Do you know the golden temple or golden pavilion of Japan? In Kyoto is located the famous Kinkakuji temple, one of the great highlights of the ancient capital of Japan. In this article, we will see some details about this beautiful place.
Kinkakuji [金閣寺] is the “nickname” given to the temple Rokuonji [鹿苑寺] located in the city of Kyoto in Japan. These golden pavilions were built in the year 1397. Each pavilion is covered in pure gold with a golden phoenix on top of its roof, living up to its nickname.
The temple is also surrounded by a mirrored lake called Kyōkochi. Other pavilions and shrines accompany the area of the site, in addition to the beautiful garden and foliage that add charm to the entire landscape of the place.
Table of Contents
The history of Kinkakuji
The temple was the retirement home of the shogun (commander of the army) Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. Shortly after the death of this shogun, in 1408, the house became a Zen temple of the Rinzai sect. This temple has been burned several times throughout history.
Among these are two times during the Onin War, a civil war that destroyed much of Kyoto. And in 1950, a fanatic monk set the place on fire. The current structure was rebuilt in 1955. Kinkakuji is one of the must-see tourist spots for visitors to Kyoto; let’s see some curiosities about it.
As already mentioned, the structure was a private property, originally intended to be a place of tranquility and rest for a shogun. It was also built to reflect his great power and influence.
Just before dying, Yoshimitsu instructed his son to hand over the entire property to the Zen Buddhist monks. For a long time, Kinkakuji served as a place for monks to meditate in tranquility, as it was a peaceful and isolated place.
The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times during the Onin War (1467-1477), and in 1950 it was set on fire by a 22-year-old monk who soon after attempted suicide.
Even after many fires and other problems, and having a large part of the structure destroyed, one pavilion survived. This is the golden pavilion, which eventually became a cultural symbol. Kinkakuji is considered an architectural marvel, not only for its luxurious finish. Each of the three floors was built in a different style.
The first floor was built in the Shinden style, which was used in elite mansions of the 11th century. Basically, it is a large open room with white walls that open to the lake. This space was generally used for public meetings and as an entertainment area.
The second floor was built in the style of Samurai houses. It was often used for private meetings and to receive special guests. The Buddhists used this floor as the Buddha’s room. From this floor, one can see the incredible and beautiful gardens, which were designed to be viewed from this height.
And finally, the third and last floor was built in the style of Buddhist architecture, where it was the private residence of Yoshimitsu. Here we have more rounded windows compared to the other floors. At the top of the roof is the Chinese phoenix called fenghuang in gold.
Shall we visit Kinkakuji?
Hello, although the article was written by my friend Marcelo, this is Kevin to talk about some details of my visit to the golden temple of Japan. It was late September on a rainy afternoon. The place seemed interesting and full of tourists even with the weather. The surroundings were full of shops and people walking through the neighborhood even though it was not the center of Kyoto.
I don’t remember well, but there were some other interesting monuments and buildings in the area. One of the main highlights is the beautiful lake and garden that create a pleasant environment for the golden temple. No matter the season you visit, the temple will always be showcasing!
If you cannot visit the golden temple in Kyoto, know that there are two small replicas here in Brazil. One is in Itapecerica da Serra (SP) and the other in Curitiba (PR) in the Japan square.
The entire place is surrounded by a beautiful garden. This is designed to provide different views of the lake as you walk. If you are passing through Kyoto, Kinkakuji is open for visitation. It costs about 500 yen (around 15 reais) and is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
We recommend using GetYourGuide to find a tour guide or interesting tour packages for the Kyoto region and Kinkakuji. I hope you enjoy.
Did you find it interesting? Have you visited or already knew the place? Let us know in the comments and share with friends.
Leave a Reply