Experience Authentic Zen at Shinshoji, Japan's Lesser-Known Treasure
Shinshoji Temple (神勝寺), a zen and garden Museum (禅と庭のミュージアム), is a place where you can experience what Zen is through various activities, such as sipping a bowl of tea, studying calligraphy, tasting food that sustains life, cleansing the dirt from body and mind, and strolling through the garden.
The vast grounds are dotted with a 17th-century building relocated from Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県), a restored teahouse designed by Sen no Rikyu (千利休の茶室), and a shrine office created by architect and architectural historian Fujimori Terunobu (藤森照信); these grounds make extensive use of pine trees—a plant that symbolizes the region from the Sanyo Road to the Seto Inland Sea—and the garden is arranged to connect these buildings.
The Hakuin Collection, one of the largest in Japan, is also a highlight of the museum, consisting of approximately 200 Zen paintings and calligraphy pieces by Zen master Hakuin (白隠禅師). These works will be exhibited throughout the year in the permanent exhibition hall, Sogendo (荘厳堂), with displays being rotated periodically. The pavilion Kotei (洸庭), designed by sculptor Kohei Nawa (名和晃平) and his creative platform Sandwich, stands in contrast to the Zen art collection. The boat-shaped structure, made of a single material and wrapped in wood, allows visitors to experience an installation inside the space that reflects light from waves. This installation interprets and expresses the teachings of Zen through the perspective of contemporary art.
Every Leaf a Flower: 花紅苑's Autumn Transformation (YouTube link)
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On this autumn day at Shinshoji Temple, the maple leaves peaked in vibrant red hues, transforming the grounds into a masterpiece. Each leaf bloomed like a delicate flower, creating a warm, wondrous landscape. Strolling through this tranquil haven, I immersed myself in the season's splendor, savoring the red and gold foliage at a leisurely pace—a moment of pure bliss etched in nature's palette.
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