The Garden of Ryotanji Temple
Ryotanji’s garden was designed by Kobori Enshu (1579–1647) in the chisen kansho or “pond-appreciation” style, a design best viewed from one spot––in this case, the main hall. The pond is designed in the shape of the kanji character for “heart” or “spirit.” The garden features a number of traditional elements of Zen temple gardens such as water and stones, as well as a variety of plants placed around rock formations that represent mountain ranges.
These miniature mountain ranges are three mounds of grass-covered earth and are surrounded by stones from the local mountains. In the center of the garden near the base of the central mound is a large stone that is the symbol of the garden. Flanking this on the western edge of the pond is the nio stone, which protects the garden. In the center of the pond is the horai ganto stone, which symbolizes Horai, the legendary home of the eight immortals in Chinese mythology.
The round azalea bushes in the composition bloom a brilliant pink in late spring. These are complemented by heather shrubs (dodan tsutsuji) with delicate white flowers in spring and deep red leaves in the autumn. The entire garden is designed in the shape of a turtle and a crane, which are recurring motifs in Japanese culture that symbolize longevity and happiness, respectively.