Thursday, June 14, 2012

Arigato, Japonia! 22. Shoren-in / Arigato, Japan! 22. Shoren-in

Shoren-in was part of the Imperial Palace during the Edo period. This is the reason it has a garden which is famous for its beauty. I came here to see the huge camphor trees at the gate of the temple, described by Yasunari Kawabata in his book – “The Old Imperial City”.

Shortly after I arrived, the rain started. I choose a corner of an open terrace and I admired the pond in front of me. The blooming cherry trees were a nice color splash on the green of the pines. A small stone pagoda, a little bridge and the isle-like rocks in the ponds were some elements common in a Japanese garden. Then, I discovered the fishes in the pond and took time to photograph them.

Even if I felt like the time stopped, the closing time arrived. The rain stopped, so I left. A new day in Japan was ended, full of impressions.

La Shoren-in, ultimul templu vizitat intr-o anume zi, am petrecut clipe frumoase de relaxare si incantare, in acelasi timp, fiindca m-a prins ploaia acolo si se spune ca gradinile japoneze sunt si mai frumoase pe ploaie. Tinusem sa vizitez acest templu, in primul rand pentru a vedea copacii uriasi de la intrare, arbori de camfor si stejari, despre care citisem in cartea lui Yasunari Kawabata - Vechiul oras imperial. Radacinile noduroase, acoperite de muschi, par a reflectare a crengilor puternice ale copacilor.
la intrarea in templu
alt model de fantana de purificare
Temporar, in perioada Edo, aici a fost un Palat Imperial. De aceea, gradina de la Shoren-in este faimoasa pentru frumusetea sa.
N-am apucat sa vad prea multe si a inceput ploaia. Parea sa tina mai mult, asa ca mi-am gasit un loc pe o terasa deschisa si m-am asezat. Eram doar 5-6 vizitatori in tot templul. Stropii cadeau mari si desi pe suprafata iazului spre care priveam. Cativa ciresi infloriti faceau o pata de culoare in verdele coniferelor, dincolo de iaz. O mica pagoda din piatra, un podet si cateva insule-pietre erau elementele comune stilului gradinii japoneze pe care le-am admirat indelung.
se vad stropii de ploaie pe suprafata iazului
Apoi am descoperit pestii din iaz si m-am distrat fotografiindu-i.
Desi mie mi s-a parut ca timpul se oprise in acest peisaj atat de frumos si linistitor, el si-a urmat cale si a venit ora inchiderii templului. Ploaia se linistise, asa ca am putut pleca. Incheiam in felul acesta o zi plina de impresii, carora le trebuia timp ca sa se sedimenteze.
din coltul meu de terasa

14 comments:

Randy said...

I love the fountain.

Traveling Hawk said...

I like the second one, made of a single block of stone.

Joop Zand said...

Very good serie photo's

thanks my friend.

greetings, Joop

Aliceee Traveler said...

Ce frumuseti ai vazut, iubesc gradinile japoneze, doar acum am vazut ca ne povestesti despre Japonia :), trebuie sa recuperez

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Joop! Have a nice weekend!

Traveling Hawk said...

Multumesc, alicee. Pentru gradini si temple am stat 6 zile in Kyoto.

Kumiko said...

Wonderful pictures!
I'm glad you visited Shouren-in.
I love this temple,too,because this place is really relaxing and the garden is so beautiful.
And these colourful koi fishes are beautiful!
And you've read "The Old Imperial city",you really are knowledgable person,Traveling Hawk!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Kumiko, for your kind comments!

LifeRamblings said...

wow so much beauty in one place. i enjoy your photos.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Life Ramblings!

RIZALENIO said...

Staring at those colorful fish is therapeutic. Relaxing. :)

Traveling Hawk said...

It really was, Rizalenio!

Francisca said...

Your 1st and 13th shots are my favorite in this series.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Francisca!