Gold and Silver

After Nijo Castle, our next two stops in Kyoto were the Golden Temple (Kinkaku-ji) and the Silver Temple (Ginkaku-ji).  The Golden Temple, above, is a quick visit - you go there, you see the famous view, and then you leave.  Well, there is more to do there than just that.  But it was raining and the spot was crowded with holiday visitors.  Theresa took the time to throw coins at the "good luck" bowl. (see below)  There were also a few little shops to visit.

A cross-town-bus-ride later,  we were at The Silver Temple.  The Golden Temple is something you go to look at.  The Silver Temple is someplace you go to visit.  Our Japanese friends said they actually prefer the Silver Temple because of it large, traditional gardens and mountainside paths.  It is a place you can go to again and again, and still see something new with each visit.

The temple itself is shown above.  The dark brown wood doesn't have the sex-appeal of gold, but it blends well with the surroundings.   Rather than a single, iconic image, the temple provides different views from different angles as you wander through the garden.

The Silver Temple belongs to Zen Buddhism.  A typical feature of "Zen gardens", we learned, is dry landscaping with rock and sand.  The sand is teased into elaborate geometric patterns using rakes and trowels.  Zen is all about meditation and contemplation.  The raking of the sand is a meditative exercise which, to master, requires technical skill and deep concentration.  The finished product also provides something for others to meditate upon.  The patterns are a bit like an ink blot or modern art - everyone sees something different in them.

You can take a virtual tour of the Silver Temple gardens, thanks to Bowdoin College.  You can also take a  Golden Temple virtual tour.