Do you know the golden temple or golden temple of Japan? Kyoto is home to the famous Kinkakuji Temple, one of the highlights of the ancient capital of Japan. In this article, we are going to see some details about this beautiful place.
Kinkakuji [金閣寺] It is the "nickname" given to the temple Rokuonji [Golden Pavilion] located in the city of Kyoto in Japan. These golden pavilions were built in the year 1397. Each pavilion is covered in leaf gold. 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 site, in addition to the beautiful garden and foliage that add charm to the entire landscape of the site.
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.
This includes twice 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 tranquility and rest house of a shogun. It was also built to reflect his great power and influence.
Just before he died, Yoshimitsu instructed his son to hand over all the property to the zen Buddhist monks. For a long time, Kinkakuji served as a place for the monks to meditate in tranquility, as it was a peaceful and secluded place.
The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times during the Onin War (1467-1477) and in 1950 it was burned down by a 22-year-old monk who soon after attempted suicide.
Even after many fires and other problems, and with much of the structure destroyed, one pavilion survived. This is the pavilhão dourado, which ended up becoming a cultural symbol. Kinkakuji is considered an architectural wonder, 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. It is basically a large open room with white walls that opens to the lake. This space was usually used for public meetings and as an entertainment area.
The second floor was built in the style of the Samurai houses. It was mainly 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 sits the Chinese phoenix called fenghuang golden.
Shall we visit Kinkakuji?
Hi, despite the article being written by my friend Marcelo, here is Kevin to talk about some details about my visit to the golden temple of Japan. It was late September on a rainy day in the afternoon. The place looked interesting and full of tourists even with the weather. The surroundings were full of shops and people walking around the neighborhood even though it wasn't the center of Kyoto.
I don't remember well, but there were some other interesting monuments and buildings on the site. One of the main highlights is the beautiful lake and garden that creates a pleasant atmosphere for the golden temple. No matter what season you visit, the temple will always be on display!
If you are unable to visit the Kinkaku-ji in Kyoto, know that there are two small replicas here in Brazil. One is located in Itapecerica da Serra (SP) and the other in Curitiba (PR) in the Praça do Japão.
The whole place is surrounded by a beautiful garden. This being designed to provide different views of the lake when walking. If you are passing through Kyoto, Kinkakuji is open for visitors. It costs around 500 yen (about 15 reais) and is open from 9 am to 5 pm.
We recommend using GetYourGuide to find interesting tour guides or tour packages for the Kyoto area and Kinkakuji. Hope you enjoy.
Did you find it interesting? Have you visited or already knew the place? Tell us in the comments and share with friends.
