古都京都の世界文化遺産・龍安寺 / Ryuu An Ji - Kyoto World Cultural Heritage

今週は京都・嵐山の「龍安寺」を紹介してきます。「龍安寺」の境内一番有名な史跡は「石庭」です。この「石庭」はいろいろなミステリーがあるんです。例えば：作者は誰とか、設計とか、様々なミステリーがあるんです。インタネットニューズによると、1975年イギリスのエリザベス女王が日本を公式訪問した際、石庭の見学を希望します。女王が石庭を絶賛したことが海外のマスコミでも報道されます。そのため昨今では世界各地での日本のZEN（禅）ブームと相俟って日本人より海外の観光客の来訪者の比率が高いといわれています。
This week, I am going to introduce 'Ryuu An Ji'. The 'Stone Garden' was probably the most famous structure within the compound of 'Ryuu An Ji'. As for the reason why this 'Stone Garden' was most famous was probably due to the mystery that revolves around it. For example: who's is the designer behind the stone garden, what is the rational behind the layout.. etc. According to the Internet, in the year 1975, when Queen Elizabeth paid a visit to Japan, she wanted to make an excursion to one of the 'Stone Garden' of Japan. After making her way to one of the 'Stone Garden' of Japan, through the use of the media, the Queen has given wonderful praises to the 'Stone Garden' of Japan. From that moment onwards, there was an increase in the number of visitors travelling to Japan and that was the exact same moment where the learnings of &aposZen&apos started spreading to all parts of the world.

以下は「龍安寺」の境内の写真：
The following are photos taken in 'Ryuu An Ji':

これは「龍安寺」の正門です。
This would be the main entrance of 'Ryuu An Ji'.

	これは境内有名な「石庭」です。 附：実は僕はこの「石庭」の設計を少々鑑賞しています。 しかし、何も啓発します。 やはり、僕はその方面の理解能力がゼロかな。
The above would be the infamous 'Stone Garden' of 'Ryuu An Ji'. Note: Actually, I have tried appreciating the 'Stone Garden' for a few minutes. Despite spending time looking at the 'Stone Garden', I have neither learn nor understand anything. Probably I have no luck in understanding this kind of structure in my entire life.

蹲踞 その蹲踞の真ん中の穴を漢字の「口」に見立てあります。 周りの４文字を共用し「吾唯足知」と読みます。 「吾唯足知」の意味は深過ぎます。以下は僕の見解です。 「吾唯足知」の意味は、「何もある時、満たすべきです。 何もないとき、不満の気持ちを抱かない」ということです。 Stone Water Basin In the middle of the basin was a hole that was carved out to form the Chinese character '口'. And if you combine it with the 4 Chinese characters that was positioned around it, it will form the Chinese proverb 「吾唯足知」. The meaning of the Chinese proverb was pretty deep. But, a simpler way to cipher it would be, one should be satisfied with the things that he possess and he shouldn't hold negative emotions towards the things that he doesn't possess.

以下は僕の意見です。 「鏡容池」という池は「龍安寺」の境内一番きれいな所です。 The following would be my own opinion. I think that the pond, 'Kyo You Pond', was the most beautiful place within the compound of 'Ryuu An Ji'.

	境内の写真 Photos taken in the compound of 'Ryuu An Ji'.

* こちは「龍安寺」の資料です。
^ こちは僕が「龍安寺」に撮るの写真です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Ryuu An Ji'.
^ Click here for the photos of 'Ryuu An Ji' that was taken by me.