Tenryuji Temple in Kyoto

Tenryu-ji, the heavenly Dragon Temple, is the headquarters of the Tenryu sect of Rinzai Zen Buddhism in Japan. Ashikaga Takauji erected the temple, long back in 1339 to honor Gautama Buddha. Muso Soskice was appointed as the temple’s chief priest.
Situated in Susukinobaba-cho, Ukyo Ward in Kyoto it is regarded as the chief temple among Kyoto’s "Five Great Zen Temples".

Its connection with Japan’s royal Ashikaga family and Emperor Godaigo adds to its importance. In 1994, Tenryu-ji was included in the prestigious list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as one of the historic monuments in Japan’s ancient capital.

The temple’s spacious complex stretches over an area of around 330,000 square meters expanding all along to the present-day Katabira-no-Tsuji station on the Keifuku Railway.The temple suffered repeated devastations by fires and war over its history. The great fires plagued it in 1358, 1367, 1373, 1380, 1447 and 1467. The Onin War also ruined the temple in the subsequent period. The Hamaguri Rebellion in 1864 caused severe damage to the temple. The present structures of Tenryu-ji date back to the Meiji period.

Features

- Tenryuji's landscape garden was designed by Muso Soseki, the temple's founding abbot and renowned garden designer and is regarded as one of the oldest of its kind. The garden is a spectacular display of Zen style pond encircling the garden with Arashiyama and Kameyama ranges as its background. The large area of white sand that extends from the Dai-hojo to the pond named Sogen-chi, adds to its beauty. Initially constructed in Heian-style, the famous landscape garden of Tenryuji was later redesigned following the Zen architectural style. The most interesting feature of this garden is the dry waterfall which according to common belief, was a true waterfall running into the pond. The design of the flat, three –stone bridge facing the waterfall, is the first of its kind and later became a popular feature in all Zen rock gardens.

- In general, all the Zen temples were built following a particular style with the temple grounds facing south and major structures standing along the north-south axis. However Tenryu-ji's layout stands in sharp contrast with this general principle. Two gates, Chokushi Gate and Middle Gate guard the eastern boundary of the temple. From these gates the path to the temple is directed towards west. The path, which leads to the lecture hall, is lined with sub-temples. Several buildings like large abbey, the small abbey, the kitchen, the meditation hall and the Taho-den hall, stand behind the lecture hall of the temple.

- Chokushi, the one – story gate, was erected in yotsuashimon style. It is the oldest of all structures in Kyoto’s Tenryuji Temple complex.

- The centrally located teaching hall is a common feature of all Zen temples. Its ceiling is adorned with an elegant painting of a dragon, called Unryu-zu, created by famous painter Suzuki Shonen. An image of Gautama Buddha, with two guardians on both sides adds grandeur to the temple’s teaching ground.

- Tenryu-ji’s rich collection of cultural properties includes three spectacular portraits of Muso Soseki, and outstanding paintings of Avalokitesvara and Seiryo Hogen Zenji/Yunmen Daishi. Several instances and writings in the document archive, like Shanaingoryo-ezu, Okoshokyokanji-no-ezu, Oeikinmyo-ezu, Toryoeiyo-bakuseki and various compositions of Kitabatake Chikafusa are some of the greatest treasures owned by the temple.

How to Reach

The Keifuku Arashiyama terminal station is just a few steps away from Tenryuji temple in Kyoto. Arashiyama is linked with the Ryoanji/Kinkakuji area and Shijo-dori through the small Keifuku trains.
From the JR Saga-Arashiyama Station 5 minutes walk will take you to the Tenryuji temple. The frequent trains of the JR Sagano Line serve this rail route and it takes around 15 minutes to reach JR Saga-Arashiyama Station from the Kyoto Station.

The temple remains open from 8:30 to 17:30. However from November to March the temple hours end at 17:00.
Admission charged for entering into this temple is 500 Yen.

When you are on a trip to Kyoto, spend some time to visit the city’s famous Tenryuji temple.

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