Daisen-in, founded at the beginning of the 16th century is a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji, located just next to the head temple. The main building is surrounded on all four sides by dry gardens. The garden was created in 1509 by Kogaku Soko who also founded the temple. His work was inspired by Chinese black ink-brush painting of the Song dynasty (960-1279). Daisen-in is a small garden with a profusion of stones of surprising shapes and stunning colors. Unlike the silent and austere Ryoan-ji, garden from the same period, here the stones have names, meanings, receive a mission and participate on creating symbols and telling stories. They represent the Mont Horai, a waterfall, a turtle and crane islands, a river, an ocean. The garden is abundant in stones and generous in its interpretations. One of the most beautiful gardens, indeed.