Shōren-in
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 temple 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.
Location
Shōren-in is located a short distance south of the Higashiyama Station on the subway, and is just to the north of the vast Chion-in temple.
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 / 35.007311°N 135.783197°E
 | This article about a Japanese building- or structure-related topic is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Kyoto Prefecture location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This Buddhism-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |