Located south of Kyoto’s famous Gion district, Kenninji Temple is one of the oldest Zen Temples in Kyoto. Established in 1202 by Yousai, who is the founder of the tea ceremony and also known as Eisai, Kenninji Temple draws many visitors year after year.
About Kenninji Temple
Kenninji Temple is one of the many temples of the Zen Sect, considered one of the main branches of Buddhism. Specifically belonging to the Rinzai tradition, Kenninji Temple was home to many prestigious abbots and now houses several National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
What to See and Do
While the grounds of Kenninji Temple are smaller than those of the other major temples in Kyoto, they have very unique treasures and gardens, the most popular being the Wind and Thunder Gods painting created by Tawaraya Sotatsu.
Drawn on two folding screens, with a golden background, it depicts the images of Fujin the wind god of the Shinto religion, and Raijin, the god of thunder and lightning. Intricately painted, they represent one of the most commonly known forms of the gods.
Another painting that can be found at Kenninji Temple is the Twin Dragons. This painting commemorates the 800-year anniversary of Kenninji Temple’s founding an was installed in the temple in 2002.
The painting itself measures 11.4 meters by 15.7 meters and was actually created in an elementary school gymnasium in Hokkaido and took the artist almost two years to complete before being moved to its location at Kenninji.
There are also two main gardens, the Chouontei Garden and the ○△□ Garden, which is translated as the Circle Triangle Square Garden. The Chouontei Garden has a San-zon-seki which consists of three stones that represent Buddha, and two Zen monks, and a Zazen-seki stone to sit on for mediation.
The Circle Triangle Square Garden represents the concept that all things in the universe are created from these three basic shapes, as well as being based on the calligraphic work of Sengai Gibon.
History
At over 800 years old, Kenninji Temple is the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto. Over the passage of time, the temple was the victim of fires and it was rebuilt once with the help of the Zen master Enni, and once more with the assistance of the Tofukuji Temple.
As such, many of the surviving buildings on the Kenninji Temple premises only date back to the 1500s and 1700s.
The Kenninji Temple Tea Ceremony
As Yousai was the one who introduced tea drinking tea to Japan, it comes as no surprise that a special place is set aside at Kenninji Temple for tea. The Toyo-bo Teahouse is located in the temple precincts and was famous for holding a tea ceremony for Hideyoshi Toyotomi in 1587.
Though small in size, it is an important historic structure, and it is open for special tea ceremonies on the 5th of every month.
Opening Hours and Admission
General worshipping hours at Kenninji Temple are from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm from March 1st until October 31st. From November 1st until February 28th, the temple is open from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing for both seasons.
General admission to the temple is 500 yen for adults and 300 yen for middle school students. Kenninji Temple is easy to get to, being only a five-minute walk from Gion-Shijo station and is located just south of the popular geisha district of Gion.
Information
- Name: Kenninji Temple
- Street address: 584 Komatsucho, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture 605-0811
- Access: A 5-minute walk from Gion-Shijo on the Keihan Main Line
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