b) Description and inventory

N. Jisho-ji (common name Ginkaku-ji) Jisho-ji, originally called the Higashiyama-dono, was built in the foothills of the Higashiyama mountains in 1482 by Ashikaga Yoshimasa as his country villa. It was turned into a Zen sect temple after the death of Yoshimasa. Higashiyama-dono, too, was modeled after Saiho-ji. Such buildings as the Kannon-den (Ginkaku, literally the "Silver Pavilion"), and the Jibutsudo (Togudo, a pavilion to house Yoshimasa's private study and Buddhist altar), were built around the pond. This villa became a salon where many men of culture gathered. During the middle of the 16th century, the temple was temporarily damaged due to battles, but in the middle of the 17th century, the Hojo and Kuri were reconstructed and the garden and other buildings were repaired. In the middle of the 18th century the Togudo was repaired, and in the later part of the 18th century the Ginkaku, Hojo, and other buildings were repaired. In the first half of the 19th century the Togudo was again repaired. In the latter half of the 19th century, with the support of the parishioners of the temple, the Togudo, Hojo, Ginkaku and the garden were repaired. In the modern age, in 1914, the Ginkaku was partly dismantled and repaired. During investigations conducted along with the repair of Togudo in 1965, the original appearance was clarified and it was restored accordingly. In 1931, stone works and stone pavements were excavated from the hillside, and in 1987 the garden was restored to its original state as the Ochanoi Garden. This garden, representative of Higashiyama culture, is designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty. Furthermore, the Ginkaku and Togudo are designated as National Treasures. The Ginkaku (N1) is a two-storied pavilion built in 1489. The first story is designed in residential style and the second story in temple style, following the style of a Buddha hall. It has a wood-shingled, pyramid style roof with a phoenix at the apex. The Togudo (N2) is a 7m x 7m hipped-gable style building with a cypress bark roof, built in 1485. I contains the guardian Buddha and it serves both as a Buddha hall and a study. In the northeast corner is a 4.5 mat tatami room called "Dojinsai". Because the tsukeshoin (built-in desk with windows) and chigaidana (alcove shelves) in the room are the oldest existing ones in Japan, this room is regarded as the origin of the shoin style. The present Jisho-ji Teien (garden) (Na) is thought to show the condition of the garden after it was restored in 1615, since the original had been ruined during the period of wars from the 15th century to the late 16th century. This garden is in the chisenkaiyu-shiki (stroll-type) garden style, with a pond in the center and exquisite rocks and trees arranged around it. It shows much fine detail in its stone groupings. In the center of the garden and to south of the Hondo, there are two sand mounds called Ginshadan and Kogetsudai, both added to the garden in the Edo Period. The mounds seen today are taller than when they were originally designed; although for a time there had been a practice of adding sand to mounds, this practice was stopped in the 1890's.

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