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Tenryuji Temple

Pond Views of Four Seasons

Located at the foot of Arashiyama Mountain in Kyoto, Tenryuji Temple is the head temple of the Tenryuji school of Rinzai Buddhism and was built to worship Emperor Goudaigo. Tenryuji Temple is now home to the Dharma Hall, Abbot's Quarters, Hall of Many Treasures, and the Sogen Pond, which has been designated as a Special Place of Scenic Beauty of Japan.

Located at the foot of Arashiyama Mountain in Kyoto, Tenryuji Temple 天龍寺 is the head temple of the Tenryuji school of Rinzai Buddhism in Japan. The temple was formerly the Imperial Palace of the Emperor Go-Saga, and was founded in 1339 by shogun Ashikaga Takauji to appease The Spirit of Emperor Go-Daigo. Tenryuji Temple is ranked number one among the Five Zen Mountains in Kyoto.

Manywhere Trivia:
Famous places such as Arashiyama and Togetsukyo Bridge used to be part of Tenryuji Temple.

Tenryuji Temple was basically built in the layout of the Seven Halls of Garan 伽藍七堂. The existing Dharma Hall, Abbot’s Quarters, and Living Quarters 庫裏 (Kuri) are all among the seven halls.

The Dharma Hall 法堂 (Hatto) is facing the east gate of Tenryuji Temple and is the place where the monks of the temple teach sutras. The ceiling of the Hall of Dharma has a famous Painting of Cloud Dragon by the Japanese painter Kayama Matazo, and is considered to be a great treasure of Tenryuji Temple.

Bamboo Forest

The Abbot's Quarters 方丈 (Hojos) behind the Dharma Hall was built in 1899 and is the largest building in Tenryuji. The Large Hojo 大方丈 has three rooms inside and three rooms outside, and the hall is dedicated to the statue of Sakyamuni, which is said to have been made in the Heian period of Japan and to have survived the eight fires in the history of Tenryuji. The study hall on the side of the abbot’s room is mainly used for temple events, and is also called Small Hojo 小方丈 for visitors to rest.

Manywhere Trivia:
While many temples in Japan have unique styles of painted images of Dharma, the large screen of Dharma at the entrance to Tenryuji is one of the most famous.

The scenery in Tenryuji Temple varies throughout the year, especially in spring and autumn when cherry blossoms and red leaves are in bloom. You can enjoy the sea of flowers by the Sogen Pond 曹源池 next to the Abbot’s Chamber or inside the Hyakka'en Garden 百花苑 in the north side of the temple.