Shōren-in

Front yard in Shinden

Shōren-in (青蓮院) is a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Also known as the Awata Palace, it was built in the late 13th century.

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. The main hall was rebuilt in 1895.

The tempole complex contains a garden with massive eight-hundred year old camphor trees (kusonoki), and a pond filled with large stones and fed by a small waterfall.

Since it seems bypassed by most tour groups it is one of the better- kept secrets of Kyoto.

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)

External links

35°00′26″N 135°47′00″E