Raikyū-ji
Encyclopedia
, or is a Buddhist
temple belonging to the Eigen-ji
branch of Rinzai school
, located in the city of Takahashi
in Okayama Prefecture
in Japan. It is best known for its Japanese garden
.
, the Ashikaga shogunate
's first shogun, and made it the Ankoku-ji of Bitchū Province
.
The current structure dates back to 1504 AD, when Ueno Yorihisa (Raikyū), the lord of Bitchū Matsuyama Castle
, restored the exterior of the building. After his death it was renamed Ankoku Raikyū-ji in his honour.
, who in addition to his fame as a garden designer, is regarded for being one of the original founders of the Japanese tea ceremony. Kobori, who lived at the temple, is said to have built the present zen'in-shiki (or Zen temple form) garden in the "Horai style" which is designed to emphasize spiritiual peace and harmony in its composition and in the consciousness of the viewer. It uses the nearby Mount Atago in the background to form a shakkei ("borrowed view") common to this style of garden. The garden is also known as Tsurukame Garden on account of the two stone islands in the garden named "Crane" and "Tortoise" island respectively.
Since it was completed in 1609, the abbots of the temple have maintained the garden in its original form, in honour of its designer.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
temple belonging to the Eigen-ji
Eigen-ji
is one of fourteen autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen, founded in 1361 by the lord of Ōmi province—Sasaki Ujiyori. The temple is located in modern day Higashiōmi, Shiga prefecture of Japan, and its first Abbot was the famous poet and roshi Jakushitsu Genko...
branch of Rinzai school
Rinzai school
The Rinzai school is , one of three sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism.Rinzai is the Japanese line of the Chinese Linji school, which was founded during the Tang Dynasty by Linji Yixuan...
, located in the city of Takahashi
Takahashi, Okayama
is a city located in Okayama, Japan.As of April 30, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 34,119, with a household number of 13,990 and the density of 62.37 persons per km². The total area is 547.01 km².The city was founded on May 1, 1954....
in Okayama Prefecture
Okayama Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Okayama.- History :During the Meiji Restoration, the area of Okayama Prefecture was known as Bitchū Province, Bizen Province and Mimasaka Province.- Geography :...
in Japan. It is best known for its Japanese garden
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
.
History
The exact date at which in the original temple which was located on the site was built is unknown. In 1339 AD it was rebuilt by Ashikaga TakaujiAshikaga Takauji
was the founder and first shogun of the Ashikaga shogunate. His rule began in 1338, beginning the Muromachi period of Japan, and ended with his death in 1358...
, the Ashikaga shogunate
Ashikaga shogunate
The , also known as the , was a Japanese feudal military regime, ruled by the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan.This period is also known as the Muromachi period and gets its name from Muromachi Street of Kyoto where the third shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu established his residence...
's first shogun, and made it the Ankoku-ji of Bitchū Province
Bitchu Province
was a province of Japan on the Inland Sea side of western Honshū, in what is today western Okayama Prefecture. It was sometimes called , with Bizen and Bingo Provinces. Bitchu bordered Hōki, Mimasaka, Bizen, and Bingo Provinces....
.
The current structure dates back to 1504 AD, when Ueno Yorihisa (Raikyū), the lord of Bitchū Matsuyama Castle
Bitchu Matsuyama Castle
, also known as Takahashi Castle, is a castle located in Takahashi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. It is not to be confused with Matsuyama Castle in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. Bitchū Matsuyama Castle is notable as the castle with the highest elevation above sea level in Japan.- History :The castle...
, restored the exterior of the building. After his death it was renamed Ankoku Raikyū-ji in his honour.
The garden
When Kobori Masatugu, the governor of the area, died in 1604, he was succeeded to the post by his son Kobori EnshūKobori Masakazu
, better known as ', was a notable Japanese artist and aristocrat in the reign of Tokugawa Ieyasu.In 1604, Kobori received as inheritance a 12,000-koku fief in Ōmi Province at Komuro. He excelled in the arts of painting, poetry, flower arrangement, and garden design...
, who in addition to his fame as a garden designer, is regarded for being one of the original founders of the Japanese tea ceremony. Kobori, who lived at the temple, is said to have built the present zen'in-shiki (or Zen temple form) garden in the "Horai style" which is designed to emphasize spiritiual peace and harmony in its composition and in the consciousness of the viewer. It uses the nearby Mount Atago in the background to form a shakkei ("borrowed view") common to this style of garden. The garden is also known as Tsurukame Garden on account of the two stone islands in the garden named "Crane" and "Tortoise" island respectively.
Since it was completed in 1609, the abbots of the temple have maintained the garden in its original form, in honour of its designer.