Although it is called Ginkaku-ji, meaning “Temple of the Silver Pavilion", a name hinting at the even more famous Kinkaku-ji, “Temple of the Golden Pavilion”, the building of the temple was never painted in silver.

The origin of the name comes from the moonlight effect on the originally black lacquered walls, which was creating a silvery reflection on the pond’s water. However, at the last restoration the walls remained without the black lacquer, so the silver reflection is gone now.

Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto

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