Visit to Erinji Temple Garden
2280 Enzan Oyashiki, Kohshu City, Yamanashi Pref.
According to brochure, "Erin-ji Temple was opened by MUSOH Kokushi in 1330, and it is
a venerable Rinzai Zen temple that TAKEDA Shingen set as his family's temple."
I visited here on Dec. 01, 2008.
The Main Gate "Sanmon" of Erinji Temple
It is written "If the spiritual state of selflessness could be mastered, even the fire should be felt cool."
(my traslation)
Passing through the main gate and the precinct, we enter the main shrine.
The garden is on the north passage of the main shrine.
The east scene of this garden seen from the west side of the passage
The north scene of this garden seen from the center of the passage
The west scene of this garden seen from the east side of the passage
View of the garden seen from the east part of the passage, "Hashi-tei" that connects the Main Hall to the study
We can see a threefold stone tower and Shumisen stone formation at the center back.
Next, let's show you the east part of this garden.
You can see the gentle flow at the east part of this garden.
The left flow comes from the male cascade, and the right flow comes from the female cascade at the right back.
Two flows join together and they flow into the pond in the courtyard.
Let's show you those main components of the garden such as Shumisen Stone formation,
Nakajima with a dragon pine tree, the male cascade and the female cascade.
A threefold stone tower and Shumisen stone formation seen at the upper part of this garden
Shumisen stone formation on the right side of the tower is composed of five stones.
A main islet Nakajima with a dragon pine tree located in front of the Main Hall
The Male Cascade existing in the left hand of the garden
The Female cascade existing in the right hand of the garden
The flows from the two cascades flow into this pond in the courtyard.
As already said, there seem to be juxtaposed two worlds, for example, the artificial stones and the natural stones in the upper row of this garden, and, for another case, the west garden with pond in the center, and the east garden with flows. So, I felt Erinji Temple Garden would show something like the two conflicting worlds at the same time.