Hojo East Garden
A garden with a well-balanced design
  The tsukubai stone water basin in the northeast part of the Hojo is just as famous as the rock garden. Water flows into the round tsukubai through a bamboo pipe, and there is a mysterious inscription: when the characters are combined with the Chinese character for mouth (kuchi) in the center of the basin it can be read as "Ware tada taru wo shiru". It is said that this means "desire knows no boundaries, so be content with the present situation,” a well-known Zen phrase.
On the east side, there is a low bamboo fence following the line of the path. This is an example of what is known as a Ryoan-ji Temple style fence, which is unique to this temple. The diagonal criss-cross design formed by split bamboo allows a good view of the other side. This fence appears in several locations on the temple grounds, such as Kyoyochi Pond and around the stone steps leading to the Kuri (priest residence). All of the fences blend in well in their various locations, but the fence at the Hojo in the East Garden is especially harmonious.
This is also the site of the wabisuke tsubaki, a camellia said to have been brought back from Korea during the Muromachi period by a certain Wabisuke, and planted here in the East Garden. This camellia is now the oldest of its kind in Japan. It flowers from the end of March through the first part of April, and the red blossoms, speckled with white, bring a special atmosphere to the East Garden.
   
The "Ware tada taru wo shiru" tsukubai stone water basin
The "Ware tada taru wo shiru"
tsukubai stone water basin
A view of the East Garden
A view of the East Garden
  Wabisuke tsubaki (camellia plant)   Ryoan-ji Temple Fence   The pond in the northeast part of the East Garden  
  Wabisuke tsubaki
(camellia plant)
  Ryoan-ji Temple Fence   The pond in the northeast part of the East Garden  
 
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