The garden of the Ryoanji monastery in Kyoto, an emblematic expression of Zen thought: the discovery of an enigmatic work of art that has influenced the art of the Japanese garden over the centuries.
The gardens of Zen monks display a nature that has been “stripped” of its transient phenomena. The garden of the Ryoanji monastery in Kyoto, an emblematic expression of Zen thought, was built during the 15th and 16th centuries. Everything in the garden contributes to create a situation of supreme harmony, a timeless equilibrium in which man is offered an opportunity to rediscover himself. A true abstract composition, made only with sand and stones, surpassingly spare, the garden of Ryoanji is filled with a mysterious charm that has always provoked deep questions and multiple interpretations. François Berthier, the authoritative expert on oriental literature and civilization, accompanies the reader with a text of deep intensity in the discovery of this enigmatic work of art that has influenced the art of the Japanese garden over the centuries and, with its surprising modernity, stimulates visitors to penetrate and comprehend the discipline and thought of Zen Buddhism.