The Golden Pavilion
The
history of Kinkakuji or the Golden Pavilion began in 1397 when
Ashikaga Yoshimitusu abdicated in favor of his son and began to build
this villa as a retreat. The photo to the left shows the Golden
Pavilion from across Kyoko-chi Pond, while the photo to
the right is of the Shoro or Bell Tower, which dates from the period of
Ashikaga Yoshimitusu. By 1407 it was a large complex with a three
story pagoda, a seven story pagoda and numerous temples. Upon his death
a year later the Golden Pavilion itself became a Zen temple, renamed Kinkakuji.
The temple was destroyed during a civil war in 1467, rebuilt, and
destroyed again in 1567. By now only the pavilion and an annex
survived. The Golden Pavilion survived intact until July 3rd, 1950,
when a novice monk, who apparently believed the aesthetic qualities of
the pavilion detracted from religious concentration, burned it to the
ground! It was rebuilt in 1957 and renovated in 1987 (and is currently
undergoing some touch-ups when we visited in 2003). The interior
architecture of the Golden Pavilion consists of three floors and three
different types of architecture:
First floor (Ho-sui-in): Shinden-Zukuri: This is the palace style floor, reflecting Heian architecture
Second floor (Cho-on-do): Buke-Zukuri This is the Samurai house, and reflects the Kamakura style
Third floor (Kukkyo-cho): Karayo This floor is a Zen Temple in the Murmachi style
The Golden Pavilion takes its name from the second and third stories, which are gilded inside and out with approximately 48 kg. ( rough 105 lbs.) of gold. This RoundMe panorama below offers another glimpse of the Golden Pavilion.