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Kyoto, Japan |
Konchi-in is an Edo period garden and part of the overall Nanzen-ji Temple complex. It lies just outside the larger temple, which can be quite busy. Konchi-in is a lovely and significant dry landscape and pond garden.
From the street you enter an entrance courtyard, and thence, through the Akechi-mon gate which dates from 1581 and was moved here in 1868. Through the gate there is a beautiful garden surrounding Benten Ike, the pond dedicated to the Goddess of Fortune on its island. Surrounded by maples and other deciduous trees the pond garden in especially lovely in autumn.
The path then leads you to the left and around the pond, looking back there is another very pretty view of the Akechi-mon gate, the maple and a glimpse of the dry garden to come. The path enters a very secluded area with trees casting light shade over beautiful dark green moss. In front of the Ro-mon gate a water basin marks the beginning of a path which, after turning left, leads you through the Onari-mon gate to Tosho-gu, a temple courtyard. (The architecture is quite different here, gongen style, the only remaining example in Kyoto.)
A more roughly paved series of steps (to slow the walker and invite contemplation) carries on down the hill to another, smaller temple, Kaisan-do. Crossing a small stream, you pass an area of lovely moss and look out to the area fronting the hojo, the main sanctuary within the temple precinct.
The garden here is a kare-sansui (dry landscape garden) with the planting on the far side of the garden represents a shoreline, the gravel in between a vast ocean. Clipped shrubs represent. There is a tsurukame, representing wisdom and longevity, arranged between flat stones. The stonework is quite strong, bringing a sense of solidity and stillness.
Visiting Konchi-in
The quiet exterior of Konchi-in reflects the beautiful and contemplative garden
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History Note
Konchi -in was built around 1400 and moved to its present site 1605. The Temple was restored and rebuilt by the powerful Ishin Suden (also known as Konchi-in Suden) who was appointed Chief Priest of Nanzen-ji in 1605.
Between 1627 and 1630, Suden worked with several experts, including the noted landscape artist Kobori Enshu, to reconstruct several of the buildings and gardens. The kare-sansui was completely restored at this time. Suden died in 1633 and is buried at Kaisan-do in Konchi-in. | | |
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The Akechi-mon gate dates from 1581
Benten-Ike, the pond dedicated to the Goddess of Fortune
The kare-sansui garden
Moss Garden
Dappled light over the path
leading to Tosho-gu
Water basin
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