An Introduction to Kyoto’s Hougon’in Temple
Path at the Hougon'in Temple -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 17mm — 1/180 sec, f/3.5, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Path at the Hougon'in Temple

As I mentioned in my previous post, I made a rain-drenched visit to the Hougon'in Temple (宝厳院) in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto yesterday. Like the nearby Giouji Temple (祇王寺) that I recently discovered, there's lots of moss and architecture elements made with only natural materials.

In that last category, Hougon'in seems to have the edge, because it has such a wide variety of things (fences, gates, barriers, path markers, ...) and all seem to be made from bamboo and twine... no nails, wire, screws, or the like.

Curved Bamboo Path Edging -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 38mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.5, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Curved Bamboo Path Edging

On the other hand, it's also much more “busy” a site, with the garden packed with all kinds of features (most of which probably have little meaning beyond their apparent beauty unless you're into the whole Buddhist thing). It's really quite nice, but in this respect Giouji has the edge for me because it's serenity incarnate.

In any case, the Hougon'in Temple is a beautiful, pleasant place to visit....

First View After the Entrance -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 26mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
First View After the Entrance
Staging Area (Bathrooms to the Left; Garden to the Right) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 17mm — 1/320 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Staging Area
(Bathrooms to the Left; Garden to the Right)
“Rock Sea” -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/200 sec, f/3.5, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
“Rock Sea”
Lots of Curves -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 19mm — 1/160 sec, f/3.5, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Lots of Curves
“Hougan Fence” (whatever that is) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 40mm — 1/90 sec, f/3.2, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
“Hougan Fence”
(whatever that is)
Obligatory Stream -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 38mm — 1/100 sec, f/3.2, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Obligatory Stream
Wet “ Arhat ” Statues -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.2, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Wet “Arhat” Statues
Barrier of Some Sort -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 20mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
Barrier of Some Sort
All-Natural Construction -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2007 Jeffrey Eric Francis Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/
Nikon D200 + Nikkor 17-55 f/2.8 @ 23mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 800 — map & image datanearby photos
All-Natural Construction

One comment so far...

The moss at Hougonin seems beautifully maintained, not to mention all those barriers, fences, gates, and whatnot. In a general sort of way, maintenance seems to trump design (especially if you’re accompanied by a gardener). On the other hand, Giouji looks as wonderful as anything in Kyoto. When I was there, the Moss Garden was restricting visitors by requiring appointments, then ensuring you were in the right frame of mind by copying sutras. In my case, getting the ink to be black kept me fully occupied. The Moss Garden’s a great treasure (worth visiting just for the seminal stone garden up the slope), but with Giouji nearby….

Your photography and supplementary information are wonderful. Even beyond knowing that gardens thrive in the rain.

— comment by David Martin on March 5th, 2008 at 3:56pm JST (16 years ago) comment permalink
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