Ryoan-ji 2023

This game was included with issue 30 of the ioGioco magazine.

Ryoan-ji (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon) is located in the northwest area of ​​Kyoto and is the ideal refuge to escape the chaos of the city and spend time immersed in the quiet of the Zen garden: the perfect place for meditation. The garden of Ryoan-ji is formed by a rectangle of 248 square meters and can be observed from the veranda of the hojo, the residence of the monastery's abbot. It features fifteen stones of different sizes arranged in five groups: a group of five stones, two groups of three and two groups of two. The stones are arranged in the middle of a raked gravel floor. The garden was conceived as a koan, a paradoxical riddle that aids in meditation. The arrangement of the stones was designed so that, sitting on the veranda, from whatever angle you look, you cannot see all fifteen stones at the same time. Traditionally, it is believed that only by reaching enlightenment you can see them all at once. Who will be able to do this?

Participants compete to set up a zen garden that can guarantee the best meditation conditions. Dice will be rolled each round, allowing everyone to obtain resources with which to complete shapes to draw in the garden. By acquiring the most advanced shapes, obtaining bonuses and achieving the objectives of the Stone Cards, they will obtain meditation points. The player with the most meditation points will be the winner.