Do you know the temple called Genkouan? It is located in Takagamine in Kyoto’s North Ward, and many people familiar with Kyoto may have seen its picture at least once.

There is a round window in the wall of its main hall, which makes the Genkouan garden appear as if it’s cut in a circle. This window is called “a window of realization”, and there is a square window right next to it, which is called “a window of confusion”. These two windows connote the Zen teaching, i.e. the round window expresses the open and free heart without boundaries, and the square window expresses the ordinary human pains, such as death or sickness.

The view of the round space cut out in the dark room is beautiful. It’s as if you are looking at a painting, and it captivates you with a feeling of mystery.