Ryōan-ji

[khiemtran]

The Zen Garden at Ryōan-ji is one of the most famous in the world.





The garden is enclosed by walls on three sides and is viewable only from a pavilion on the fourth side. This is about the widest view you can possibly get, from back in one corner of the pavilion. There are fifteen rocks, but only fourteen can ever be seen at any one time (unless, perhaps, you have achieved true enlightenment...)



How is this possible? Take a look at this model below...



First, look at the left-most stone of all. You can see that as the viewer moves right, it will become masked by the biggest stone in that group of five. (Note that the shapes and position of the stones in this model don't quite match those in the real garden, but the principle holds.) Next look at the right-most stone in the group of three on the right-hand side. As the viewer moves left, it will be masked by the biggest stone in that group.

Here's the group of five on the left. See how the stone just left of the big stone will vanish as you move towards the right.



And meanwhile, on the right-hand side, you have to be a long way to the right before you can see the right-most stone of the group of three. You can just see it peeking out from behind the largest stone here.



But wait... If you start at the right-hand side of the pavilion and work your way left, there IS a point where you can still see the right-most stone and yet also just see all five stones of the left-most group. Can you see the fifth stone just peeking out behind the big one in the photo below? Enlightment!!!



Except... while you can see all fifteen stones from the same spot, you still have to turn your head to do so. Try seeing all fifteen all at once and ... yes, it's back to contemplation for you, grasshopper.



But then, of course, the contemplation is the best part.







I actually could have spent hours here. I did read of a paper that said the layout of the rocks left a subliminal impression of a tree. I didn't manage to see it, but it was both comforting and compelling to gaze at the rocks and the neatly raked pebbles.

And, of course, people have been contemplating for centuries...

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite temples in Kyoto. When I went there with my boyfriend at the time, we arrived maybe 15 minutes before closing. No one was there, and so we were able to enjoy the silent scene in solitude. It was great.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

That must have been amazing! There was a big school group there when we were there, but they just just added an extra energy of their own.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

The feeling of peace and stillness comes over even in your photos. It's such an amazing combination of the rough natural forms of the rocks and the raked perfection of the gravel.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, you really can gaze at it for hours. It's a bit like looking down from a cliff at islands in the sea ... and then suddenly you realise the islands are people. No, wait ... and then, ultimately, everything just collapses into abstract forms.

[rymrytr.livejournal.com]

I had a Zen Garden for about 5 or 6 years.

I raked it and "breathed", every day, Monday through Friday.

It was 10 by 12... inches that is. Sat on my desk at work.
I added a tiny, porcelain-like temple that I got in a package of Lipton Tea.

I also added several rocks that I had, from my days of working at a surface mine. One was a bit of green and white Nephrite jade... It about 2 finger joints x 2 /12 finger joints (for my hand, a finger joint is 1").

I'm glad that you caused me to remember that. I need to have another. Now that I'm retired, I could build a larger one...

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Cool! Sounds like an excellent idea...

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

The mental image of the garden I visited is a different one - bare stones and fewer of them - but I love how the sheer tranquility of the place shines through in your photos.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It was a wonderfully tranquil place, and yet energising at the same time. It was interesting that even when very crowded, it was still possibly to tune out the crowd when you focussed on the stones or the lake. The contrast between the stillness of the garden and the energy of a battalion of schoolgirls was quite remarkable.