Zuisen-ji Temple Garden
The garden of the Zuisen-ji Temple was laid out in 1327 in a valley called Momijigayatsu (Valley of Autumn Leaves). Its author is Muso Kokushi, who that time was the head priest of this family temple of the Ashikaga rulers.
The monastery is located on Mount Kinbyozan. This name comes from the autumn colors that adorn the mountains surrounding the temple, which are as beautiful as brocade covered folding screen.
However, a great variety of flowers can be enjoyed in the temple grounds throughout the four seasons. The beauty and the quantity of its plants have gained it since antiquity the nickname "Temple of Flowers".
From the ticket office you need to follow a paved road. Then the uphill climb begins. The surrounding forest and complete silence make you feel a special way, as if cutting off a walking traveler from the world of excitement and vanity left below. Somewhere in the middle, the staircase bifurcates. You can choose any, both of them will lead to the same place. But the road to the left is the original one built by Muso Kokushi.
A garden is already visible beyond the mountain Sammon gate.
If we turn right, we will reach to the tea pavilion.
And just in front of the gate is a dry garden, consisting of the Turtle and the Crane islands, surrounded by rather large gray pebbles.
Behind the dry garden there is another small garden in front of the cabinet windows, enclosed by a low bamboo fence. A slab path leads to the entrance, and on the right corner there is a tsukubai with a bowl made of large gray stone.
There is a large bell on the left. Here, among the trees, you can see many interesting details, such as large and small lanterns, sculptures, stones.
After wandering a little in the front garden, we headed on. The road leads to the main building of the temple. It was beautifully illuminated by the sun that day.
And a little further there are two small buildings, one of them keeps the literary works related to the temple, and the second one is dedicated to the bodhisattva Jizo.
Behind them is a passage to the main mountain garden of the temple. It should be noted that this garden impressed me so much on the photo before that I included Zuisen-ji in our plans. And I was not mistaken! Here is a truly magical, enchanting atmosphere! I don’t know if we were so lucky, or not many people get here, but there was not a single person around. And this loneliness, coupled with the magnificent nature, made a huge impression on us. Apparently, Muso Soseki felt the same feelings, since he chose this place for meditation and created a garden here.
The compositional center of the garden is the shallow Sekisei pond that flows between the rocky shores. In the eastern part there is a small stone island opposite the cave. This cave is used for zazen practice and for admiring the moon reflected in the water.
To the right of the cave is a niche for solitary meditation. And a little bit more to the right you can see a stone waterfall. It is not always dry. A tank for collecting and storing rainwater is installed at the top. When you need, you can start the water and admire a real waterfall.
There are two bridges in the western part of the pond. After crossing them, you can reach the path leading to the top of the mountain. As it is written in the description, the winding path has 18 turns. After climbing on the top the traveler enters another garden. There is wonderful view of the undulating ridges of the Kamakura Mountains and Sagami Bay stretches at the foot of Fuji. Muso Kokushi built a gazebo in that garden and named it Kasuitei.
But, unfortunately, ordinary visitors cannot get there. We could only see the bridges and the beginning of the path.
This rock, or rather, mountain garden, is located on the back side of the main temple and the abbot's house adjacent to it.
It is the only garden from the Kamakura era that has survived to this day in its original form. The entire territory of the temple and its surroundings have been declared a national historical value and a special conservation area.
In his book "Crazy Questions and Answers", Muso Kokushi writes that he loves the stone garden because it helps "train the heart." Having been here, I can say that this is a truly extraordinary experience, what makes it possible to feel another dimension, another reality, to escape from everything earthly and enjoy the divine beauty of nature.
Garden Information:
Address: 710 Nikaido, Kamakura City, Japan
Opening hours: from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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