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Commonly known as the Kinkaku-ji, the so-called "Golden Temple" is actually an outbuilding of the Rokuon-ji temple. It is also known as the Golden Pavilion or in Japanese, "Kinkaku" where "Kin" means "gold". The original building was constructed in the year 1397 under the patronage of the Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and has been maintained until this day by the resident monks.







Over 1.5 million people visit Kinkaku-ji every year and the pavilion's structure and surrounding grounds have been branded as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is no "best time" to pay a visit - each season brings its own unique flavor. The vivid greens of Spring and Summer, the reds and ochres of Autumn and perhaps most especially Winter's light sprinkles of brilliant white snow all complement and enhance the luminous glow and harmonious lines of this truly exceptional structure.









Although Kinkaku-ji may appear to display an ethereal and timeless beauty, its history has not always been so serene. Tragedy struck in 1950 when a schizophrenic monk driven by voices that hated beauty, decided burn it to the ground. The story of the monk named Hayashi Yōken was told in novelist Yukio Mishima's notorious semi-fictional book "The Temple of the Golden Pavilion" and was first published in English in 1959. The monk was captured and imprisoned (where he was interviewed by Mishima) after bragging about his crime to a prostitute. His mother who was unable to bear the shame committed suicide by throwing herself in front of a train. Yōken was released from prison in 1955 due to his illness and died a year later. By that time the restoration of the Golden Temple into its original specifications was already in full swing.









Reconstruction of the pavilion took many years of painstaking labor. The trademark gold leaf coverings on the upper floors were not completed until 1987 and their application was fraught with difficulty as only a few craftsmen were trained in such a specialized field. It was not until 2003 that the roof of the restored pavilion (which features a stylized golden phoenix perched at the nave) was finished to appease the satisfaction of the temple's monks.






The main problem the restorers encountered was in applying the exceptionally delicate gold leaf. Though only a mere five-10,000ths of a millimeter thick, it still took some 200,000 individual gold foils weighing a total of 20 kilograms (44 lbs.) to cover the pavilion's upper floors. Applying the foils was a painstaking chore that forced workers to hold their breaths for fear of wrinkling the surface through the impact of their exhalations! What's more, parts of the process had to be repeated when it was found that the exceedingly thin, one-10,000ths of a millimeter thick foils used in the 1950s had begun to peel away from the underlying structure.









These days, maintenance of the Golden Temple's exquisite visage is entrusted to one single man: 67-year-old Takesato Yagyu. You can read about Yagyu's devoted dedication to the Kinkaku-ji in detail right here. According to Yagyu the pavilion's original gold decorations were not rigorously maintained and after more than 500 years, little gold leaf was left. In this respect it can be said that the modern restoration of this iconic symbol of Japan has returned the Kinkaku-ji's appearance of the 14th century rather than 1949 (the year before the arson attack). After viewing the Golden Pavilion in all its restored glory, lit up and glowing serenely on a warm and fragrant Kyoto evening, I don't think anyone can argue against that!

Article by Steve Levenstein from Inventor Spot. Steve writes about weird and wonderful Japanese innovations on a regular basis and you can catch up on current & previous examples at his blog. Submit your thoughts - click here!

9) Mount Fuji in Modern Art Culture

As an instantly recognizable symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji has been co-opted from time to time by companies such as Atari, who used a stylized Mount Fuji design for their logo:

In Japan, colorful paintings of Mount Fuji are often displayed in public baths, supposedly so that patrons can more easily achieve a sense of timeless relaxation as they soak away their cares. As well, the peaceful image of Mount Fuji is said to be a bringer of good luck - as long as it's not an image of it erupting!





8) Mount Fuji is a Sacred Mountain and is the Symbol of Japan

Mount Fuji is considered the sacred symbol of Japan.

Absolutely! The mountain's serene, unchanging image - unchanging except for the snowcap that comes and goes with the seasons - graces everything from public bath house walls to postage stamps to currency and more!



7) Mount Fuji is NOT one of the Tallest Mountains in the World

Not even close, although at more than 12,000 feet high it's the loftiest in Japan and one of the most famous peaks in the world. But "tallest"? Not by half... even two Mount Fuji's stacked one atop the other wouldn't match the height of Mount Everest. Even the world's tallest volcano, Mount Cotopaxi in Ecuador, surpasses Mount Fuji by over 7,000 feet. Mount Fuji only LOOKS extremely tall because it stands alone and is not surrounded by other high peaks like the Himalayas or Andes.



6) Mount Fuji isn't a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Why? Garbage, LOTS of garbage. Almost a third of a million people visit Mount Fuji each year and the climbing season is only 2 months long. Do the math... the infrastructure just can't handle the load. Waste, both organic and inorganic, is everywhere. Even worse, the beautiful forests surrounding the mountain have become a choice dumping ground for those seeking to avoid trash disposal fees - not to mention being a prime spot for committing suicide (roughly 30 per year).


A major, concerted cleanup is now underway. Included in the effort are new bio-toilets to replace the previous storage-tank models whose contents were simply emptied onto the mountainside at the end of each climbing season. Mount Phew-ji!


5) Historically, Mount Fuji has been Off-limits to Women

Like most high mountains in Japan, Mount Fuji was traditionally seen as an abode of the gods; a place where "unclean" women were forbidden to go. It wasn't until 1872 that the official ban on women climbing Mount Fuji was lifted, partially in response to a well-publicized ascent of the peak in 1867 by Lady Parkes, the wife of a British diplomat.


4) Mount Fuji is Privately Owned

Strange but true! But not to worry, neither a Japanese version of "The Donald" nor an absentee Middle Eastern prince lists Mount Fuji among his holdings. The uppermost portion of the peak belongs to the Fujisan Hongu Sengentaisha shrine, having been granted the title in perpetuity by the Shogun in 1609.

A Shinto priest at the shrine, Norihiko Nakamura, has categorically stated that "Mount Fuji is a mountain of the world, not an asset for individuals," thus allaying any fears that the shrine might restrict access to Mount Fuji's summit.


3) Mount Fuji is an Active Volcano

Officially designated as "dormant" (presumably to avoid panic), Mount Fuji last erupted 300 years ago. But... and that's a very big "but"... there's no reason to assume there won't be another.

In 1707, a vent opened on Mount Fuji's flank, spewing molten lava down the mountain's farmed & forested slopes while raining volcanic ash upon Tokyo (then known as Edo). The so-called "Hoei crater" from the 1707 eruption is still visible today and from some angles distorts the view of Mount Fuji's symmetrical cone.



2) What Would Happen if Mount Fuji DID Erupt?

With 10 documented eruptions since the 8th century, Mount Fuji has demonstrated a pattern of activity that worries many - notwithstanding the quietude of the past 300 years. Japanese government authorities have devised detailed plans to deal with a future eruption of Mount Fuji - an event that could cost the country upwards of $21 billion!


In a worst case scenario, nearly 8,000 people living near the peak would have to be evacuated and nearly 2,000 homes would suffer damage. That number would rise to around 11,000 if the eruption occurred in June, during Japan's rainy season. In addition, up to 12.5 million people would suffer adverse affects from fine particles of volcanic ash which would saturate the air.


1) Mount Fuji in Traditional Art - Tsunami Waves?

Colorful images of Mount Fuji in traditional woodblock prints have been admired for centuries. Among the most well-known are the "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji" created by the master printer Hokusai between 1826 and 1829. The pictured image, "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa", is perhaps THE best-known Japanese print and was a significant influence on many of Europe's great artists of the late 19th century.


Article by Steve Levenstein from Inventor Spot. Steve writes about weird and wonderful Japanese innovations on a regular basis and you can catch up on current & previous examples at his blog. Submit your thoughts - click here!

Apparently, blind people can "see" better with the aid of a bioptic device, a miniature telescope, that is fitted over the top of the lens in their eye. Thus, their vision is improved up to the point that they can drive a car legally - and you wouldn't see such sights as these:


This article was written by Michelle Dyer from Writing Circle. Michelle is totally blind and yet she can put blogs together. Not just thought provoking but inspiring as well! If you are interested in contributing to the thinking process and become a guest writer on The Thinking Blog, find out more information here and be my guest!

In fact, the fire remained burning in the lower depths of the garbage and eventually spread through a hole in the rock pit into the abandoned coal mines beneath Centralia. Attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful. State-wide attention to the fire began to increase, culminating in 1981 when 12-year-old boy fell into a sinkhole 45 metres deep that suddenly opened beneath his feet. He was saved after his older cousin pulled him from the mouth of the hole before he could plunge to his probable death. The incident brought national attention to Centralia and in 1984 U.S. Congress allocated more than $42 million for relocation efforts. Most of the residents accepted buyout offers and moved to the nearby communities but a handful of occupied homes remain in Centralia today.