Japan (24) - Rock Garden

19 July 2010 - The Ryonji Temple in Kyoto has the most famous Japanese rock garden in the country. The garden was laid out at the end of the 15th century by the Zen monk Tokuho Zenketsu. The garden measures 25 meters from east to west and 10 meters from south to north. The rectangular Zen garden is completely different from the gorgeous gardens of the nobles constructed in the Middle Ages. No trees are to be seen: only fifteen rocks and white gravel are used in the garden. It is up to each visitor to find out to himself what this unique garden signifies. The walls are made of clay boiled in oil. As time went by, the peculiar design was made of itself by the oil that seeped out. The longer you gaze at it, the more varied your imagination becomes. The rock garden surrounded by low earthen walls may be thought of as the quintessence of Zen art.