Abstract
The rock garden of the Ryoanji temple in Japan is a representative Japanese garden. However, its time built and paysagiste is unknown. It is hard to predict its specific concept, since there have been many theories of the design concept. This paper reports on the evidence to the conclusion of that the design depicted Mt. Wutai in China. Mt Wutai has been believed to be a dwelling of immortals since ancient times and also been associated with the worship of the bodhisattva Manjusri in Buddhism. Japanese Buddhist priests visited Mt Wutai around the 9th century. They brought back various goods such as the statues of Buddha and Buddhist sutras to Japan and they influenced works of art in Japan, including the image of Mt Wutai Manjusri. This drawing depicts Mt Wutai making its appearance, resembling that of the rock at the center of the garden of Ryoanji extremely well. So much, that it is obvious that the rock garden of the Ryanji temple is a depiction of Mt Wutai.
