Vol.3 Tenryu-ji Temple (purchase page sample)

Tenryu-ji Temple is the head temple of the Tenryu-ji school of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism.
This Zen temple was founded in 1339 by Ashikaga Takauji, who established the Muromachi Shogunate, in order to commemorate the soul of Emperor Go-Daigo, and invited the famous monk Muso Soseki to be its founder.
Due to its historical and cultural value, it was registered as one of the World Heritage Sites "Cultural Monuments of Ancient Kyoto" in 1994.

▽ Table of Contents
❶Idaten - Super athletes welcome you -

❷Unryu sliding door painting -Ancient trick art-
❸Sogenchi Garden - Garden time to relax with all five senses -
❹ Imperial Envoy Gate - The Formal Closed Door -
❺Gohonzon - A simple, heartfelt anchor

❶Idaten - Super athletes welcome you -

The statue of Idaten enshrined in front of the main hall is one of the guardian deities commonly seen in Zen temples.
In Buddhism, Idaten is the god who protects food and is often enshrined in the kitchen (kuri), and has been an object of worship in prayer for food safety and abundance.
The word "gochisou" (feast) is said to come from Idaten.
According to legend, the phrase originated from the god Idaten running around various places to gather food for Buddha, and from there it became established as a phrase to express "gratitude to those who prepare meals."
Another anecdote is that Idaten used his swift running to retrieve the teeth of Buddha that had been stolen by an ogre, which became the origin of the phrase "Idaten Hashiri." Since then, Idaten has been known as a god with great speed, and is also worshipped as a guardian deity against theft.

❷Unryu sliding door painting -Ancient trick art-

The sliding door painting of Tenryu-ji Temple, "Cloud Dragon," created in 1957, was painted by the artist Motugai Doujin.
Dojin Motoga is known as the only disciple of Tomioka Tessai, who is known as "the last literati painter."
The dragon depicted in this painting is a guardian deity that is one of the Eight Great Deities in Buddhism, and has been worshipped as a god of water since ancient times.
For this reason, they are often painted on the ceilings and sliding doors of temples with the hope of warding off fires.
The dragon on the sliding door uses a technique unique to Japanese painting called "reverse perspective," creating a visual effect in which the length of its face appears to change depending on the viewing angle and the direction it is walking.
This is an intentional manipulation of perspective and can be thought of as an ancient form of trick art.
The number of claws on a dragon also has meaning.
In China, the number of claws was a symbol of status, with emperors having five claws, aristocrats having four claws, and commoners having three claws.
Meanwhile, in Japan, three claws, which represent the three realms of "heaven, earth, and sea," are considered auspicious and are often depicted this way.
Another anecdote related to dragons is the legend of "Gekirin."
It is said that touching the inverted scales under a dragon's chin will make the dragon extremely angry, and from this the expression "touching a wrathful scale" was born, which means "to anger a superior."

❸Sogenchi Garden - Garden time to relax with all five senses -

The Sogenchi Garden, which spreads out in front of the main hall of Tenryu-ji Temple, is a stroll-style garden with a pond covering an area of approximately 4,000 square meters, and features a magnificent landscape with mountains such as Arashiyama and Kameyama in the background.
This garden was named after the stone monument bearing the inscription "Sogen Ichiteki" (One Drop of Sogen) that appeared when the temple's founder, Muso Kokushi, dredged the mud from the pond.
This is the first garden in Japan to be designated a "Special Place of Scenic Beauty," and was originally designed as a place to face nature while practicing zazen.
The pond symbolizes the ocean, and Zen philosophy and the Buddhist worldview are reflected throughout the garden.
The garden is packed with sights to see, including a sandbank with a striking white sand and green pine trees, strangely shaped rocks reminiscent of classical ink paintings, the three-tiered Ryumonbaku waterfall, one of the oldest stone bridges in Japan, and the Shaka Triad Stone.
There is also a waterfall rock formation associated with the legend of the "Gate to Success," and it is known as a space symbolizing trials and growth.

❹ Imperial Envoy Gate - The Formal Closed Door -

Located in front of the Daihojo, the Chokushimon Gate is a special gate that is only opened when the Emperor or members of the Imperial Family are visiting.
It is usually kept closed, and its silence gives it a sense of prestige.
This gate is classified as a "shikyakumon" gate, a traditional Japanese gate style.
This style, which consists of six pillars in total, including supporting pillars at the front and rear of the two main pillars, has long been used for the main gates of temples, shrines, samurai residences, and other buildings.
The roof is a triangular gabled roof and is currently covered with copper sheets.
The structure at the top is complex and has the strength and splendor seen in Momoyama period architecture.
It is said that this gate was originally the Imperial Palace gate of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and records show that it was bestowed upon Tenryu-ji Temple in 1641.

❺Gohonzon - A simple, heartfelt anchor

Enshrined in the center of the main hall of Tenryu-ji Temple is a seated statue of Shaka Nyorai created during the Heian period, which has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
It is approximately 85cm tall and made from cypress wood using the traditional technique of "yosegi-zukuri," which combines multiple pieces of wood.
The inside is hollowed out using a technique called "inner grooving," which is an effort to reduce weight and improve preservation.
There are still traces of gold leaf and lacquer remaining on the surface of the statue, suggesting that it once shone golden.
His plump, rounded face has the white hair characteristic of Buddhist statues on his forehead, and his appearance, which is considered a symbol of wisdom and mercy, well conveys the calm and gentle characteristics of Heian Buddhas.
The eyes are carved using a technique called "chogan."
This is a style in which the eyes are carved, and was commonly seen in the late Heian period.

The mantra of Shaka Nyorai is "Noumaku Sammanda Bodhanan Bak"