Bishamon-do Shorin-ji Temple(毘沙門堂 勝林寺) of the Tofuku-ji school of the Rinzai sect, located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, and is tatchu (sub-temple) of Tofuku-ji Temple(東福寺).
Bishamonten(毘沙門天) who is the god protecting “the north” that is the Kimon (鬼門:unlucky direction) in Japan.
He is the god with the divine favor of the victory.
So, Kenshin UESUGI(上杉謙信) who was one of the strongest daimyo in the Sengoku period(戦国時代) also believed him.
In this temple, Bishamonten is known to be enshrined.
Because this temple is a very small temple, there is only a Hon-do hall(本堂) in the precincts.
However, Bishamonten enshrined in this temple is very excellent.
That statue is as large as life. (Approximately 145.7cm in height))
The statue of Bishamonten is only open to the public on specific days in spring, autumn and New Year holidays.
In addition, some experience of the Zen meditation and Sutra copying is carried out every day at this temple.
(If you want to have these experience, let’s make a reservation beforehand.)
And, because this temple publishes the ‘goshuin(御朱印)‘ of the different design every season, it is also known as a sacred place of the goshuin.
Contents:
- Honzan (Head Temple) of this temple
- History of Shorin-ji Temple
- About Shorin-ji Temple
- Information for visitors
- Highlights of Shorin-ji Temple
- Photos of Shorin-ji Temple
- Goshuin (Stamp of temple) of Shorin-ji Temple
- How to get to Shorin-ji Temple
- Hotel search & reservation around Shorin-ji Temple
1.Honzan (Head Temple) of this temple
↓The details of Tofuku-ji Temple is here.↓
Tofuku-ji Temple(東福寺), situated in Hommachi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, is the head temple of the Rinzai sect Tofuku-ji School of Zen Buddhism.
The temples of the Rinzai sect have two formality which are called ‘Kyoto Gozan’ and ‘Kamakura Gozan’.
This Temple is the fourth grade of Kyoto Gozan (Five Great Zen Temples of Kyoto).
2.History of Shorin-ji Temple
Let’s study the history of this temple with me before introducing Shorin-ji Temple.
I think that we can enjoy the sightseeing of Shorin-ji Temple more by learning the history of this temple.(○´艸｀)
This temple was founded in 1550 of the Muromachi period(室町時代) by Reisho KOGAKU(高岳令松) who was the 205th chief priest of Tofuku-ji Temple.
Why is Bishamonten(毘沙門天) being enshrined in this temple?
In the first place, what kind of god is he?
This time, let’s learn with me about Shitenno (Four Guardian Kings of the Buddhism) that is closely related of this temple.
In Buddhism(仏教), there is Taishakuten(帝釈天:Sakra) who are protecting Buddhism and four guardian kings called ‘Shitenno(四天王)’ who assist Taishakuten(Sakra).
They take a role to protect a different direction each.
Jikokuten (持国天:Dhrtarastra) who guards the east.
Komokuten (広目天:Virupaksa) who guards the west.
Zochoten (増長天:Virudhaka) who guards the south.
Tamonten (多聞天:Vaisravana) who guards the north.
Um…Where did Bishamonten go??
In fact, Tamonten(多聞天) and Bishamonten(毘沙門天) are same God.
Among Shitenno, only Tamonten may be enshrined alone.
In the case of it, Tamonten is called Bishamonten.
(Other Shitenno can’t be worshiped alone.)
Therefore, the temple to enshrine only Bishamonten which is called ‘Bishamon-do(毘沙門堂)’ exists, but the temple to enshrine only other Shitenno does not exist in Japan.
Then why did only Bishamonten come to be enshrined particularly alone?
It is because the north that he protects is the Kimon (鬼門:unlucky direction).
Only Bishamonten came to be enshrined alone to protect us from this unlucky direction.
In addition, in Japan, Kenshin UESUGI(上杉謙信) who was one of the strongest daimyo during the Sengoku period(戦国時代) was said to be a reincarnation of Bishamonten.
So, in Japan, He is particularly popular in Shitenno.
This temple is located in the direction of “the north” that is the Kimon (鬼門:unlucky direction) of Tofuku-ji Temple which is Honzan (本山:main temple) of this temple.
Therefore, Bishamonten who protects the north is enshrined in this temple and is also called ‘Bishamonten of Tofuku-ji Temple’
3.About Shorin-ji Temple
Open：Varies according to season and visit contents.
Admission Fee：Varies according to season and visit contents.
Address：15-795 Honmachi, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, JAPAN 605-0981
Phone number：+81-75‐561-4311
Foundation：1550
Founder：Reisho KOGAKU(高岳令松)
Sect：Rinzai sect Tofuku-ji School
Principal image：Bishamonten(毘沙門天)
Bishamon-do Shorin-ji Temple(毘沙門堂 勝林寺) of the Tofuku-ji school of the Rinzai sect, located in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, and is tatchu (sub-temple) of Tofuku-ji Temple(東福寺).
Bishamonten who protects the north is enshrined in this temple.
The statue of Bishamonten is only open to the public on specific days in spring, autumn and New Year holidays.
Next, let’s see the highlight of this Temple!!
4.Information for visitors
・The statue of Bishamonten is only open to the public on specific days in spring, autumn and New Year holidays.
(Groups of more than 8 people can view it by appointment at other times throughout the year.)
・The experience of Zen meditation and Sutra copying is carried out every day at this temple.
(If you want to have these experience, let’s make a reservation beforehand.)
・Photography and video recording are prohibited inside the building of this temple.
Let’s follow a rule.
5.Highlights of Shorin-ji Temple
- 本堂*:Hon-do hall (Main temple)*
- 本堂前庭*:Hon-do Front garden*
- 嘯月庭*:Shogetsu-tei Garden*
- 勝林寺の紅葉*:Autumn leaves of Shorin-ji Temple*
「*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.)
●本堂*:Hon-do hall (Main temple)*
This is the Hon-do hall (mail temple).
Because the Konoe family(近衛家) which was the head of Gosekke (五摂家:five Sekke regent families) was one of the supporters of this temple, this building originally belonged to the Konoe family.
●本堂前庭*:Hon-do Front garden*
It is small, but there is a beautiful garden on the front of the Hon-do hall.
A front garden to look at from the Hondo- hall.
●嘯月庭*:Shogetsu-tei Garden*
There is a Japanese rock garden(枯山水庭園) in the backside of the Hon-do hall.
This garden is also called Shogetsu-tei(嘯月庭).
(Shogetsu(嘯月) means this garden’s design which many tigers seem to bark towards the moon.)
●勝林寺の紅葉*:Autumn leaves of Shorin-ji Temple*
This temple is small, but is also known as a famous place of autumn leaves.
When it is autumn, the precincts turn red.
The maple tree which is planted on the front of the Hon-do hall is called ‘Kissho-momiji(吉祥紅葉)‘.
These green leaves turn red and yellow in autumn.
6.Photos of Shorin-ji Temple
■Flickr:Photo of Bishamon-do Shorin-ji Temple (20161130)
7.Goshuin (Stamp of temple) of Shorin-ji Temple
Because this temple publishes the ‘goshuin(御朱印)‘ of the different design every season, it is also known as a sacred place of the goshuin.
The information of the limited goshuin is posted on Facebook or Twitter.
I got the goshuin where ‘Bishamonten(毘沙門天)‘ of the principal idol of this temple was written.
8.How to get to Shorin-ji Temple
The nearest station of Shorin-ji Temple is ‘JR Tofuku-ji Station’ or ‘Keihan Tofuku-ji Station’.
(We can also go by bus from ‘JR Kyoto Station’, ‘Hankyu Kawaramachi Station’ and ‘Keihan Gion-Shijo Station’.)
■Route Example (From Osaka Station to JR Tofuku-ji Station)
■Route Example (From Namba Station to JR Tofuku-ji Station)
■Route Example (From Kyoto Station to JR Tofuku-ji Station)
■When you go on foot from JR Tofuku-ji Station
It’s about 12 minutes (600m) on foot.
■When you get on a bus from JR Kyoto Station
Timetable and Route Search of bus
[Timetable]Route No.208
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.208[Bound for Tofukuji Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[D2]
Alighting bus stop：Tofuku-ji Temple
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 15 min
[Timetable]Route No.88(Only available on weekends and holidays)
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.88[Bound for Tofukuji Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Kyoto Sta.[D2]
Alighting bus stop：Tofuku-ji Temple
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 15 min
■When you get on a bus from Hankyu Kawaramachi Station
Timetable and Route Search of bus
[Timetable]Route No.207
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.207[Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Kawaramachi[E]
Alighting bus stop：Tofuku-ji Temple
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 20 min
■When you get on a bus from Keihan Gion-Shijo Station
Timetable and Route Search of bus
[Timetable]Route No.207
Bus company：Kyoto City Bus
Routes/Destination：No.207[Bound for Tofukuji Temple Via Kiyomizu-dera Temple]
Boarding bus stop：Shijo Keihan-mae[A]
Alighting bus stop：Tofuku-ji Temple
Bus fare：230 yen
Time required：About 15 min
■When you take a taxi
From Tofuku-ji Station：610 yen ~ 640 yen (about 5 minutes)
From Kyoto Station：1,090 yen ~ 1,280 yen (about 12 minutes)
From Gion-Shijo Station：1,250 yen ~ 1,520 yen (about 15 minutes)
Let’s show a taxi driver the following phrase.
9.Hotel search & reservation around Shorin-ji Temple
How did you like it?
Please try to go to this temple.
Have a nice trip! XD
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