No doubt travel broadens the mind. Visiting temple gardens in Kyoto in March 2008 was initially confusing because I couldn't work out if the site was Yin or Yang. This could be a lifetime study. I'll have to do some more traveling. What an excuse!!

In March, the gardens appear dormant and I suggest in their Yin phase influenced predominantly by the climatic conditions and the gardens taking on a frozen in time element. The trees defoliated (they look Yang but appear ''dead'' which is a Yin thing). The gardens locked into a Yin transgression (stone, bare trees, no flowers, no birds or insects, water grey ) suggesting Yin not wanting to let go until the warmth of spring (and Yang) course through the trees and they erupting into flower and foliage (life). The gardens then entering a Yang phase. This is confusing!!

Suggesting as summer dominates, the Yang will transpose into a summer dormancy (a Yin presence) then revert to Yang as summer lapses when autumn returns and flowers and foliage take command (especially the reds of the autumn maples). A Yang period evolves then reverting to Yin as autumn turns into winter and snow and frost.

There are 4 changes going on in Kyoto temple gardens. Each a reflection of season and designed to reflect season. Yet the structural features of the gardens can take on a Yin image i.e., transfixed, dormant and not progressional and still exhibit Yang characteristics (the stone lanterns, stone placements, bare trees and so on). Amazing complexity of the Yin and Yang energies aligning and colliding and in some sense harmonious. These transitions influence life and movement and the presence of livings creatures such as birds and insects.

Suggesting, were the designers of these gardens masters in understanding the complexity of Yin and Yang transgression? And if so these temple gardens especially the more Zen models are great gardens as they have transgressed over time with minimal change in structure and composition. They're locked into time and the Zen observer and practitioner e.g., a monk can access them at any time of the year and accept their infinite nature.

Another question, do plants exhibit Yang to counter Yin associations in changing environments? For example, bare trees which evolve to survive external influences such as climate, predators, changes in site conditions such as soil temperature, water presence in soils and competition with other plants, insects or diseases.

Life a necessity for Chi flow either beneficial (sheng) or detrimental (sha). Yin is death and Yang is life. Yang needs to wake Yin and Yin wants to be awoken yet wants to curb Yang from its extremes (mid summer). Timing has to be right, sunlight, temperature and the signals given and received until a balance and Yin retiring to hand the garden over to Yang for growth, transgression and change, yet also life which perpetuates the garden environment. When Yang is spent, it wanes and invites Yin to enter and transgress the place to rest and tranquility. The garden has a continual re birth.

Transitional phases of Yin and Yang observed in Kyoto in March suggest they move from a Yin to Yang, then Yang, Yang to Yin and back to Yin to complete the cycle, a cycle representing dormancy, life, dormancy and returning back to life. Kyoto's gardens are worth four visits.