amplitude
The small garden is often referred to as Nyoshin-tei 如心庭, the “like a heart” garden. It's much more recent, being designed in 1966, but it's interesting to think about what's required to keep these gardens looking as intended over decades and centuries. Given enough time, even a mountain disappears.
negative space
To the end and inside, then turning right, the small garden appears. Rocks like islands in an ocean.
undone
Entering the Hōjō 方丈 I was surprised to find that there were no other visitors inside, despite the number of people who had been at the gate and in the surrounds. It was a rare opportunity to appreciate the garden in complete silence.
Here, a view of part of the main garden, designed by Kobori Enshū 小堀遠州 in the 1600s, that runs the length of the south side of the building.
solar winds
Walking down the side of the Nanzen-ji Hattō 南禅寺法堂 (lecture hall) to the most famous aspect of the temple, the rock gardens of the Hōjō 方丈 (abbot's quarters).
forever we'll see
I spent a lot of time walking around and soaking in the feeling of this place. How could one ever tire of this?
reckonings
And here's the first post for 2022. It's been quite a couple of years, hasn't it? Perhaps this year I can post a bit more frequently than a couple of times a month and will finish this series of photos from Japan! In the years since I took this photo I've returned to Japan several times, but I'm eager to share some photos from my time in Taiwan, too.
I do appreciate a good texture.
After further surveying the views into nearby buildings, back down to the ground.