1. The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
Kinkaku-ji
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

2. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu Shogun from 1368 to 1394
Rose to shogunate at age 9
Traveled to China; influenced by Chinese style
United Japan and brought peace to the area

3. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
Protected by Buddhist priests during conflict of the Nanbokucho
1367 ordained by Shun’oku Myoha
Spiritual support for life
1395 takes full Buddhist orders
1397 begins building of Relic Hall – the Temple of the Golden Pavilion

4. Ashikaga Yoshimitsu Yoshimitsu moves into Kinkaku-ji
1409 Ashikaga Yoshimitsu dies
Kinkaku-ji becomes Zen temple named Rokuon-ji – Yoshimitsu’s posthumous name

5. Kinkaku-ji Northwest corner of Kyoto
Yoshimitsu wanted entire temple covered in gold – only ceiling of 3rd floor covered in gold leaf by his death
Once part of a larger group of buildings

6. Kinkaku-ji Burned during Onin Wars of 1467-77 but not destroyed
1950 burned down by a radical monk -The Temple of the Golden Pavilion – book by Yukio Mishima recounts events
1955 rebuilt
1987 recovered with 5 layers of gold leaf

7. Kinkaku-ji Three floors Each floor a different style
1st floor – Shinden-zukuri style
2nd floor – Buke- zukuri style
3rd floor – Karayo style

8. First Floor - Shinden-zukuri style Typical of Heian period (794 -1185)
Complex with a central building (shinden) facing south surrounded by a veranda
Living quarters (tainoya) to east and west of shinden
Attached by wide halls (watadono)

9. First floor - Privacy provided by movable screens
Pond garden across from the main room
Kinkaku-ji”s first floor called –
The Chamber of Dharma Waters

10. Second floor style Samurai Style (Cho-on-do)
Built Buke-zukuri
style
Samurai Style (Cho-on-do)
Simplified version of Shinden-zukuri
Castle-like facility for protection
Main building entered by a porch

11. Second Floor Kinkaku-ji’s 2nd floor is called The Tower of Sound Waves
Houses the Bodhisattva Kannon icon
Covered in gold leaf over Japanese Lacquer

12. Third Floor Built in Karayo (Zen) Style Buddha Hall Round Head windows
Shelters an Amida triad and 25 Bodhisattvas
Covered in gold leaf over Japanese Lacquer
Called Superb Apex

13. Roof
Topped by a
Golden
Chinese
Phoenix

14. Other Points of Interest
Pond – Mirror Pond
Has many islands
symbolizing The Isles
of the Blessed
Small island with a small stone pagoda- Hakuja-no-tsuka (the mound
in memory of the white snake)

15. Other Points of Interest
Tea House –Sekka-tei
Pillar made of nandin
Fudodo shrine close to exit
stone fuo-myoc is enshrined as a guardian

16. Other points of interest:
Chinese Gate
Bell Tower
Kitchen and Living Quarters
Abbots Quarters

17. Other points of interest:
Milky
Way
Spring
Dragon’s
Gate
Falls
Main
Gate
Shin’un
Shrine

18. Sources: www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/travel/golden_pavilion.html

19. Sources: www.shokoku-ji.or.jp/english/e_kinkakuji/guide/index.html

20. Sources:

21. Best Website
Contains pictures, history and guide to The Golden Temple