Kennin-ji Temple (Fujin Raijin-zu,location,history)

Kennin-ji Temple, Fujin Raijin-zu

The information about Kennin-ji Temple is presented here. Kennin-ji Temple is located on the south side of Gion, one of Kyoto’s most famous and prosperous Hanamachi (Kagai) districts. The area south of Shijo-dori in Gion used to be the precinct of Kennin-ji Temple, but after the Meiji Restoration, it became government land by the Agechi-rei. Later, Hanamikoji-dori was developed and became became the foundation of present-day Gion.

【Kennin-ji Temple Location Map & Directions】

Address: 584 Komatsu-cho Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Higashiyama Yasui bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Gion bus stop (about 7 minutes on foot), Keihan Gion-Shijo Station (about 7 minutes on foot), Hankyu Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (about 12 minutes on foot)

【Opening Hours & Closed (confirmation required)】

Opening Hours: 10:00~16:30
Closed: open year round

【Entrance Fees & Tickets (confirmation required)】

Individual: Adults 600 yen, High School and Junior High School Students 300 yen, Elementary School Students 200 yen

【Kennin-ji Temple History】

The site where Kennin-ji Temple (建仁寺) is built was under the direct control of the Kamakura Shogunate, in close proximity to the Kamakura Shogunate’s Rokuhara-Tandai. Kennin-ji Temple was founded in 1202 by Minamoto no Yorie, the 2nd Shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate, who donated the temple grounds, and Eisai, the founder of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, who modeled the temple after the Hakujozan Temple in So (China). The name of “Kennin-ji” was given the imperial permission by the 83rd Emperor Tsuchimikado, making it the first Nengoji temple as a Zen temple. Kennin-ji Temple was named after the era name “Kennin (1201-1204)”. Initially, Kennin-ji Temple offered study of the three sects (Tendai, Mikkyo, and Zen sect), and also had two sub-temples of Shingon sect and Shikan sect. In 1205, Kennin-ji Temple became a government temple. It is said that Dogen, the founder of the Soto sect, met Eisai at Kennin-ji Temple in 1214 before going to So (China). Eisai is said to have died at Kennin-ji Temple in 1215. It is said that Kennin-ji Temple was destroyed by fire in 1246, 1247, and 1256 and fell into disrepair. In 1258, Shoichi-kokushi Enni, the founder of Tofuku-ji Temple, became the 10th head monk and restored the temple complex and revived Kennin-ji Temple. In 1259, Rankei Doryu, a Zen monk from So (China) and founder of Kencho-ji Temple in Kamakura, entered the temple and became the 11th head monk of Kennin-ji Temple, which is said to have changed from the study of the three sects (Tendai, Mikkyo, and Zen sect) to the Zen dojo. It is said that Zen manners and rules were strictly enforced at Kennin-ji Temple, and that this was the origin of the “Kenninji-no-gakumondura (the academic of Kennin-ji Temple)”. In 1265, Rankei Doryu changed the name of the temple from “Kenninji (建仁寺)” to “Kenneiji (建寧寺)”. In 1305, Hojo was rebuilt. In 1334, the 96th Emperor Go-Daigo, the 1st of the Southern Court, ranked Kennin-ji Temple 2nd among the Kyoto Gozan (Five Sacred Temples). In 1340, when Sasaki Doyo burned down Myoho-in Temple, Kaizando, Rinzo and Zuiho-an, sub-temple, were destroyed. In 1341, the Muromachi Shogunate ranked Kennin-ji Templei 4th among the Kyoto Gozan (Five Sacred Temples). In 1342, the name of the temple was changed back to “Kenninji (建仁寺)”. In 1363, Seizan Jiei lived at Kennin-ji Temple and built Hato. In 1386, Ashikaga Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate, ranked Kennin-ji Temple 3rd among the Kyoto Gozan (Five Sacred Temples). In 1397, Kennin-ji Temple was destroyed by fire. In 1419, the “Kenninji Shikiho” and “Sanmon Jojokishiki” were enacted. In the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573), Kennin-ji Temple was destroyed by fire during the Onin War (1467-1477). It was also destroyed by fire in 1481. In 1552, the temple buildings such as Butsuden, Hojo, Hoto, and the sub-temple of Kennin-ji Temple were destroyed by the military fire of Miyoshi Nagayoshi and Hosokawa Harumoto. It is said that in 1586 , Toyotomi Hideyoshi donated 820 koku of temple land to Kennin-ji Temple. In 1599, Ankokuji Ekei, the 224th head monk, moved Hojo from Ankoku-ji Temple in Hiroshima to Kennin-ji Temple and rebuilt Hojo. In 1606, Sanko Shoeki entered the temple and became the 295th head monk. In 1614, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the 1st Shogun of the Edo Shogunate, guaranteed Kennin-ji Temple of its 820 koku of temple land. In 1628, Yokushitu was rebuilt by Sanko Shoeki. A memorial service was held for the statue of Eisai, which was newly carved in 1664. In addition, Kaizanto (pagoda) from the previous year was repaired to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Eisai’s death. In 1669, Shoro (bell tower) was built to the northeast of Butsuden. After the Meiji Restoration, due to the separation of Shinto and Buddhism and the Haibutsukisha, sub-temples were consolidated and the remaining land was given to the government, reducing the precincts by almost half. The number of sub-temples was reduced from 34 to 14. The first Kyoto Exposition was held in 1872, and it was the venue along with Nishi Hongan-ji Temple and Chion-in Temple.
*reference・・・Kennin-ji Temple website

【Kennin-ji Temple Highlights (May be undisclosed)】

★Fujin Raijin-zu (風神雷神図, National Treasure) was originally commissioned by the wealthy merchant Uda Kinori to the painter Tawaraya Sotatsu to commemorate the revival of Myoko-ji Temple, a branch temple of the Kennin-ji School. Fujin Raijin-zu were dedicated to Myoko-ji Temple around 1639, but were later donated by Myoko-ji Temple in 1829. Fujin Raijin-zu is now in the possession of the Kyoto National Museum from Kennin-ji Temple, and can only be seen in the form of a folding screen and a ceramic reproduction.
★Hojo (方丈, Important Cultural Property) was built in 1487 as Hojo of Ankoku-ji Temple in Hiroshima, and was moved to Kennin-ji Temple in 1599 by Ankokuji Ekei, a warrior and monk of the Rinzai sect. Hojo houses the statue of the eleven-faced Kannon, which was donated by Tofukumonin (Tokugawa Masako), wife of the 108th Emperor Go-Mizunoo.
★Hato (法堂) was rebuilt in 1765. Hato houses the statue of Shaka Nyorai, Kasho-sonja and Anan-sonja on the Shumidan. Hato has a mirrored ceiling with the ceiling painting “Soryu-zu” by the Japanese painter Koizumi Junsaku. Hato is about 24 meters long and about 19.4 meters wide, and “Soryu-zu” is about 11.4 meters long and about 15.7 meters wide.
建仁寺見どころ (Kennin-ji Temple Highlights)

【Events (confirmation required)】

★Kuwa-no-hi Forum (Mulberry Day Forum) is held every September. Kuwa-no-hi Forum comes from the fact that Eisai is said to have introduced tea and mulberry from So (China) about 800 years ago. At Kuwa-no-hi Forum, a memorial service is held in front of the Mulberry Monument, and a dance is dedicated by maiko and geiko from Gion Higashi (Hanamachi district).

【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】

★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is around early April. Somei Yoshino, Weeping Cherry, Kawazu-zakura, and other cherry trees are planted, and it is said that the scenery of cherry blossoms, Hato, San-mon Gate, Hojo-chi, Kita-mon Gate, and Hei (fence) is beautiful.
★The best time to see peonies (牡丹) is from late April to early May. A wide variety of colorful peonies are planted around Hato, and it is said that the scenery of the peonies and Kato-mado window of Hato is beautiful.
(The best time to see the plants depends on the climate of the year.)

【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】

Tel: +81-75-561-6363

【Recommended Walking Route】

The recommended walking route from Kennin-ji Temple is via Gion (Hanamachi district) to Yasaka Shrine, which is located to the northeast. Yasaka Shrine is the origin of the name of Gion area and is visited by many domestic and foreign tourists. By the way, there are many restaurants in Gion, and it may be a good idea to enjoy some food and drink before going to Yasaka Shrine.

【Remarks(access, parking, disclaimer, etc)】
If you plan to visit Kennin-ji Temple, be sure to check the latest information.

京都観光おすすめ

  1. 錦市場(Nishiki Market)
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