SaihÅ-ji (Kyoto)
Saiho -ji (Japanese西 芳 寺) is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto. The Koke -dera as (苔 寺, dt "Moss Temple " ) known temple of the Rinzai Shuu, who is famous for the Musō designed by Soseki moss garden, is located in the district Nishikyo -ku.
Originally founded in the year 731 the temple goes back to Gyoki and Amitabha was consecrated. His Umweihung into a Zen temple was 1339. 1994 he was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Historic Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities ).
This temple escapes the mass onslaught of mostly domestic tourists by restricting the number of visitors. Thus, the enclosed temple area can be accessed only after prior written notification.
The garden itself was not designed as a moss garden, but has been neglected by historians long turmoil. Several temples were destroyed in 1469 during the Sengoku period.
The construction of the garden had a lasting influence on Japanese garden design, such as clear in other temples such as the Ginkaku -ji and Kinkaku -ji.