Aka is a Buddhist term for offerings, especially of water, to Buddha images. A well for drawing such water is called aka i. The aka well of Onjōji temple located in Ōtsu city, Shiga prefecture, is said in legend to date back to the seventh century, and is enclosed by a stone arrangement bearing similarities to those of later gardens.
Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.
