b) Description and inventory

M. Rokuon-ji (common name Kinkaku-ji) Rokuon-ji was originally the country villa of a court aristocrat, but it was acquired by the retired shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu after his abdication in 1397. Yoshimitsu enjoyed lavish elegance in this villa, known as the Kitayama-dono. The villa was turned into a Zen sect temple, Rokuon-ji, by Muso Soseki after Yoshimitsu's death. The gardens of the Kitayama-dono -- now called the Rokuon-ji Teien (garden) (Ma), designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty -- were modeled after the gardens of Saiho-ji. The garden has a "borrowed" view of Mt. Kinugasa, with many excellent stones in the Kyoto-chi (pond). The Kinkaku (literally, the "Golden Pavilion"), a splendid three-storied pavilion, was erected at the edge of the pond, and a smaller pavilion was built on the top of the mountain. The first story of the Kinkaku was constructed in the shinden style (the architectural style of Heian Period aristocratic residences), the second story in an intermediate residential style, and the third story in the style of Zen-sect temples. The pyramid-style roof was surfaced with wood shingles, and the exterior of the second and third stories was decorated with gold leaf. It s a gorgeous building which truly harmonizes aristocratic culture, samurai culture and Buddhist culture. It also exhibits both the power of Yoshimitsu, who was of the military class, and his adoration of the aristocracy. In 1422, the Kitayama-dono became a Zen sect temple and was renamed Rokuon-ji. However, the temple gradually lost its splendor and it was greatly damaged in the Onin War (1467 to 1477). In the Edo Period, the Kinkaku and the garden were repaired by temple authorities. The Kinkaku had been designated as a National Treasure, but was destroyed by fire in 1950 -- as a result of which the designation was canceled. It had been the only building remaining since the age of Yoshimitsu. But the pavilion was reconstructed in 1955, as an indispensable element of the garden. Using detailed drawings which had been prepared during a 1904 conservation project, it was possible to reconstruct an exact reproduction of the original. In 1987, the Kinkaku was further repaired. In the period from 1988 to 1990, fire prevention work was done, focusing primarily on the installation of fire extinguishing equipment such as water jets.

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