AD6603: Ryoan-ji

 

In today's lecture we looked briefly at the Ryoan-ji temple garden, which might be considered the most famous garden since it is the most written about, this because nobody knows why it was designed the way it was. 

The gravel raking is specific, done the same way at certain times of day like other Japanese gravel gardens. What stands out about this garden is the fact that it is always the same, never changing, you might think this makes it 'boring' but the meticulous care of the garden is captivating. The scene is also impacted by borrowed landscapes, the changing scenery around the garden, from the changing seasons to the general development of the world, this juxtaposition is so enchanting, it makes you want to go back and visit the garden in every season, each time painting a completely different picture.