Golden Pavilion

   Kinkaku-ji, the Golden Pavilion, was first built in1397 as a retirement villa for the shogun. The guilded temple was located in a peaceful strolling garden within a temple complex in Kyoto, so placed that those approaching first saw the resplendent temple mirrored in a reflective pond. Kyoto was the ancient capital of Japan, the home of the emperor until the shogunate moved the capitol to Edo, later to be called Tokyo. Over the centuries the temple became one of the most important destinations for pilgrimages to sacred sites.
   The postage stamp of the Golden Pavilion (Scott#272) was printed in 1939 to honor its status as one of the most historic and beautiful temples in the land. During World War II the allies bombed many cities into oblivion, but Kyoto was spared because of its historic importance.
   The temple was burned to the ground in 1950 by a novice Buddhist Monk to protest temple commercialization. The arson was a national disgrace, and the story was soon made into a novel by Yukio Mishima, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, and a movie, Enjo ("Conflagration") directed by Kon Ichikawa. The present structure was rebuilt in 1955, sparing no expense by utilizing even more gold than before.
   When my sister scheduled a trip there in October 2009, I rushed the blocks to completion so I could present the print to her before she left. It is dedicated to my sister, Diane McCown.

Paper Type: Rives Lightweight Buff, 115 gm/m-2
Paper Size: 10" x 13"
Image Size: 4" x 5"

Edition Size: 50
Inks Used: Van Son Rubber Based Inks
Date cut: 2009-08-10

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