Today, my parents and I visited Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Golden Pavilion. The name fits perfectly because the building glows with gold, reflecting beautifully in the water below. The walk to the pavilion was short, and we spent some time at the railing taking selfies and soaking in the view. The weather was quite warm, making the walk less comfortable, especially since most of the path was exposed to the sun. The placement of the trees around the garden ensured that we could see the golden pavilion from almost anywhere on the route.
We took many photos and learned about the history of the pavilion. It was originally built in 1397 C.E. as a retirement villa for Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, a Japanese shogun. After Yoshimitsu’s death, the pavilion was given to Zen Buddhist monks. Sadly, it was burned down in 1950 by a young monk named Hayashi Yoken. The temple was rebuilt in 1955, but instead of using modern techniques, the builders chose to use traditional methods, carefully applying each sheet of gold leaf by hand. I found this dedication to preserving traditional craftsmanship very inspiring.
