The Daisen-in (大仙院) is a sub-temple of Daitoku-ji, a temple of the Rinzai school of Zen in Buddhism, one of the five most important Zen temples of Kyoto. The name means "The Academy of the Great Immortals." Daisen-in was founded by the Zen priest Kogaku Sōkō (古岳宗亘, 1464–1548), and was built between 1509 and 1513.[1]: 62–63 The Daisen-in is noted for its screen paintings and for its kare-sansui, or dry landscape garden.
Daisen-in (大仙院)
Boat-shaped stone in the gravel "river" of Daisen-in
The screen paintings inside the temple and the garden are attributed to Sōami (d. 1525), a Zen monk, ink painter and follower of the sect of the Amida Buddha. He was particularly known for his use of diluted ink to create delicate and nuanced, misty and ethereal landscapes. His work was influenced by the ink landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty in China. According to art historian Miyeko Murase, the work of Soami represents "the very essence of the serenity of nature, the sacred ideal of all the zen monks and ink painters of the Muromachi period".[2]: 201
Despite later interpretations on the creation of the Daisen-in's rock garden, its creation was not primarily related to religious Zen: it is a good example of a Chinese style landscape, done as painting in three dimensions.[3] Although the garden is attributed to monk-painter Soami, there is no written evidence that he was also a gardener. Wybe Kuitert suggests that the name "Soami" may have been used as a euphemism for garden makers who were of the untouchable kawaramono class and not versed in Buddhism.[4]: 95–98
The main garden, in an "L" shape, is to the northeast of and facing the shoin, the study of the hojo, the residence of the head of the monastery. This part of the garden is a narrow strip just 3.7 metres (12 ft) wide. It contains a miniature landscape similar to a Song Dynasty landscape painting, composed of rocks suggesting mountains and a waterfall, clipped shrubs and trees representing a forest, and raked white gravel representing a river. The "river" splits into branches, one of which flows into a "Middle Sea" of raked white gravel and a few rocks; the other flows through a gate to a larger "Ocean" of white gravel. In the river are several symbolic stones; one resembles a boat moving with the current, and the other resembles the back of a turtle trying to swim upstream. The "Ocean" has two cone-shaped hills of gravel, suggesting mountains. The "Middle Sea" and The "Ocean" are connected by another passage of white gravel west of the building. The "Ocean" and the "Middle Sea" are both believed to be later additions to the original garden.[5]: 110
American garden historians David and Michigo Young suggest that the garden may represent a metaphorical journey through life: the waterfall/river/sea may represent youth, maturity, and old age, or the search for wisdom. The rocks in the "rivers" may suggest obstacles. The "Ocean" at the end of the voyage may be the return to the eternal at the end of life.[6]: 110
French author Danielle Elisseeff sees the garden as divided into four spaces representing four themes; the first is the waterfall, or the impetuous beginning life; the second is the gate, symbolizing the passages of life. This theme features the stone "turtle" struggling upstream against the current, and the "treasure boat" moving downstream with the current: the third is the "Middle Sea"; and the fourth is the "Ocean", the final destination of calm and serenity.[7]: 62
German author Gunter Nitschke gives a similar explanation. He writes that the garden is "the life of man in symbolic form." The mountain at the beginning of the garden is Mount Horai, the traditional meeting place of the Eight Immortals in Daoist legends, symbolized by a camellia. He observes that, in the corner of the "Ocean" at the end of the voyage is a single "tree of bodhi," the traditional Buddhist symbol of the fig tree under which the Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment. Nitschke writes that the "treasure boat" stone represents the accumulation of experience during an adult life, and the "turtle" stone represents futile efforts to return to youth.[8]: 92–93
Gallery
Daisen-in, gateway and approach to the temple
Zen mountains and "waterfall" in the garden of Daisen-in
Gravel "river" in garden at Daisen-in
Gravel "Middle Sea" of the Zen garden at Daisen-in
^Kuitert, Wybe (March 2013). "Composition of Scenery in Japanese Pre-Modern Gardens and the Three Distances of Guo Xi". Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes. Taylor and Francis. 33 (1): 1–15. doi:10.1080/02666286.2012.753189.
^Kuitert, Wybe, (2002). Themes in the History of Japanese Garden Art Hawaii University Press
Kuitert, Wybe, (2002). Themes in the History of Japanese Garden Art Hawaii University Press, (ISBN0-8248-2312-5)
Young, David and Michiko, (2005), The Art of the Japanese Garden, Tuttle Publishing, Vermont and Singapore, (ISBN978-0-8048-3598-5)
Nitschke, Gunter, (1999) Le Jardin japonais - Angle droit et forme naturelle, Taschen publishers, Paris (translated from German into French by Wolf Fruhtrunk), (ISBN978-3-8228-3034-5)
Baridon, Michel (1998). Les Jardins- Paysagistes, Jardiniers, Poetes., Éditions Robert Lafont, Paris, (ISBN2-221-06707-X)
Murase, Miyeko, (1996), L'Art du Japon, La Pochothḕque, Paris, (ISBN2-253-13054-0)
daisen, 大仙院, temple, daitoku, temple, rinzai, school, buddhism, five, most, important, temples, kyoto, name, means, academy, great, immortals, founded, priest, kogaku, sōkō, 古岳宗亘, 1464, 1548, built, between, 1509, 1513, noted, screen, paintings, kare, sansui, . The Daisen in 大仙院 is a sub temple of Daitoku ji a temple of the Rinzai school of Zen in Buddhism one of the five most important Zen temples of Kyoto The name means The Academy of the Great Immortals Daisen in was founded by the Zen priest Kogaku Sōkō 古岳宗亘 1464 1548 and was built between 1509 and 1513 1 62 63 The Daisen in is noted for its screen paintings and for its kare sansui or dry landscape garden Daisen in 大仙院 Boat shaped stone in the gravel river of Daisen inReligionAffiliationZen Rinzai sectLocationLocationKyoto Kyoto PrefectureCountryJapanThe screen paintings inside the temple and the garden are attributed to Sōami d 1525 a Zen monk ink painter and follower of the sect of the Amida Buddha He was particularly known for his use of diluted ink to create delicate and nuanced misty and ethereal landscapes His work was influenced by the ink landscape paintings of the Song Dynasty in China According to art historian Miyeko Murase the work of Soami represents the very essence of the serenity of nature the sacred ideal of all the zen monks and ink painters of the Muromachi period 2 201 Contents 1 Rock garden 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksRock garden EditDespite later interpretations on the creation of the Daisen in s rock garden its creation was not primarily related to religious Zen it is a good example of a Chinese style landscape done as painting in three dimensions 3 Although the garden is attributed to monk painter Soami there is no written evidence that he was also a gardener Wybe Kuitert suggests that the name Soami may have been used as a euphemism for garden makers who were of the untouchable kawaramono class and not versed in Buddhism 4 95 98 The main garden in an L shape is to the northeast of and facing the shoin the study of the hojo the residence of the head of the monastery This part of the garden is a narrow strip just 3 7 metres 12 ft wide It contains a miniature landscape similar to a Song Dynasty landscape painting composed of rocks suggesting mountains and a waterfall clipped shrubs and trees representing a forest and raked white gravel representing a river The river splits into branches one of which flows into a Middle Sea of raked white gravel and a few rocks the other flows through a gate to a larger Ocean of white gravel In the river are several symbolic stones one resembles a boat moving with the current and the other resembles the back of a turtle trying to swim upstream The Ocean has two cone shaped hills of gravel suggesting mountains The Middle Sea and The Ocean are connected by another passage of white gravel west of the building The Ocean and the Middle Sea are both believed to be later additions to the original garden 5 110 American garden historians David and Michigo Young suggest that the garden may represent a metaphorical journey through life the waterfall river sea may represent youth maturity and old age or the search for wisdom The rocks in the rivers may suggest obstacles The Ocean at the end of the voyage may be the return to the eternal at the end of life 6 110 French author Danielle Elisseeff sees the garden as divided into four spaces representing four themes the first is the waterfall or the impetuous beginning life the second is the gate symbolizing the passages of life This theme features the stone turtle struggling upstream against the current and the treasure boat moving downstream with the current the third is the Middle Sea and the fourth is the Ocean the final destination of calm and serenity 7 62 German author Gunter Nitschke gives a similar explanation He writes that the garden is the life of man in symbolic form The mountain at the beginning of the garden is Mount Horai the traditional meeting place of the Eight Immortals in Daoist legends symbolized by a camellia He observes that in the corner of the Ocean at the end of the voyage is a single tree of bodhi the traditional Buddhist symbol of the fig tree under which the Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment Nitschke writes that the treasure boat stone represents the accumulation of experience during an adult life and the turtle stone represents futile efforts to return to youth 8 92 93 Gallery Edit Daisen in gateway and approach to the temple Zen mountains and waterfall in the garden of Daisen in Gravel river in garden at Daisen in Gravel Middle Sea of the Zen garden at Daisen in The Ocean of the Zen garden at Daisen inSee also EditJapanese rock garden Japanese garden List of Special Places of Scenic Beauty Special Historic Sites and Special Natural Monuments List of National Treasures of Japan temples List of National Treasures of Japan writings Higashiyama culture in Muromachi periodReferences Edit Danielle Elisseeff Jardins japonais Miyeko Murase L Art du Japon Kuitert Wybe March 2013 Composition of Scenery in Japanese Pre Modern Gardens and the Three Distances of Guo Xi Studies in the History of Gardens amp Designed Landscapes Taylor and Francis 33 1 1 15 doi 10 1080 02666286 2012 753189 Kuitert Wybe 2002 Themes in the History of Japanese Garden Art Hawaii University Press Young and Young The Art of the Japanese Garden Young and Young The Art of the Japanese Garden Daniele Elisseeff Jardins japonais Gunter Nitschke Le jardin japonaisBibliography EditKuitert Wybe 2002 Themes in the History of Japanese Garden Art Hawaii University Press ISBN 0 8248 2312 5 Young David and Michiko 2005 The Art of the Japanese Garden Tuttle Publishing Vermont and Singapore ISBN 978 0 8048 3598 5 Nitschke Gunter 1999 Le Jardin japonais Angle droit et forme naturelle Taschen publishers Paris translated from German into French by Wolf Fruhtrunk ISBN 978 3 8228 3034 5 Baridon Michel 1998 Les Jardins Paysagistes Jardiniers Poetes Editions Robert Lafont Paris ISBN 2 221 06707 X Murase Miyeko 1996 L Art du Japon La Pochothḕque Paris ISBN 2 253 13054 0 Elisseeff Danielle 2010 Jardins japonais Ḗditions Scala Paris ISBN 978 2 35988 029 8 External links Edit Media related to Daisen in at Wikimedia Commons Daisen In Temple Official Site JP Coordinates 35 02 40 N 135 44 45 E 35 044567 N 135 74595 E 35 044567 135 74595 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Daisen in amp oldid 1128501251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
