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Stone basin at the Kyoto temple Ryoan-ji. Since ancient times it has been
customary to wash the hands before approaching Shinto and Buddhist places
of worship. In earlier days natural stones, metal basins or wooden tubs
were used, but in the Kamakura period carved stone basins like this one
became popular. The characters around the square well mean "It is sufficient
to know oneself."
Steppingstones and pond in stroll garden of the Heian Shrine, Kyoto. The stones were once the tops of old granite columns.
Steppingstones in fromt of the Kogetsu-tei teahouse at the Arisawa residence,
Matsue, Shimane Prefecture. Sections of fresh bamboo are placed among the
stones to greet special guests invited to the famous Kanden-an tearoom in
the building.
Octagonal window aesthetically exposing the wattles of the clay wall. Koho-an,
Daitoku-ji temple, Kyoto.
Sudare, or bamboo blind. Elaborate sudare of this type, made of the finest
split bamboo stitched together and bound with brocaed or satin, are used
today only in shrines and temples. The blind may be raised and held in place
by means of the tasseled cord and the metal hook.
Koetsu-style fence at the temple Koetsu-ji, Takagamine, Kyoto. The unsual style of fence seen here is named for the famous lacquer artist and calligrapher Hon'ami Koetsu (1558-1637), for whom the temple is also named. The style employs a combination of rhombic lattice of heavy bamboo and a coping of split and bundled bamboo.
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