Dry Landscape

• Client Work
• by T. S.

We reserved two time slots for our clients before and after open hours at Ryoan-ji, a 15th century zen temple (I believe there was another temple on the site dating back to the 11th century). The temple is most famous for its dry landscape garden. Being able to appreciate a historical monument and world heritage…

Otagi Nenbutsu-ji

• Client Work
• by T. S.

One of the more memorable temples during the project in Kyoto was definitely Otagi Nenbutsu-ji. A Tendai-sect temple in the Arashiyama area of Kyoto, it’s most interesting feature is the 1,200 stone arhat sculptures. The stone sculptures were all carved by amateurs under the supervision of the previous abbot, and each one has its own…

Photons

• Creative Journal
• by T. S.

Not to pull an “Oh! The golden days!”, but as part of the generation that doesn’t fully remember life pre-internet, I feel like there are some important practices that I missed out on. Not necessarily know-how. Again, that’s what the internet’s for. I can find whatever I want to as long as I know I’m…

Religious LEDs

• Creative Journal
• by T. S.

Here’s an update in dialogue with the post on Tamagawa Daishi:   The nooks in the ceiling at Tamagawa Daishi are so layered with soot that they eat light the same way lacquerware does. It’s like staring into a dusty black hole. The tunnel underneath the temple is damp and primordial. Overall, it achieves its…