In the past, people have expressed their gratitude in getting nature’s blessings. Shintoism originates in that feeling.

We think spring water is the source of faith here. Spread of water and depth of mind, two axes intersected and that might originate the landscape.

In renovating this old temple, we have aimed at creating a simple water surface and calm air of reverence for the past. What matters is how far the water realm could be expanded. In order to set up a space to commune with water, we have eliminated everything modern people had intentionally added.

To the infinitesimal, we tried to pare our intentions to the bone in this execution. With the construction philosophy of “Prāgabhāva“(antecedent non-existence), we have aimed at reaching to the state of mind that doesn’t differentiate between beauty and ugliness. Day by day, we observed the water surface and held communion with trees. We have redirected the artificial water flow to its original way and brought the water level back, hoping this garden would be a sublime realm where water and mind are melted together.

 No coercion, no artifice...this garden gets filled with pure air. It doesn’t matter who did it, this is a juncture to upcoming generations.