Hōsen-in
35°44′28.1940″N 139°16′37.6896″E / 35.741165000°N 139.277136000°E
| Hōsen-in 宝泉院 | |
|---|---|
| Website | |
| http://www.hosenin.net/ |
Hōsen-in (宝泉院) is a temple of the Tendai-shū, located in Sakyō-ku of Kyoto-shi, in the prefecture of Kyoto. It is specified as a natural monument by the Kyoto government.
History
It was built in 1012 under the reign of Emperor Sanjō in the imperial year Chōwa 2. Its original purpose was to serve as temple quarters for priests from the nearby Shōrin'in temple.
Structure
One of the rooms features a blood stained ceiling that was originally a floorpiece from Fushimi Castle. The blood is from Torii Mototada, Tokugawa Ieyasu's retainer, and several hundred other men who committed seppuku when they and the castle they were garrisoned in were about to be overrun by Ishida Mitsunari's forces during the Sekigahara Campaign. This act allowed for Tokugawa Ieyasu to escape with his life, and live to unify Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate. Thus, Torii Mototada's act of valor is being honored by having the bloody floorpiece serve as a piece of Hōsen-in.
Visiting
At the entrance, along with paying the fee, guests are given a ticket that can be used for refreshments at the end. Guests are passed through a washitsu featuring such sights including a five-leafed pine. This temple also features a garden called Hōrakuen, or "Treasure Paradise" At the end, the refreshments ticket can be exchanged for green tea and some light snacks.