Kyoto: city of Zen: visiting the heritage sites of Japan's ancient capital

151 Pages·2013·25.168 MB·English

by  Clancy, Judith

Front endpaper Early morning Page 1 Offerings of sake and
visitors to Heian Shrine peek fresh vegetables are pre-
through the massive vermil- sented on high trays to the
ion doors as shrine priests gods at Hirano Shrine. Even
within perform their morning today, shrine priests, while
tasks. performing Shinto rites, are
garbed in clothing and clogs
modeled on those of the
ancient court.

KYOTO
CITY OF ZEN
VISITING THE HERITAGE SITES OF JAPAN’S ANCIENT CAPITAL
Judith Clancy
Photography by Ben Simmons
TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo Rutland, Vermont Singapore
CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 CHAPTER 2
Introducing Kyoto Central And Eastern Kyoto
A Brief History of Japan’s Ancient Capital 12 Kyoto’s Imperial Palace 32
Zen Buddhism and the Tea Ceremony 14 Nijo Castle 36
Kyoto’s Amazing Architectural Heritage 18 Heian Shrine 38
Unique Kyoto Food Traditions 22 Downtown Kyoto 42
Kyoto’s Exquisite Arts and Crafts 24 Gion District 48
Kiyomizu Temple 52
Kennin-ji Temple 56
Nanzen-ji Temple 58
Pages 2–3 The poise and grace of Gion’s young kimono-draped maiko (apprentice geiko) extend down to their gleaming white tabi socks in raised
wooden geta footwear.
This page, anticlockwise from top Snowy accents on a lion’s head. Summer visitors enter a noren-curtained entrance for a tea ceremony. A black-
lacquered window frames glorious autumn scenery of Kyoto. Traffic-streaked lights shimmer below the World Heritage pagoda of Toji Temple.
Too good a chance to pass up, a visitor attempts to capture a temple’s resident tabby. A lusciously glazed tea bowl is presented to a guest.
CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 5
Northern Kyoto Western Kyoto Southern Kyoto
Ginkaku-ji 66 Kinkaku-ji Temple 96 Tofuku-ji Temple 122
The Philosopher’s Path 70 Ryoan-ji Temple 100 Fushimi Inari Shrine 126
Shisendo Temple 74 Ninna-ji Temple 104 Saiho-ji Temple 128
Shugakuin Imperial Villa 76 Myoshin-ji Temple 106 Katsura Imperial Villa 130
Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines 78 Arashiyama 108 Daigo-ji Temple 134
Daitoku-ji Temple Complex 80 Sagano Village 114 Byodo-in Temple 136
Mount Hiei and Enryaku-ji Temple 84 Takao Village 116 Ujigami Shrine and Genji Museum 138
Kurama Village 86 Bibliography and Glossary 142
Ohara Village 90 Dedications and Acknowledgments 144
chapter 1
introducing
kyoto