A STUDY OF LANDSCAPE CONCEPT FOR ZEN-SECT GARDENS IN JAPAN

Case Study No.5, for Hosyun-In Garden in Daitoku-Ji Kyoto

Abstract

1. History of Hosyun-In and Its Garden.
Hosyun-In (=in, literally, temple) isone of the main temples of Daitoku-ji (=ji, literally also, temple). It was founded by the 142 nd Patriarch of Daitoku-ji, Gyokushitsu Sohaku in Keio 13-nen (1606).
The Garden is composed of two parts; oneis the west garden in front of Shoin (studyroom), consisting of an artificial mountain calledGoroho (literally, five old sumlnits), apond called Houn (literally, satiated cloud) with a bridge, Dagetsu (literally, hit moon), and a two-storied building named Donkokaku (literally, swallow lake building); another is the south garden for Hojyo (abbot's quarters) planted with many Chinese balloon flowers= platycodon grandiflorum on the ground. The garden is a typical Rokaku Sansui Styled one.
The author*, then, intends to describe the outline of reiationship between Zen concept and the garden composition in order to clearify his assumption.
2. Assumption
a) The Hosyun-In garden's original idea came from the Zenconcept, refferring to books of the Hekigan-roku, the Daitokokushi-goroku, and the Mumon-kan, since the Hosyun was to be the name of temple. Thus, the meaning of Hosyun as found in the quotations.b) Yuzan Gansui (literally, wanderabout mountains) and lakes was selected forsubject of the garden by the founder priest.
c) Therefore, the story about garden subject is defined by the book of Hekigan-roku of NO.34 principle, Kyozan Katsute Yusan Sezu No Honsoku and its Jyu (a Zen dialouge between Priest yozan and his disciples; what Yusan Gansui does mean to us?)
d) According to the above idea, the layout of garden was arranged. Thus it was defined by the principles of Nigatsutanjyodo, Daitokokushi-goroku and Self-intro-duction of Mumon-kan.
3. Conclusion.
a) The artificial mountain, Goroho, was constructed as an expression of the NO.34 principle of Kyozan Katsute Yusan Sezu No Honsokufrom the bookof Hekigan-roku.
c) The over-looked view or pattern fromthe two-storied tower, Donko-kaku, therefore, expresses an imaginary landscape ofassumption (a) and (b).
d) The south garden for Hojyo symboiises a landscape of Zujy 6 Manman Kyakka Manman, planting by manyChinese balloon flowers.
e) The two-stories tower, Donko-kaku, was buiit to be expressed the concept ofNigatsutanjyodo from the Daitokokushi-goroku.
f) The bridge, Dagetsu, based on theMumon-kan, Self-introduction.