🐉THE RECLINING DRAGON💤
The 'Garyū-rō' (臥龍廊 'Reclining Dragon Corridor') is counted amongst the '7 Wonders of Eikan-dō' (七不思議).
Curling gently up the hillside like the spine of a dragon, the roofed staircase was constructed in 1504 without the use of a single nail.
Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji (永観堂禅林寺) traces its history to Shinshō (真紹 797–873), a pupil of Kūkai. Aspiring to found a temple for worship of the '5 Wisdom Buddhas', in 853 he was gifted the mansion of Fujiwara-no-Sekio to realise his dream.
At the base of the Garyū-rō (臥龍廊) is a basin known as 'Suikin-kutsu' (水琴窟 lit. 'water koto grotto').
When water is poured into the small opening the sound of trickling echoes melodiously within.
The design is simple...an upside pot sits above a basin of water.
#Kyoto #京都 #suikinkutsu #水琴窟 #waterkoto #Eikando #EikandoZenrinji #Japan
Under Yōkan (永観 1033-1111), the 7th abbot, the temple's teachings leant towards Pure Land Buddhism (the Jōdo-shū sect would form at the end of the 12thC).
Yōkan, who cared deeply for the poor and sick, was also known as Eikan...which gave Zenrin-ji an additional name 'Eikan-dō'.
Camellia Tea Ceremony