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Rokuonji (Kinkakuji) teien
鹿苑寺(金閣寺)庭園

garden at Rokuonji temple (Kinkakuji)


Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third Muromachi shogun, purchased the half-ruined Kitayamadai mansion from the Saionji family and renovated it as Kitayama villa from 1397 to 1398. It became Rokuonji after Yoshimitsu's death. Its garden was renovated again in the early Edo period. The focus of the garden's view is Kinkaku (Golden Pavilion), built on Kyōkochi pond. Medium and small-sized islands, and rock islands are placed in the pond, and one of them is the famous stone of the nine mountains and eight oceans. The pond called Anmintaku to the north of Kyōkochi pond retains much of the appearance of Kitayamadai. The garden is designated a national special historic site and special scenic spot, and is inscribed on the World Heritage List as one of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto. It is located in Kita ward, Kyoto.


Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.