His name was Shoe, not sure on the spelling, and he is a professor on linguistics at a local university. He went to college in Pennsylvania for his masters and PhD. He didn't stick with us and actually show us the places we wanted to go, but he did drop us off and give us enough time to see the places. We ended up seeing the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), the temple Ryoan-ji and another buddhist temple. We wanted to see the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji) but we didn't have time, they close at 4pm.
Honestly, today was one of the least productive of all of the days we have had here, but it was still a nice day.
Our first stop was the Golden Pavilion. It was built in 1397 as a retirement villa for a shogun, and was converted into a temple by his son. The temple is actually covered in gold lacquer and gold leaf. Like many places in Japan, the Golden Pavillion burned and was rebuilt, however, it survived all of the typical causes: civil war, World War II, and a few centuries of using fire to light things, and was burnt in 1950 by a monk, who was obsessed with the pavillion. So it was rebuilt in 1955.
It was still well worth the visit, it was beautiful, but smaller than I thought it would be. The pavillion was only one small part of the grounds, they were actually pretty expansive. The temple leaders were smart enough to profit off of the tourist attraction, charging 400 yen a piece to enter the grounds.
We started on a nice walkway towards the temple grounds
Now we pay before we go through the gates
What retirement villa is complete without a dock?
After the Golden Pavillion we went to the nearby Ryoan-ji temple. This temple was built in 1450 and is well known for it's famous rock garden. It is so well known that it is actually a World Heritage Site. The temple was very beautiful and peaceful.
There is no explanation behind the meaning of the garden. You are encouraged to sit and form your own opinions of what the position of the rocks mean. To me, I feel the garden signifies how life is random and unpredictable, but that is why it is so beautiful.
We had to take our shoes off
They used these bamboo sticks and rope to shape how the trees grew. Trees were being held up, and branches were being forced in different directions all over the grounds. I think of it a lot like life-sized bonzai trees
This clay wall (in the background of the rock pictures) is made from heating the clay in oil. Over time, the oil seeps through the clay and makes the wall an artform of its own
We just drove past this Shinto Shrine, maybe we should have gone inside, I guess it is actually pretty famous :/
HUGE Torri
Another 1 series, I want one bad
This is the last of the temples we went to, I'm not sure what the name is of it. We went there because it was open later than most of them, 6pm, many close at 4 or 5 pm. It wasn't as nice as the first two, but it was smaller and not crowded
These pigeons were super tame, you can get so close to them. I mean, if you're into that stuff.
We took a cab back to the hotel, and got to go through the crazy taxi bay we watch from our window. That in itself was an exciting experience. Cab drivers are crazy in this city.
2 comments:
I'm glad you got to Ryoanji; one of my favorite places -- so peaceful. Thanks for explaining the wall; I always thought it as beautiful as the rock garden itself. Your guide's name is probably spelled Shui.
One of my frequent commenters posted this comment on my blog:
Btw, Kyoto was the recommended target for maximum psychological damage by the Targeting Selection Board in WWII, composed of Generals and top nuclear scientists.
In the end, Kyoto was marked off the primary and secondary target list, perhaps for cultural reasons and the shrine there.
They made the right choice. I only know that because I took the time to consider what choice would have been right in the first place. No what ifs, just what was.
history is complex, this is due to the fact that few people are ever able to comprehend even a partial view of it
It is complex because it involves many people, and mysterious because it requires the ability to understand other people's experiences as if they were your own. Only then can you figure out the deep mysteries.
Look at the situation today, Laer. And think of what Kyoto might have become and what your daughter may be seeing now, had various people made the wrong choice in history. Because that is how future generations will see the entire United States of this century. Those like me of course, students of history.
Some people study history because they are fascinated by ancient peoples and civilizations. I study history for the wisdom it might impart to maintaining the happiness of humanity in the here and now as well as the future.
So much could have been lost unnecessarily. We owe a duty to our ancestors to do the right thing, regardless of the cost, for they did it for our benefit in their time, actions by both Japanese ancestors as well as American. Blood debts are never erased, regardless of what technology comes before us.
Those that see America as full of materialistic vampires have never recognized this truth, for it would burn their corrupted hearts right out of their bodies.
ymarsakar | Homepage | 07.26.07 - 9:51 pm | #
Gravatar This is the story of the targeting selection
If you want my comments after reading the primary document.
ymarsakar | Homepage | 07.26.07 - 9:53 pm | #
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