Kinkaku-ji golden pavilion

Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, is an icon of Japanese architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

About this subject

Kinkaku-ji was built in 1397 as a retirement villa for shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. After his death, the site was converted into a Zen temple of the Rinzai school. The pavilion is a three-story structure, each floor representing a different architectural style: the first floor in Shinden (palace) style, the second in Samurai (warrior residence) style, and the third in Zen (Chinese temple) style. The top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf, contrasting with the natural wood of the first floor. The roof is adorned with a golden phoenix statue. The pavilion stands at the edge of a mirror pond called Kyōko-chi, reflecting its image in the water and creating a scene of sublime beauty. In 1950, the temple was set on fire by a novice monk, an event that inspired Yukio Mishima's novel 'The Temple of the Golden Pavilion'. Reconstruction was completed in 1955, faithfully reproducing the original. Kinkaku-ji is one of Japan's most visited monuments, attracting millions of tourists annually. Its influence on Japanese culture is immense, serving as a symbol of the Muromachi period and the aesthetic of elegant simplicity. The surrounding garden, designed to harmonize with the pavilion, is a classic example of a Japanese garden from the period, with winding paths and stones arranged for contemplation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the pavilion called Kinkaku-ji?

Kinkaku-ji literally means 'Golden Pavilion Temple' in Japanese, due to the gold leaf covering the top two floors.

What happened to Kinkaku-ji in 1950?

In 1950, a novice monk set the pavilion on fire, completely destroying it. The incident was portrayed in Yukio Mishima's novel 'The Temple of the Golden Pavilion'.

Is Kinkaku-ji an original structure?

No, the current pavilion is a reconstruction from 1955. The original dated from 1397 and was lost in the 1950 fire. The reconstruction faithfully follows the original design.