The Daisen-in garden1 is known as one of the world’s most famous gardens and is based inside the Daitoku-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan. Daitoku-ji is a walled sanctuary compound in northern Kyoto. Within this complex lies 22 sub-temples, which are available to the public on different occasions. Most of these temples are used for religious practices.

In 1319, the Daitoku-ji2 began as a small Zen temple but was repeatedly destroyed through the arts of war and fire. Later during the 15th century a Zen master by the name of Ikkyu Sojun rebuilt the temple on a greater scale which became the “center of the Rinzai Zen culture during the late Muromachi, Momoyama, and early Edo periods” (Japanese Gardens). Over the years this temple sealed its importance by holding a funeral ceremony for a great warlord. Due to money and patronage of the higher classes this once small temple provided artistic visuals through architecture, paintings, calligraphy, tea ceremonies and Zen gardens. Tea …show more content…
During the rise of the Zen Buddhist, painting landscapes was especially popular. During this time, so was recreating them into smaller gardens. The Daisen-in garden has a unique flow providing cobblestones so that people can walk along the grounds without disturbing the gardens. The garden itself can be view from porches and platforms and the only ones allowed on the gardens are Buddhist monks provide constant care. This garden is an especially popular attraction for those who wish to meditate. Providing the “imagery of a Sesshu or Soami painting that had been lifted out of the pictorial realm and recast in three dimensions as a microcosm on which viewers can envision the unbounded nature of the universe” (Kampen-O'Riley, 2002, p. 172). The uniqueness of this garden allows spiritual believes the ability to sharpen one's spontaneous mind in search for wisdom, understanding, and