Kyoto got lot of famous shrine and hidden temple. Despite few round of visit, it just still had some interesting attraction for next visit.
Genko-an Temple (源光庵) is one of it. It no as famous like the rest for those must-see or visit in the first trip to Kyoto people, but it had something eye catching. The two windows frame in this zen temple. Beautiful to be see in summer green and colorful autumn.
Every time of visit zen temple, just sit there and do nothing, that is very enjoyable moment, just see and let the time flow.
The temple is most famous for two neighbouring windows. The round one is called “The Window of Enlightenment” 「悟りの窓」which is expressing the harmony of the universe. 宇宙との調和. The round shape is a sphere which is the shape of the very basic element in the universe. The window is meant to represent a heart of Zen & Entsu ( Entsu = through the shape of a circle) 「禅と円通」.
The other square window is called “The Window of Dellusion” 「迷いの窓」which symbolizes the ignorance and human life of suffering. Those 4 corners of a square represents four painful stages of Shaka 「釈迦の四苦」 while he was on his quest to find a way to his life. Their delicate design conveys the feel of Japanese culture.
These windows are best viewed in autumn, when the maple trees in the garden are brightly coloured or in pure summer green.
