Yukio Mishima's acclaimed novel, The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, delves into the mind of Mizoguchi, a stammering, insecure acolyte at Kyoto's historic Kinkaku-ji. Haunted by a perceived ugliness and his own profound sense of alienation, Mizoguchi develops a complex, destructive obsession with the temple's sublime beauty. His infatuation spirals into a nihilistic desire to destroy what he loves most, culminating in a shocking act of arson. This profound exploration of beauty, despair, and the human psyche remains one of Mishima's most iconic and disturbing works, reflecting post-war Japan's spiritual turmoil and the protagonist's descent into madness.