Pure Land Gardens

When we visited Byodoin, I was struck by how beautiful the gardens surrounding Phoenix Hall were. There was a pond called aji-ike that surrounded the building, along with bridges, koi fish, and lotus flowers. I knew that Phoenix Hall and the surrounding garden was meant to represent the Pure Land, or the heaven-like paradisiacal place that is a desired destination after death for followers of Pure Land Buddhism. However, I was interested to see how many of the features of the garden contributed to this image of the Pure Land, or in other words, why the creators of this replica of the Pure Land chose to include these elements.

Firstly, there was the aji-ike pond, where the bottom of the pond was paved in pebbles and there were little pebble beaches created on and near the island where Phoenix Hall was. This pebble pond beach style is called suhama (洲浜) and is unique to Japanese gardens. Some theorize that these pebbles are intended to mimic Japanese beaches. This would mean that the pebbles used here remind one of the beach, the ocean, and other peaceful locations that a Japanese person might be familiar with. Some of the pond has lotus flowers floating on the surface, to further emphasize this idyllic feeling. The pond also had koi fish, which originally in Chinese tradition and then brought over to Japanese tradition, represent strength, perseverance, and transformation, therefore encouraging people to have strength and perseverance in this life so that their next life can have the “transformation” of going to the Pure Land.

Finally, I noticed an arched bridge with red railings leading from the pebble beach island to the main island where Phoenix Hall was. This reminded me of similar bridges that are often seen in other gardens and shrines. These curved bridges are called soribashi (反り橋), and they are similar to Chinese Moon Bridges (which are decoratively used, sometimes in gardens, and are often a half-circle so that their reflection forms a full circle, representing perfection and wholeness). Some soribashi, especially in shrines, are very steep, to the point that it would be very difficult to cross on foot. This is because these curved bridges represent a transition into the spiritual world, and are therefore more meant for kami than for humans. In this garden, we see soribashi used for a similar purpose, as the soribashi is the last thing one needs to cross to enter the island where Phoenix Hall is, representing crossing into the Pure Land.