Kodatei

Winter garden
the moon thinned to a thread
insects singing
-Bashō

“Kodatei” is the name of a stone garden located along the eaves of the shoin (study) in Ryogen-in.

“Koda” is the Japanese name for the Hutou River in China which flowed to the south of the temple where Master Linji, the founder of the Renzai sect of Zen Buddhism, resided.

The garden is also called A-un no Sekitei or A-un Stone Garden. A-un represents an inhalation and exhalation of breath.  This garden expresses the universal truth of pairs.

The foundation stones on the east and west are from the Jurakudai, the palace constructed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598). See map of Daikokuji for directions.