Kinkaku-ji

The Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple) in Kyoto, Japan

The Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion Temple) is one of the Japanese National Treasures and arguably, at it’s size category, the most beautiful and impressive of buildings in Japan, if not in the world. There are palaces and castles, villas and huts, but have not seen any, human size, three story human dwelling that surpasses the Kinkaku-ji in beauty and harmony.

From the travel guides we read that it was originally built in 1397 to serve as a retirement villa for Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It was his son who, following his will, converted the building into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school. While Ashikaga Yoshimitsu was alive, he lived there. It was his retirement house. Retirement of course. In the year 1397, I cannot imagine any young man having the money, wisdom, knowledge and eloquence to build house like the Kinkaku-ji.

As I was watching this house across from the lagoon and as I was squeezing between the busloads or tourists to take pictures, I was trying to think of Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the person who built the house and lived there. What would be his day to day activities in this house? What would he wear? Who would be his guests? What would he eat and how would he entertain? What objects and possessions would he bring and keep in this house?

On the last though, my blood froze cold in veins. The avalanche of things, items of 20^th century consumerism in my own house paraded in front of my eyes. My vain attempts to limit my mess came in flashback. If fortune was to gift me a house like this, which of my current possessions would I take with me when moving in?

The benefit of travels is that we see things we would never otherwise imagine and confront people and situations very different from the familiar at home. Things that we have and take for granted, are appreciated when seeing others who do not have them. And problems we consider endemic and impossible to solve, have been given elegant solutions by other cultures and people.

We all strive for a nice, comfortable, beautiful house of our own. It is our major possession or “investment,” even though most of us spend most of our awake hours at a place called “work” A house, not necessarily golden, is a mean and destination, but what do we do with it?

If I am ever to live in something like the golden house, it is clear that I should start preparing the interior now, so if it ever becomes an option, I will be ready to move in! May be some of us are in such a house already, but being buried in piles of junk, we fail to see it.  Or, alas, I may not deserve one, and if I get one, I will cover the golden walls with cheap wallpaper and the hardwood floors with wall to wall carpet.

About a mile away were the Rock Gardens of Ryoan-ji. A different universe in terms of simplicity, a different self awareness invoked.

Kyoto, Oct. 1, 2007

Last Site Update: 12/5/2017
Copyright © Zafiris Gourgouliatos, 1998-2018. All rights reserved. Art may not be copied or reproduced without permission.  For more information please send E-mail to: