Nanzen-ji (南禅寺 Nanzen-ji), or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly ZenriNanzen-ji (南禅寺 Nanzen-ji), or Zuiryusan Nanzen-ji, formerly Zenrin-ji (禅林寺 Zenrin-ji), is a Zen Buddhisttemple in Kyoto, Japan. Emperor Kameyamaestablished it in 1291 on the site of his previous detached palace. It is also the headquarters of the Nanzen-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. The precincts of Nanzen-ji are a nationally designated Historic Siteand the Hōjō gardens a place of scenic beauty.
Nanzen-ji was founded in the middle Kamakura period (1291, or Shōō 4 in the Japanese erasystem).[3] It was destroyed by fire in 1393, 1447, and 1467, rebuilt in 1597, and expanded in the Edo era.[4]A large complex, it has varied over time between nine and twelve sub-temples.
Zenkei Shibayama, who provided a popular commentary on the Mumonkan, was an abbot of the monastery.
The temple’s Sanmon gate was originally constructed in the 13th century, destroyed in 1369 at the order of the government, and reconstructed in 1628.[7] The gate contains stairs to an elevated viewing area, which was the setting for a famous scene in the 1778 Kabuki play Sanmon Gosan no Kiri[8] inspired by the story of the criminal Ishikawa Goemon who is said to have spoken of the beauty of the view (but who was executed prior to the construction of the current gate).
The hōjō (abbot’s quarters) of Nanzen-ji is notable both for its gardens and its art.
The garden of the hōjō is considered one of the most significant examples of karesansui gardens, and was built in the 1600s by Kobori Enshu.[4] The garden mirrors natural forms, and is seventy percent gravel.[9] It has been designated a national Place of Scenic Beauty.
The hōjō itself, also known as the Seiryo-den, was given to the temple by the Emperor Go-Yōzei.[10] It contains a variety of important screen paintings on gold backgrounds, including two of tigers by Kanō Tan’yū.[11] It has been designated a National Treasure.
(Ref: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanzen-ji)
Beautiful temple with amazing rock arrangements, giving a true feeling of zen.