The whole world is composed of nine mountains and eight oceans, according to the Buddhism cosmic view expressed in the myth of Mt. Sumeru. In representing this Buddhist image in the garden, a stone arrangement may be made symbolizing the nine mountains and eight oceans, or a single stone called kusen hakkai ishi is placed in a pond. The stone of the nine mountains and eight oceans in the Kyōkochi pond at Rokuonji temple (Kinkakuji) is well known.
Japanese Garden Dictionary: A Glossary for Japanese Gardens and Their History
(C) 2010 by Ono Kenkichi and Walter Edwards. All rights reserved.
