Ginkaku-ji

Ginkaku-ji（Ginkaku Temple), also known as Jisho-ji, is a stunning Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It was built by Ashikaga Yoshimasa, the 8th shogun of the Muromachi period, as his villa.

Interestingly, Ginkaku-ji isn’t its official name; the correct name is Jisho-ji.
However, due to the renowned “Kinkaku” adorned with gold leaf in Rokuon-ji, the temple is commonly referred to as Kinkaku-ji.
The reason why it is called Ginkaku-ji is not clear, but there is a theory that it came to be called because it was compared to Kinkaku-ji.
We introduce Kinkaku-ji here, so please check it out.

Unlike Kinkaku, which is covered with gold leaf, Ginkaku is not covered with silver leaf. Scientific research conducted in 2007 revealed that silver was never used.

Ginkaku-ji was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1994. It is undoubtedly a must-visit destination when exploring the city of Kyoto.

The charm of Kinkaku is its glittering golden splendor, but the charm of Ginkaku is its Wabi-Sabi atmosphere.
“Wabi” refers to the spirit of refraining from luxury and finding beauty in simplicity, and “Sabi” refers to the beauty that arises from the passage of time.
Wabi-sabi has had a great influence on Japanese culture, including paintings, gardens, and Zen.
Why not visit Ginkaku-ji and feel the spirit of Wabi-Sabi?