Karesansui - 5 Daitokuji's Ishidan 大徳寺

Inhale Deeply
Turning on a stony path
Finally I can breathe

深い吸い込む
やっと、息をするできる
石てき道に回る


I don't remember exactly how one comes upon this karesansui. My photo gives the impression that the expanse opens up before you as you emerge from a hallway. Karesansui in temples are rarely viewed from the ground level. In fact I don't remember ever seeing one that you stood on the same level as the garden. All the garden's I can remember are viewed from a walkway or deck. It gives the impression to walking on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Spokane is not the most tropical of climates. It rarely rains in the summer, and when it does it is a thunderous downpour. A short flight or 4 hour drive drops you into another world along the Pacific Ocean. A popular travel destination is the Oregon Coast. Near Cannon Beach OR, the mountains tower over the ocean then roll into the sea. Standing over a Karesansui always reminds me of hiking in Oregon overlooking the ocean.

So take a little hike in Oregon, add a little Karesansui, with a little inspiration from the latest U2 album and there's today's Haiku. Enjoy.

This photo is of Ishidan in Daitokuji. It is built in the Houraisan style 蓬莱山. This style of Zen garden is made with an inspiration from Mt. Penglai, a legendary mountain of China. 山 (Yama) in Japanese usually denotes a mountain. Mt. Penglai is one of three mystical legendary mountains where the immortals were said to live. Several ancient Japanese Emperors sent expeditions to the island mountains in search of immortality.

There is an excellent web-page that discusses Muromachi style rock gardens such as Ishidan, you can visit it here. From reading the article, it appears as though this garden was created in the Edo period (1603-1867). Another interesting web-page on this style of garden is here.



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No throwing pebbles in my pool of zen.