The Golden Temple

I did a summer study abroad with the College of Architecture a few years ago, and I had the pleasure of learning and experiencing the essence of Japenese Culture. We got to travel around the country from vast rice lands in Niigata to the metropolitan city of Tokyo. One of the most prominent visits we made during this trip was to the Golden Temple in Kyoto. Also known as Kinkaku-ji, translated to "The Golden Pavillion" is one of Japan's most historic sites and Buddhist temples.

The top two levels of the temple are covered in gold leaf, giving it a prominent presence among the tranquil natural landscape. While the temple does house significant relics, each floor is architecturally designed to resemble a different historic period. The first floor, with the unpainted natural wooden screens, is designed with the influence of the Heian period residents. The second-floor encompassing a large golden porch is designed in the Buke-zukuri architectural style. And finally, the third floor is designed in the Chinese Chan architectural style (zen). A golden phoenix ornament is placed on top of the roof as a symbol of rebirth, also commonly found in Shinto shrines. 

The temple also houses a surrounding garden with multiple buddha sculptures and stone pagodas. I  then stumbled upon the White Snake Pagoda (shown on the right), a sculpture placed on its own little island with multiple buddhas engraved into it and is believed to be symbolic of signs of rebirth or the consoling of a lost soul. The visit to this temple opened my eyes to the spiritual culture of Japan and its art and architecture is a significant feature in illustrating stories of the past.

All photos taken by me