Garden of Ryôan-ji temple

龍安寺の庭

Japanese dry garden 枯れ山水 karesansui

Kyôto City

The garden of the Ryôan-ji consists of an area (25 by 10 metres) of fine-grained gravel with 15 seemingly randomly placed stones in 5 mossy groups. From no angle are all 15 stones visible. The southern and western sides of the garden are lined with a reddish wall, over which the view falls to the trees and shrubs of the accessible garden. On the northern side is the temple building with the seating terrace overlooking the rock garden. The surrounding wall is plastered with oil-soaked clay. Over the centuries, the oil has leaked out, leaving the characteristic pattern.