Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji

at 左京区永観堂町48, Kyoto-shi Japan

1. City
2. Landmark
3. Religious Organization

Description

For other temples by similar names, see Zenrin-ji.Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji (永観堂禅林寺) is the head temple for the Seizan branch of Japan's Jōdo-shū (Pure Land) Buddhist sect, located in Kyoto, Sakyō-ku. It was founded by Shinshō, a pupil of Kūkai, and is famous for its fall foliage and for its prominence in the past as a center of learning.NamesThe temple is commonly referred to as either just "Eikan-dō" or "Zenrin-ji" . However, it also has two other names. "Shōju-raigō-san" translates roughly to "Mountain of going across to the saints", while "Muryōsu-in" means roughly "Temple of Immeasurable Fortune".HistoryThe temple got its start when Kūkai's pupil, the monk Shinshō, aspired to found a temple for the worship of the Gochi Nyorai, or Five Wisdom Buddhas. In 853, he purchased the mansion of Fujiwara no Sekio for this purpose. The construction of temples was forbidden in Kyoto at the time, however, and so it was not until ten years later, when formal Imperial approval was granted by Emperor Seiwa, that the Zenrin-ji was formally founded.Though originally devoted to the Shingon sect, beginning in the time of Yōkan (永観, 1033-1111), the seventh head monk, the temple began to shift towards Jōdo-shū, a sect formally established roughly a century later in 1175. Yōkan had trained in a number of temples of different disciplines in Nara, and was a passionate devotee of the Amida Buddha. In 1072, he established a Yakuō-in (薬王院) on the grounds, which organized giving to the needy and caring for the ill. He also introduced the practice of Nenbutsu, a Chinese practice which was quite new in Japan, into the temple, and cultivated its observance among the monks and devotees.

Specialities

Price category

$

Company Rating

221 FB users likes Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji, set it to 7 position in Likes Rating for Kyoto, Japan in Religious Organization category

Summary

Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji is Kyoto based place and this enity listed in City category. Located at 左京区永観堂町48 Kyoto Contact phone number of Eikan-dō Zenrin-ji: 075-761-0007