A Study on the Japanese Gardens Viewed from the Teachings of the Rinzai Buddhism (IX)

Case Study on the Gardens Based on the Zen-mind of Daito-kokushi in the Daitoku-ji

Abstract

1. Introduction
The aim of this study is to theoretically expound the gardens in the temples, such as Daitoku-ji, Daisen-in, Shinju-an, Ryugen-in, JukO-in, Hoshunin, KohO-an, Koto-in and Ryuan-ji, all based on Daito's Zen-Rinzai Zen Buddhism.
The above-mentioned gardens have been hitherto thought to express not only the artistic function but also the realm of enlightenment of Zen-mptiness. Through some collections of teachings which the founders or successive chief monks of these temples gave, I came to a conclusion: these gardens show us the Zen-mind through the various forms-the allotment of land, the arrangement of stones or plantation, giving us the impression of Zen training monasteries where monks realize the absolute and universal truth through their practice of zazen.
The fact is that Zen Buddhism has been transmitted from India through China to Japan. In China it was enhanced both in thought and sensation into a racial religion. In Japan, on the other hand, it was exalted in culture and art. The enlightenment of Zen is one in essence, but many in appearance. In Zen Buddhism the transmission and succession of the Law are of the first importance. Even among the same schools of Zen, however, there are various original methods of training and expounding.
Japan's Zen Buddhism was, as mentioned above, introduced from China. The most important thing, therefore, in expounding the “mind” of the gardens in Zen monasteries is that we clarify the foundation and essence of the Zen schools in China, especially the Rinzai, based on Bodhidharma's¹⁾ Zen; the essence and training method of Daito's Zen; a relationship between the koan²⁾ and the books on Zen; or the characteristics of temple-complex and graveyards.
2. How to Expound the Gardens of Zen Monasteries
On the basis of the “three phrases”³⁾ which Rinzaizen ji4' used to lead his monks, I have expounded these gardens from the aspects of subject, conception, and structure. “Subject” refers to the fundamental thought of the Rinzai Zen and the Unmon⁵⁾ -the essence of DaitO's Zen. This I have intuitively realized through the names of temple-complex-and graveyards, the versified comments on teachings by the founders and successive chief monks, the allotment of land, the arrangement of stones of plantation in these gardens. In the same way I found that “conception” is based on the koans of the Hekiganrokus⁶⁾ and the versified comments on them; and “structure” on the comments on the koa ns of the same book and the collections of DaitO's teachings.