Basic Information
Description
The head temple of the Rinzai Tenryu-ji school. Its full formal name is Reikisan Tenryu Shisei Zenji. The principal images are Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni Buddha) flanked by Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra) and Monju Bosatsu (Manjushri). Originally, this was the site of Danrin-ji, a temple established by Empress Tachibana no Kachiko, consort of Emperor Saga. Later, Emperor Saga built the Kameyama-dono villa here. It was subsequently passed down to his grandson Emperor Go-Daigo, but eventually fell into disrepair. Tenryu-ji was formally established in 1339 when Ashikaga Takauji built it as an imperial prayer temple to console the spirit of Emperor Go-Daigo. It was Muso Soseki who urged Takauji to build Tenryu-ji.
The temple once held the rank of first among Kyoto's Five Great Zen Temples. At its peak, more than 150 sub-temples lined the grounds, but most were lost in the Onin War.
The main attraction is the pond strolling garden, which uses Arashiyama and Kameyama as borrowed scenery and features Sogenchi Pond, white sand, and artful rock arrangements. This garden is attributed to Muso Kokushi (Muso Soseki), the temple's founding abbot.