Shōren-in
Shōren-in (青蓮院) is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan.
| Shōren-in (青蓮院) | |
|---|---|
 Front yard in Shinden | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Location | |
| Location | Kyoto |
| Country | Japan |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 13th Century |
History
It was built in the late 13th century. Shinran Shonin, the founder of the Jodo Shinshu pure land sect, was ordained a monk at Shōren-in at the age of nine.
Shōren-in was formerly the temple of the imperial abbot of the Tendai headquarters on Mount Hiei; the abbot was required to be chosen from the imperial family or high court aristocracy. After the Great Kyoto Fire of 1788, it was used as a temporary imperial palace for Empress Go-Sakuramachi. It was therefore also known as the Awata Palace. Her study room was converted into a tea room called Kobun-tei.[1] The main hall was rebuilt in 1895.
The temple complex contains a garden with massive eight-hundred-year-old camphor trees (kusunoki), and a pond filled with large stones and fed by a small waterfall.
The modern artist Hideki Kimura created a number of fusuma sliding doors with blue lotus motifs to evoke the Pure Land.[2][3][4]
References
See also
- For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism.
- List of National Treasures of Japan (paintings)
- Gran Turismo 5 - Shorenin
Apparent to Photo Travel.
External links
Media related to Shōren-in at Wikimedia Commons