#rokuonji
Among the exchange students of Kyoto University 京都大学 there was always one big argument going on, when it came to popular tourist sights in the city. There where those who fancied Rokuon-ji 鹿苑寺, better known as Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺 or golden pavillon. No doubt, the thing is shiny and stuff… but yet another rebuilt. Burned down in 1950 by a buddhist monk (for those interested, see Mishima Yukio’s 三島由紀夫 famous novel “Kinkakuji” 金閣寺) it has been rebuilt in 1955.
Most of us actually prefered Jisho-ji 慈照寺 which you may know under his nickname ginkaku-ji 銀閣寺 or silver pavillon. The white sand garden, meant to reflect the moonlight, and the overall artistic understatement of the whole complex was a lot more compelling to me than the shiny golden counterpart. On top, as far as I know, the silver pavillon underwent massive restoration, but still is somewhat the original thing.
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