Temples are conventionally conceptualized as buildings. The conceptualization of temple-as-building negates the synthetic quality of the concept of the sacred. The temple is better served by being conceived as an affecting interrelationship synthesizing buildings, land, and landscapes. Study of the 13th century Zen Buddhist temple of Zuisen (flowing spring) temple ('ji) Kamakura, Japan, suggests that the designer conceived the temple as the interrelationship of buildings, land and landscape, and the ritual participation of people. In particular, pilgrimage to and up a mountain is incorporated as a structural design feature of Zuisen-ji rather than Zuisen-ji being the conventional end-point of a pilgrimage route. At Zuisen-ji, architecture is ecological and behavioural as well as material.