About this place

Ryōan-ji, the "Temple of the Peaceful Dragon," is a Zen temple located in northwest Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. The site was originally an aristocrat's villa during the Heian Period, but in 1450, a powerful warlord, Hosokawa Katsumoto, acquired the land and converted it into a Zen temple. The temple was destroyed during a civil war and rebuilt by Katsumoto's son in 1488. Today, it is recognized as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Rock Garden (Karesansui)

Ryōan-ji is renowned for its karesansui, or dry landscape garden, which is considered one of the finest examples of a Japanese rock garden. The garden consists of a simple rectangular plot of raked white gravel, measuring about 250 square meters, with 15 rocks of varying sizes arranged in five small groups on patches of moss. The garden is enclosed by a low earthen wall and is intended to be viewed from a seated position on the veranda of the Hōjō, the former residence of the head priest.

A notable feature of the garden's design is that from any vantage point, at least one of the 15 rocks is always hidden from the viewer. This intentional design is tied to the concept of imperfection; in East Asian culture, the number 15 symbolizes perfection, so being able to see only 14 stones at once reflects the idea that perfection is unattainable. The date of the garden's construction and the identity of its designer remain uncertain, adding to its mystique. The meaning of the garden is also not explicit and is left to the individual viewer's interpretation. Some theories suggest it represents a tiger carrying her cubs across a river, islands in the sea, or a more abstract concept like infinity.

An Overview of Zen

Zen is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China as Ch'an and was later introduced to Japan. The word "Zen" is the Japanese pronunciation of "Ch'an," which is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, meaning "meditation." At its core, Zen emphasizes the practice of seated meditation, known as zazen, as the primary path to achieving enlightenment, or satori.

The rock garden at Ryōan-ji is a physical manifestation of Zen principles. Its austerity, minimalism, and abstract nature are not meant to replicate nature but to serve as an aid to contemplation. The empty space (ma) represented by the raked gravel is as important as the rocks themselves, encouraging the viewer to fill in the meaning and engage in the meditative process that is central to Zen.