In the quiet town of Hiraizumi in northern Japan, far from the bustling temples of Kyoto or Nara, lies a garden that has remained nearly unchanged for over 800 years. Mōtsū-ji, one of the oldest Tendai temples in Japan, was founded in 850 by the famed monk Ennin, better known in Japan as Jikaku Daishi. The northern Fujiwara lords expanded it, building dozens of halls and pagodas, and hosting hundreds of monks. Unfortunately, after the collapse of the Northern Fujiwara, the temple fell into disrepair. All the original buildings had…
