Ryōan-ji Temple

Welcome to Ryoan-ji, the Temple of the Dragon at Peace. You are standing at the entrance to one of the most famous and debated sites in the world of Zen Buddhism. …

We now find ourselves at the Hojo, the former residence of the head priest and the primary viewing platform for the stone garden. To enter this sacred space, you must first remove your shoes, a physical act of shedding the…

Now, let us turn our full attention to the stones themselves. There are exactly fifteen rocks of various sizes, arranged into five groups. …

The garden is enclosed by an earthen wall that is as much a part of the artwork as the stones themselves. Made of clay boiled in oil, the wall has taken on a dark, mottled patina over the centuries. …

As you move around the perimeter of the Hojo, you will encounter a unique type of bamboo fence that has come to be known worldwide as a 'Ryoan-ji fence.' This design features split bamboo stalks that are crossed in a diagonal…

While the stone garden is the main draw for most visitors, the lower part of the temple grounds offers a completely different sensory experience. Here lies the Kyoyochi, or Mirror Pond. …

As our tour of Ryoan-ji comes to a close, let us return to the central mystery of this place. We have seen the stones, the walls, and the pond, but the 'meaning' of the temple remains elusive. …

Before you leave the grounds, I invite you to take one final look at the Mirror Pond. Notice how the water, even when disturbed by a breeze or a fish, eventually returns to a state of perfect stillness. …