The unknown history of Kinkaku-ji Temple

Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, made plans to build a magnificent villa in the Kitayama area of ​​Kyoto.

Completed in 1397, Kitayama Palace was a magnificent building that brought together the most advanced architectural techniques of the time.

It was used as a venue for diplomatic ceremonies with the Ming Dynasty in China, and became a symbol of Japan’s advanced technological capabilities to the world .

The interior features an innovative design that combines Japanese and Chinese elements, and lavish decorations such as gold leaf and lacquer can be seen everywhere.

Furthermore, famous stones were arranged in the garden, and the beauty of the scenery changes with the seasons.

Yoshimitsu passed away at the young age of 49, just 11 years after the completion of Kitayama Palace.

In accordance with his last wishes, it was decided that Kitayamaden would be developed into a Zen temple.

Yoshimitsu’s death marked a major turning point for the Muromachi shogunate, bringing about changes in the way politics were conducted.

This marked the turning point for the temple to change from a place of lavish banquets to a quiet space for prayer.

His son, Yoshimochi, respected his father’s wishes and steadily built the foundations of the temple.

During this period, the temple’s character as a Buddhist temple that continues to this day began to take shape.

Once it was properly equipped as a Zen temple, its official name was changed to “Rokuon-ji Temple.”

The first chief priest was the Zen monk Zekkai Nakatsu, who was a close aide to Yoshimitsu, and thereafter the temple became a training center for Zen monks and trained many others.

Being a sub-temple of Shokoku-ji Temple, one of the Five Mountains of Kyoto, allowed it to receive generous protection from the shogunate.

New buildings were constructed within the temple grounds, and its function as a Zen temple was enhanced.

It became widely known as a place where monks underwent rigorous training and learning.

The authority of the Muromachi Shogunate declined, and the whole of Kyoto became a battlefield.

The area around Kinkaku-ji Temple was no exception, with many of the temple buildings being engulfed in flames during the war and falling into ruin.

Fortunately, the Golden Pavilion itself was spared, but the economic foundations of the temple were severely damaged by the war, making it difficult to maintain the building.

The surrounding fields fell into disrepair, and the temple’s activities became restricted.

The loss of many cultural assets and records during this period was also a major blow.

Entering the Meiji era, the preservation of the Kinkaku-ji Temple, which had deteriorated, became an urgent issue.

In 1906, large-scale repair work was carried out thanks to the efforts of the head priest at the time.

Restoration work was carried out on every part of the building, including replacing the roof, strengthening the pillars, and restoring the gold leaf.

Particularly noteworthy is the effort made by the engineers to faithfully reproduce the Muromachi period style .

Through these repairs, Kinkaku-ji regained its former splendor and became a magnet for many visitors.

On July 2, 1950, an arson attack by a Buddhist monk occurred and the Golden Pavilion was reduced to ashes.

The architectural beauty of the Muromachi period, which had been passed down for over 550 years, was lost overnight, sending shock waves throughout Japan.

It is said that the complex psychological state of the monks was behind the arson, and it was also the motif of Yukio Mishima’s novel “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion.”

This incident made the public keenly aware of the importance of protecting cultural properties and became an important catalyst for the enactment of the Cultural Properties Protection Law.

Restoration work took five years to complete, thanks to donations from the public and support from the government.

By combining the latest building technology with traditional construction methods, we have succeeded in recreating the original appearance as faithfully as possible.

Some modern improvements have been made, such as increasing the amount of gold leaf used, giving it a more glamorous appearance.

During the restoration, old photographs and detailed records were used, ensuring a meticulous reconstruction.

The current Kinkaku-ji has been equipped with fire prevention equipment and is preserved in a safer state.