Shoden Eigen-in Temple(正伝永源院) is a Tatchu (sub temple) of Kennin-ji Temple located in Higashiyama-ku Ward, Kyoto City.
Kennin-ji temple had more than 50 sub temples in the old days.
However, because of haibutsu-kishaku(廃仏毀釈) which is a movement to abolish Buddhism in the Meiji period, it has only 14 sub temples now.
This temple is one of the affected temples of haibutsu-kishaku(廃仏毀釈).
Originally this temple was two different temples.
One is Shoden-in Temple(正伝院) which was built in the Kamakura period, and was the family temple of Nagamasu ODA(Urakusai)(織田長益(有楽斎)).
The other is Eigen-an Temple(永源庵) which was built in the Nanboku-cho period, and was the family temple of the “Hosokawa clan(細川氏)” which is a Japanese prestigious family following from the Kamakura period.
Shoden-in Temple(正伝院) and Eigen-an Temple(永源庵) were merged in the midst of the chaos of haibutsu-kishaku(廃仏毀釈), and this temple was born.
This temple is only open to the public on specific days in spring (Late March – Early May) and autumn (Early November – Early December).
In the precincts of this temple, in spring, we can see a beautiful azalea.
And, in autumn, we can see a beautiful autumn leaves.
Contents:
- Honzan (Head Temple) of this temple
- History of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
- About Shoden Eigen-in Temple
- Information for visitors
- Highlights of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
- Photos of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
- Goshuin of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
- How to get to Shoden Eigen-in Temple
- Hotel search & reservation around Shoden Eigen-in Temple
1.Honzan (Head Temple) of this temple
The head temple of Shoden Eigen-in Temple is ‘Kennin-ji Temple(建仁寺)‘.
↓Details of Kennin-ji Temple is here.↓
Kennin-ji Temple(建仁寺), located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, is the headquarters of the Rinzai sect Kennin-ji School of Zen Buddhism.
The temples of the Rinzai sect have two formality which are called ‘Kyoto Gozan’ and ‘Kamakura Gozan’.
Kennin-ji Temple is the third of the Kyoto Gozan (Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto) and the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto.
2.History of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
Let’s study the history of this temple with me before introducing Shoden Eigen-in Temple.
I think that we can enjoy the sightseeing of Shoden Eigen-in Temple more by learning the history of this temple.(○´艸｀)
Originally this temple was two different temples called ‘Shoden-in(正伝院)‘ and ‘Eigen-an(永源庵)‘.
(Both temples were sub temples of Kennin-ji Temple.)
Shoden-in Temple was built in the Kamakura period(鎌倉時代), and was the family temple of Nagamasu ODA(Urakusai)(織田長益(有楽斎) who was a true younger brother of Nobunaga ODA(織田信長) who was the hero in the Sengoku period.
He was highly renowned as a master of tea ceremony.
(He was learned the tea ceremony from Sen no Rikyu(千利休), and is counted among Rikyu’s ten disciples(利休十哲).)
Uraku school(有楽流) is one of the various schools of sado started by Nagamasu ODA(Urakusai).
Eigen-an Temple was built in the Nanboku-cho period(南北朝時代), and was the family temple of the Hosokawa clan(細川氏) which is a Japan’s prestigious family following from the Kamakura period(鎌倉時代).
By the way, Morihiro HOSOKAWA(細川護熙) who was the 79th Prime Minister of Japan is a member of the the Hosokawa clan(細川氏).
Why these two temples became one temple?
The reason of it was haibutsu-kishaku(廃仏毀釈) in the Meiji period(明治時代).
These two temples were decided to be demolished by this movement.
Therefore, all the land and the buildings which Shoden-in had have been sold.
Moreover, the sale gain was confiscated by the Meiji government.
Among such buildings, there was also the tea-ceremony house called ‘Jo-an(如庵) (National Treasure)’.
However, this tea-ceremony house was not dismantled miraculously.
And, now, it was relocated to ‘Uraku-en Garden(有楽苑)’ in Aichi prefecture.
So, Jo-an(如庵) which is in this temple now is a replica.
However, luckily, ‘Eigen-an’ was in the due north of Kennin-ji Temple(建仁寺).
Because the north is an unlucky direction in Japan from old days, ‘Eigen-an’ was not demolished.
And afterwards, Shoden-in which has ruined because of Haibutsu-kishaku joined Eigen-an.
3.About Shoden Eigen-in Temple
Open：10:00-17:00
Admission Fee：500 yen(Adult),300 yen(Junior high school / high school student)
Address：586, Komatsucho, Higashiyama-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto, 605-0811, Japan
Phone Number：+81-75‐531-0200
Foundation：Kamakura period(鎌倉時代):Shoden-in, Nanboku-cho period(南北朝時代):Eigen-an
Founder：Gio-Shonin(義翁紹仁):Shoden-in, Mugai-Ninko(無涯仁浩):Eigen-an
Sect：Rinzai sect Kennin-ji School
Principal image：Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni)
Shoden Eigen-in Temple(正伝永源院) is a Tatchu (sub temple) of Kennin-ji Temple located in Higashiyama-ku Ward, Kyoto City.
This temple is only open to the public on specific days in spring (Late March – Early May) and autumn (Early November – Early December).
Originally this temple was two different temples called ‘Shoden-in’ and ‘Eigen-an’.
This temple is the family temple of Nagamasu ODA(Urakusai)(織田長益(有楽斎).
Next, let’s see the highlight of this Temple!!
4.Information for visitors
・Only open to the public on specific days in spring (Late March – Early May) and autumn (Early November – Early December).
・Photography and video recording are prohibited inside the building of this temple.
Let’s follow a rule.
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5.Highlights of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
- 庫裏*:Kuri (monks’ living quarters)*
- 鐘楼*:Shoro (bell tower)*
- 織田有楽斎の墓*:The grave of Urakusai ODA*
- 方丈*:Hojo*
- 日本庭園*:Japanese garden*
- 正伝如庵*:Shoden-Joan*
- 鎮守社*:Chinju-sha shrine*
「*印」のついている見どころは有料エリアです。(This seal (*) is a pay area.)
●庫裏*:Kuri (monks’ living quarters)*
There is the Kuri (monks’ living quarters) when I enter at an entrance.
●鐘楼*:Shoro (bell tower)*
The Shoro (bell tower) is built on the side of the Kuri.
●織田有楽斎の墓*:The grave of Urakusai ODA*
There is a grave of Nagamasu ODA‘s family on the approach to the temple of the precincts.
This temple is also the family temple of the “Hosokawa clan(細川氏)“.
●方丈*:Hojo*
This is the Hojo which is the main hall of this temple.
This building was built in 1633 of the Edo period(江戸時代).
There is a tea room at the rear of this building.
We can drink green tea (800 yen) here.
Both signboards of ‘Shoden-in’ and ‘Eigen-an’ are hung out in the building.
There is a fusuma picture named ‘Renro-zu(蓮鷺図:Picture of a lotus and a heron)’ which was drawn by Sanraku KANO(狩野山楽) in this building.
●日本庭園*:Japanese garden*
This is a front garden of the Hojo.
In the precincts of this temple, in spring, we can see a beautiful azalea.
And, in autumn, we can see a beautiful autumn leaves.
It is very calm space.
Time slowly passes…
●正伝如庵*:Shoden-Joan*
This is a replica building of Jo-an(如庵) which is designated as the National Treasure.
(This building was restored in 1996.)
The original was relocated to ‘Uraku-en Garden(有楽苑)’ in Aichi prefecture.
●鎮守社*:Chinju-sha shrine*
This is a Chinju-sha shrine.
Jinushigami(地主神:the deity associated with the local area) is worshiped here.
6.The photos of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
■Flickr:Photo of Shoden Eigen-in Temple (20161201)
7.Goshuin of Shoden Eigen-in Temple
This Temple’s Sumigaki(The words which was written with a sumi(black ink)) is ‘如庵(Jo-an)‘ which is the name of the tea house of this temple.
We can get this at the entrance reception.
8.How to get to Shoden Eigen-in Temple
How to get to Shoden Eigen-in Temple is as follows.
The nearest station of Shoden Eigen-in Temple is “Keihan Gion-Shijo Station” or “Hankyu Kawaramachi Station”
(We can also go by bus from “JR Kyoto Station”.)
■Route Example (From Osaka Station to Keihan Gion Shijo Station)
■Route Example (From Namba Station to Keihan Gion Shijo Station)
■Route Example (From Kyoto Station to Keihan Gion Shijo Station)
■When you go on foot from Keihan Gion-Shijo Station
It’s about 8 minutes (500m) on foot.
■When you get on a bus from JR Kyoto Station
Timetable and Route Search of bus
[Timetable]Route No.206
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.206[Bound for Gion Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple or Kitaoji Bus Terminal Via Daitokuji Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[D2]
Alighting bus stop：Higashiyama Yasui
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 20 min
■When you take a taxi
Let’s show a taxi driver the following phrase.
From Kyoto Station：1,410 yen ~ 1,680 yen (about 15 minutes)
From Gion-Shijo Station：610 yen ~ 640 yen (about 3 minutes)(You’d better go on foot.)
9.Hotel search & reservation around Shoden Eigen-in Temple
How did you like it?
Please try to go.
Have a nice trip! XD
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