment would one be able to view the fifteenth boulder.

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Although I've never personally gone touring with a blind person, I can only imagine how difficult it must be to find places that a blind person can enjoy. If you have struggled to find such places in Japan, Ryoanji may be just what you are looking for!

Just before entering the famous Zen rock garden in Ryoanji, if you take the time to look around, there is a small recreation of the rock garden a few paces from the souvenir shop. If you wonder what this is for, it is a brilliant recreation of Ryoanji's rock garden made for those who are blind! You are allowed to touch this tiny recreation of the zen garden, so a blind traveller can feel EXACTLY where each rock is located and how the garden is layed out. There is brail there, as well however, in the event that the brail is only Japanese brail, you can use the brochures and pamphlets you received when you payed to enter to read to the blind person as they feel the rocks. Because of this wonderful replica of the garden, blind travellers can appreciate the beauty and aesthetic value of Ryoanji the same as anyone else! There are not so many places in Japan that cater to blind tourists, so Ryoanji could easily be the highlight of a trip to Japan for a blind traveller!

Entry fee is 500 yen.

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A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE.

A ZEN BUDDHIST Rock Garden established in and around 1480. Measures approximately 10 meters by 24 meters with 15 rocks on a raked stone base.

Its shoes off to enter the complex.

The meaning is:
(1) Unknown
(2) up to the vistors interpretation
(3) or - " you cannot see all rocks as separated entities " When you become enlightened you are able to see the 15 rocks as separated entities.
(4) many others.

Regarding # 3. You can only view the garden from one side so the hypothesis cannot be confirmed or proven. The viewing area is elevated which gives you an advantage and you can see all 15 rocks.But you cannot see rocks #14 and #15 as separate entities.

The surrounding Garden is worth a walk.

After RYOAN-JI its a short walk down hill to the Ninnaji Temple.

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This Zen Garden is ment to be the best or perfect zen Garden in Japan. It is very quite and peaceful. Take a walk around the whole temple. To the one side there is an over hanging of trees and the moss underneath looks as soft as a mattress. Take your time and mediate if you know how.

Cost Y 500

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Ryoanji is basically just a simple building with the famous zen garden - nothing else to see. That said, go and see it - it's' a good place to daydream if you don't want to sit and guess at the number of stones you can see. It's said you can't see all 15 stones at any angle, but of course that's the way it'll be when you hide small stones behind big stones.

It's 15mins west of kinkakuji and 10min east of ninnaji. Cost 500yen. Opens from 8-5pm
Take bus 205 from kyoto station

This is my second favorite temple in Kyoto. I wish there was more time to just sit and contemplate looking at the rocks placed in a sea of raked designed fine gravel sand. There are like a world of islands in the sea. I also like the moss gardens and the gardens of this temple. You probably have seen many pictures of Ryoanji but spend a few minutes here when you are in Kyoto. It is one of a kind temple.