Golden Temple. A Reading Book in Japanese

«Golden Temple» — the most famous work of Japanese writer Yukio Mishima. It is based on a real event: in 1950, a monk burned the Golden Temple in Kyoto — and this destructive episode impressed Mishima so much that he decided to... write his version of the event.
 
A philosophical novel with a subtle Eastern contemplativeness, picturesque landscapes, and colorful metaphors tells the story of the quest for beauty in this world — and the impossibility of achieving the Beautiful ideal. A young monk, Mizoguchi, who has admired the image of the Golden Temple since childhood, dedicated his life to seeking that very ideal. But sometimes the pursuit of harmony with the external world leads to fatal consequences...