Rokuon-ji (Temple of the Golden Pavilion)
Rokuon-ji, also known as Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion), is a Buddhist temple located in Kita Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Its official name is "Hokuzan Rokuon-ji" and it belongs to the Shōkoku-ji school of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism. The temple was originally built in 1397 (Ōei 4), and its name is derived from the posthumous Buddhist name of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate. Because the temple’s main building, the “Shariden” (Relic Hall), is covered in gold leaf, it is widely known by the popular name “Kinkaku” (Golden Pavilion).
However, the name “Kinkaku-ji” is not entirely accurate. The temple authorities emphasize that “Rokuon-ji” is the temple’s official name, while “Kinkaku” refers only to one specific building within the grounds. The formal name of this building is “Shariden.”
The Shariden (Golden Pavilion) is a three-story pavilion-style structure located beside Kyōko-chi (Mirror Pond), and each floor represents a different architectural style from a distinct historical period. The first floor is called “Hōsui-in” and is built in the shinden-zukuri style of the Heian period, traditionally used for aristocratic residences. The second floor, named “Chōon-dō,” is in the buke-zukuri style, reflecting the warrior residences of the Kamakura period. The third floor, “Kukkyo-chō,” is modeled after Chinese Tang Dynasty architecture and reflects the style of a Zen Buddhist temple hall. The top of the pavilion features a pagoda-style roof crowned with a golden phoenix, symbolizing good fortune.
The seamless integration of these three distinct architectural styles from different periods is one of the reasons Kinkaku is so highly acclaimed. Additionally, the temple’s garden, designed in the chisen-kaiyū-shiki (pond-strolling) style and inspired by Mount Kinugasa, features numerous intricately crafted elements of traditional Japanese landscape design. It is considered one of the representative gardens of the Muromachi period.
In addition to being a popular tourist destination, Rokuon-ji was designated in 1994 as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" by UNESCO, making it an important World Cultural Heritage site.
