Daisen-in,+Daitoku-ji,+Kyoto

=Daisen-in, Daitoku-ji, Kyoto=

This is one of Japan's most famous Zen gardens located in the Daisen-in (Great Hermit's Temple), a sub-temple of the main temple of Daitoku-ji in northern Kyoto. Daisen-in was founded in 1509 by the Zen priest Kogaku Sotan (1464-1548) upon his retirement as abbot of Daitoku-ji. The entire complex is one of the most famous examples of the dry garden styles known as //karesansui -//literally- //"withered mountains and water."// This can be traced back at least as far as the early Muromachi Period and the gardens associated with Muso Soseki.

Daisen-in Photo Gallery








The main building of Daisen-in is designated as a national treasure. It is one of the oldest Hojo-style of Zen fashion.



Popular Japanese temple priest/leader Soen Ozeki who conducts of tour groups through Daisen-in.

I really enjoyed getting to see the garden of Daisen-in firsthand because it's size helped me understand why I was not able to find a lot of pictures about it. Plus having Dr. Leavell explain the parts of the garden from the Turtle Rock to the Crane Rock and the Wall of Doubt really helped me see exactly what a "working model" of the journey of life through this world looks like. Everything had its' significance and place, even the way the rocks were raked to show the "flow" of the journey. Also, the fact the most detailed part of the garden was much smaller than the vast open area that it opened into.

The highlight for me was actually getting to meet, talk with, and get my picture taken with the priest, Soen Ozeki. What a wonderful man with a very contagious, energetic attitude about life. I could tell that he really has a love for and embraces all people. And to top it off, he wrote the names of each of us in our group in Japanese characters and signed his name on the brochures we had about Daisen-in.