Kennin-ji Temple (Eisai) - Kyoto's Oldest Zen Temple - Treasures Galore

Hello♪
Nara Yamatochahere🍀.

I visited Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto on a warm, sunny day.

This is the place that houses Tawaraya Sotatsu's "Wind God and Thunder God" folding screens (the original is here) and Kaiho Yusho's sliding door paintings, "Cloud Dragon" (reproduction).

Did you know that dragon paintings are often seen on the ceilings of Zen temple dharma halls and Buddha halls?

When I looked into it, I found that dragons are said to convey the teachings of Buddha, and painting a dragon on the ceiling signifies "bringing down the rain of the Dharma (teachings)" for the monks in training.

I had visited Kencho-ji Temple in Kamakura before, so I compared the ceiling paintings.

Hmm!? They look similar.
Once more,

When I looked it up, I found they were both painted by the same contemporary artist, Mr. Koizumi.

In the 800-year history of Kennin-ji, the Twin Dragons painting, which had never been depicted on the ceiling before, seems to be the first ceiling painting of its kind.


On the other hand, the sliding door paintings are by Kaiho Yusho from the Azuchi-Momoyama period, but the ones at Kennin-ji are high-definition reproductions.

Although the originals escaped damage during a collapse caused by a typhoon, they are kept at the Kyoto National Museum for preservation.

There are many other highlights at Kennin-ji.

Former Prime Minister Hosokawa seems to have a deep connection with Kennin-ji.

The connection with the Hosokawa family seems to have continued since the Edo period, with the guest hall being rebuilt by Hosokawa Sansai (Hosokawa Tadaoki), the head of the Hosokawa family who was also known as a tea master.

After retiring from politics, Morihiro Hosokawa has been active as a potter and painter, and has donated sliding door paintings to Kennin-ji and its sub-temple, Shoden Eigen-in.

Also, when I got home and looked at the pamphlet, I found that my discoveries and learning were still continuing.

It seems to symbolize the four great elements of Zen Buddhism (earth, water, fire, and wind) using the square (earth), circle (water), and triangle (fire).

Reading through the pamphlet allowed me to learn these things as well. The more I know, the more I want to find out.

Kennin-ji is a very large temple, with rooms arranged to surround the gardens.
Thank you for watching until the end♪
Nara Yamatocha🍀 here.

If you buy a Goshuin-cho here, they will write in it directly for you.
The Goshuin-cho with direct calligraphy was even more gorgeous. 🥲

This is an 'oki-gaki' (a pre-written or printed version). 🥲