Ryoan-ji
Ryoan-ji (龍安寺) is a Buddhist temple located in Kyoto, Japan. It's name means "Temple of the Peaceful Dragon". It belongs to Myoshinji school of the Rinzai branch of Zen. It is famous for its rock garden, a fine example of the Karesansu style.
Ryoan-Ji was the site of the first Zen garden. In 1486, after the Onin Wars, Kyoto was destroyed by fire and the temple had to be rebuilt. The rock garden was added to provide a place for the monks to meditate and is often said to have a calming effect.
The ten by thirty meter Ryoan-ji Temple garden is composed of white gravel and fifteen rocks of varying sizes, only fourteen of which can be seen at any time from any location in the garden. It is said that the fifteenth stone can only be seen after attaining enlightenment. Every day the gravel around the rocks is raked to create circles around the rocks and straight lines everywhere else.
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