Kannonden 観音殿

Official explanation

The Kannonden (literally “Kannon Hall”) is the structure many think of as Ginkaku, the Silver Pavilion. It was commissioned by Ashikaga Yoshimasa (1436–1490) as part of his Higashiyama-sansō estate, and completed after he died, in 1490. The Kannonden is one of two buildings at Ginkakuji that remain from the original estate, and is a National Treasure.

The Silver Pavilion is not actually silver in color. One theory is that this nickname was bestowed only during the early Edo period (1603–1867) to contrast it with the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku), built by Yoshimasa’s grandfather, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358–1408). Another theory is that the second level of the structure, originally covered in black lacquer, gradually assumed a whitish hue as the lacquer weathered over the years. Near the souvenir shop there is a model of the lacquered exterior as it probably looked over 500 years ago.

Read the full explanation

The Kannonden takes its name from a large wooden statue of Kannon, a Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, enshrined on the second floor. The statue faces east towards the pond and the Tōgudō. The hall is not open to the public, but photographs of the statue are on display at the temple stamp (goshuin) office. The second floor is built in the Zenshuyo architectural style common at Zen temples, typified by bell-shaped katomado windows.

The architectural style of the first floor is different from the second floor. It is built in a simple residential style (shoin-zukuri), and the panels of the outer wall on the east side can be pulled to the side, completely opening the room to overlook the pond. A bronze figure of the phoenix (hōō) of East Asian myth stands atop the roof facing east.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.