The beauty of a Zen garden: the Shofukuji Temple, the Sun and Moon Garden, and the Bodhi tree

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Shofuku-ji Temple, Japan's oldest Zen temple, features a central sanctuary arranged in a traditional Zen style, with the main gate, the main hall, and the main building arranged in a neat and solemn formation. The main hall, originally built in 1589 and recently renovated in 2012, houses the six-foot-tall Three Buddhas—Amitabha, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya—symbolizing the past, present, and future. Standing quietly at the center of the temple grounds, this hall serves as a focal point where spirituality and history intersect.

Behind the main hall lies the tranquil Sun and Moon Garden. Created by landscape architect Jusan Kagoshima in the early Showa era, this garden features the sun and moon, incorporating Zen symbols such as the circle, square, and triangle. It was renovated again in 2016, with a consecration ceremony held on December 8 of that year. The garden features a stone tablet inscribed with the poems of Zen Master Senya, and a tea whisk Guanyin statue commemorates the influence of Zen Master Eisai in introducing the tea ceremony. A stone bridge spans the pond on the right side of the garden, and the plantings and stone structures embody the beauty of Japanese dry landscape architecture.

Four bodhi trees, symbolizing enlightenment, have been planted within the grounds of Shofuku-ji Temple. Although not native to the area, they have become a symbol of Zen thought and a distinctive feature of the landscape thanks to the climatic and soil conditions. A nearby sign explains the connection between the bodhi trees and Eisai, and clarifies the distinction between the temple and Japan's earliest tea plantings, demonstrating respect for history and botanical culture.

The gardens are permeated with Zen philosophy and aesthetics, offering a tranquil atmosphere, detached from the everyday, whether meditating, exploring, or photographing. More than just a temple, this is a place for preserving Zen, savoring aesthetics, and reflecting on oneself.

📍Address: 6-1 Gokusho-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City
🚇Transportation: 3 minutes walk from Gion Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line

#Shofukuji #Buddha Hall #Sun and Moon Garden #Zen Garden #Bodhi Tree #Fukuoka Attractions #Dry Landscape #Hakata Culture #Zen Space #Garden Architecture

Post by Jason906 | Jul 28, 2025