Ryoanji temple is a japanese zen garden. One of the finest examples of zen gardens of the world. This is an architectural case study

1. JAPANESE
GARDENS
RYOANJI TEMPLE,KYOTO
C S MANIKRISHNA
R V COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

2. Types of Japanese Gardens
1.Karesansui 3.Chaniwa
2.Tsukiyama Gardens 4.Kaiyushiki-teien
5.Japanese Paradise Garden 6.Chisen-shoyū-teien 7.Tsuboniwa
(Rock, Dry, Zen Garden) (Tea Garden) (Stroll Garden)
(Pond Garden) (Courtyard Garden)
(Hill and Pond Garden)

3. INTRODUCTION
❏ Ryoanji Temple is situated it Kyoto, Japan.
❏ It is affiliated with a branch of Zen Buddhism.
❏ The Ryoanji garden is the one of the most
famous examples of a rock garden.
❏ The quintessence and aesthetics of Zen is
epitomized in the rock garden and architecture
of Ryoanji.

4. 1450
Ryoanji temple established
Katsumoto received the
mountain villa of Lord Tokudaiji
and invited the Zen priest Giten
Genshi, to transform the villa and
establish it as a temple.
Temple destroyed in fire
it was destroyed in the fire
during Onin Wars only two
decades later, it was rebuilt
by Katsumoto's son
Masamoto.
Temple rebuilt
The abbot's hall (Hojo) was
constructed in 1 499, and
the garden was
constructed at the same
time.
1488
Temple thrived
Ryōanji thrived as a great
Zen center for the cultural
activities of the elite from
the late 1 6th through the
first half of the 1 7th
century.
1600s
1470
HISTORY

5. ❏ Ryoanji temple is a famous temple, most famous for its ‘Zen
Rock Garden.
❏ It has many elements : Rock garden, Kyoyochi pond,
ossuary,stroll gardens.
RYOANJI TEMPLE
Ossuary
Kyoyochi pond
Priest residence Rock garden

6. PLAN
SECTION
1
2
1
2 - Hojo
3
3 - Main Gate
4
4 - Stroll Garden
5
5 - Rock Garden
6 - Stroll Garden

7. KARESANSUI [ROCK GARDEN]
❏ It presents stones surrounded by raked white gravel
with a minimal use of plants.
❏ Fifteen rocks of different sizes are carefully arranged in
groups amidst the raked pebbles covering a 248 m2
rectangle of ground.
❏ The rocks form 5 clusters, and the clusters are bordered
by the moss.
❏ With a rake a gardener makes the gravel bed nearly
level. He rakes only the parallel lines customary for rock
gardens.
❏ The garden is enclosed by 180cm high oil earthen walls
[wall made of clay mixed with rapeseed oil.]

8. ❏ The garden has basically three colors. The rocks are
a dark color, the gravel a light color, and the moss a
color less austere.
❏ The rock clusters especially enclose and draw our
attention to the central emptiness. They do so
because they are arrayed in triangles.
❏ Two smaller triangles lead the eye to the larger ones.
❏ These triangles the fourth, third, and second cluster,
and the fourth, third, and fifth, cluster makeup.
❏ The largest rock within each cluster has an elliptical
or oblong base, the base is parallel to the raked lines.

9. ❏ It is slightly inclined towards the southeast corner .
❏ This enables the water drainage.
❏ At the same time, the western wall is slanted from
the north end to the south.
❏ The height of the wall is well adjusted and the
garden's perspective is manipulated, creating an
elegant optical illusion that enhances the
impression of depth.

10. Bibliography
https://www.japeto.co.uk/blog/29/2/the-different-types-of-japanese-garden
https://jpmanual.com/en/ryoanji
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/south-east-se-asia/japan-art/a/ryoanji
http://www.ryoanji.jp/smph/eng/history/index.html
https://www.orientalarchitecture.com/sid/215/japan/kyoto/ryoan-ji-temple
http://www.themontrealreview.com/2009/The-Rock-Garden-Of-the-Ryoanji-Temple.php