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Temples & Shrines

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Tenryu-ji, "Temple of the Heavenly Dragon," got its name after Emperor Go-Daigo's death from a priest who dreamed of a dragon rising from the river, which lies south of the temple. Zazen (sitting meditation) is held every 2nd Sunday from 9-10am

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Main temple of the Rinzai sect Tenryuji School. The Emperor Go-Daigo (1288-1339) and his family had used the site as a villa, but upon his passing, in 1339 shogun Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) converted the retreat to a zen temple in order to preserve his memory. Zen master and famous landscaper Muso Soseki (1257-1351) was selected as head abbot. At the time this was the greatest of five main temples in Kyoto. Tenryu-ji, "Temple of the Heavenly Dragon," got its name after Emperor Go-Daigo's death from a priest who dreamed of a dragon rising from the river which lies south of the temple. Tenryu-ji has been devastated by no less than eight fires since it was originally built. Most of the present structures date back only to the Meiji period (1868–1912). of Nikko Hensho Bodhisattva (All-Illuminating Sunlight). However, the Sogenchi landscape garden is one of the oldest in Japan, and retains the same design as when it was designed by Muso Soseki in the fourteenth century. A painting of a dragon in clouds by Matazo Kayama was placed on the ceiling of the Hatto (Lecture Hall/with special open) in 1997. Zazen (sitting meditation) is held every 2nd Sunday from 9-10am. It is free, and a reservation is not necessary. An hour-long lecture follows meditation.