| Hidenin is
a sub-temple of Senyu-ji, a large temple in the south-east corner of Kyoto.
A new hall was built in the early 1990's creating a courtyard enclosed by
buildings on three sides. The garden that was built in that space acts as
an entry path (roji ) to an adjacent tearoom as well as a contemplation
garden. Two special elements in the garden are the "middle gate" of the
roji and the fence at the rear. The middle gate is made of rammed earth
in the shape of two small folding screens, and the fence is constructed
of thin slats of stained wood in the image of fabrics from Okinawa. The
central area of the garden is given over to an open space (ma ) containing
one large flat rock which, like the Shumisen rocks of medieval gardens,
becomes the nucleus of the garden. The rock can also be used as a pedestal
for large flower arrangements, in which case the garden becomes like the
display alcove (toko-no-ma ) of a tearoom. |
