Features

• Aoishi Toba (stone tablet)

  

  The Aoishi Toba stone tablet in Gyokusenji was made in 1288. The Sanskrit character of the Amida triad was inscribed into the stone. Aoishi Toba is known for its elegant style and the beauty of the stone color. Many tablets are found in Ome city, but the one in Gyokusenji temple is the oldest one and is designated as a cultural property of the City of Ome.

• Natural spring pond and Turtle in the garden

  

  The stone and moss garden in the Gyokusenji was created by Shintaro Fukatsu and Chie Horiuchi of Niwasho (master gardener) Fugen in 2018. They underwent training in Kyoto under Yasuo Kitayama, the contemporary master gardener who has received international acclaim. The garden shows the beauty of the seasons, and the rock and moss garden beside the main hall symbolizes a turtle as a guide to nirvana. The natural spring water pond has been an important part of the temple since the beginning. Pure spring water still flourishes in front of the Benzaiten hall.

• Masterful inkwash paintings

  

  Master painter, Hakuro, is a native of Shanghai. He moved to Japan as an adult and has resided in Ome for decades. Hakuro’s art is created based on a strong foundation of calligraphy and Chinese traditional painting skills. He is known for his elegant and beautiful style of flowers, birds, and landscapes. His paintings have won many awards, and he has been commissioned for large paintings and sliding doors by temples and shrines all over Japan, including Kenchoji Zen Temple, which ranks first among Kamakura’s so-called Five Great Zen Temples. The main hall of Gyokusenji features sliding doors, which have been masterfully painted by Hakuro. The temple organizes and hosts his painting exhibits as charity events for areas affected by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.