Dec 9, 2013 - 1 min read

Kyoto Ryogin-an Temple

Three colors...Three gardens

By Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

No trees and no rocks in South Garden

West Garden shows a dragon and the sea

Ryogin-an Temple is just over this bridge

South Garden expresses the nothingness of Zen

Autumn leaves surrounding the garden

The long rock between the two rocks on either side of it is a boy protected by two dogs from foxes

Memorial hall for Mukan Fumon

Sand showing black clouds and the sea (West Garden)

The design of the bamboo wall is a bolt of lighting

Entrance of Ryogin-an Temple

Red leaves at Ryogin-an Temple

One of the sub-temples of Tofuku-ji Temple, Ryogin-in was once a residence of Mukan Fumon (Tofuku-ji’s 3rd abbot). In 1964, three gardens were designed around the main building by a modern artist, Shigemori Mirei (1896-1975). He expressed the 'nothingness' of Zen (South garden - white), a dragon from the sea (West garden - black), and a 'foxes and a boy' story (East garden - red) in each garden. Three different colors of sand make up completely different images in each of the three gardens. Ryogin-an Temple is open to the public between March 14-16, and November 1-30.

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Tomoko Kamishima

By Tomoko Kamishima

Community writer

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