Mōtsūji Temple
Tsukiyama: Mountain-like formations
Rocks of various sizes specially arranged into a “constructed mountain” (tsukiyama), are an element of the harmony and design of Mōtsūji Temple’s Pure Land-style garden.
The combination of mountain-like rocks rises 4 meters from the water’s edge represents a rocky coastline. The formation uses a rock gardening technique described in the “Treatise on Garden Making” (Sakuteiki),one of Japan’s oldest garden manuals from the eleventh century. Natural landscapes such as mountains and waterfalls are created using only rocks and stones.
Pure Land-style imagery, seeking to represent a Buddhist paradise, was a popular choice for temple gardens during the Heian period (794–1185).