TENRYU-JI

Tenryu-ji was initially a villa that served as the detached residence for several emperors. The temple was established in 1339 and a Zen priest Muso Soseki was appointed as the abbot overseeing the transformation of the villa into a temple and the creation of a garden. During the ages, the temple suffered several fires and the latest reconstructions were made mid 19th century. The garden survived all disasters and is one of the oldest gardens in Japan. It features a pond that lies at the foothills of the Arashiyama, which is incorporated into the design of the garden as a “borrowed scenery” (shakkei) for the first time in the Japanese gardening. Looking across the pond from the Hojo veranda an important grouping of stones draws attention. It represents a dry waterfall. Every artificial waterfall, dry or wet in a Zen garden has a stone which represents a carp. An old Chinese legend says that when the carp succeeds to swim up the stream is transformed into a dragon. Dragon represents the enlightenment. The legend makes an allusion to the severity of the training of a Buddhist monk to attain satori.