Jōtenkaku Museum, Art museum in Kamigyō-ku district of Kyoto, Japan
Jōtenkaku Museum is housed within the Shōkoku-ji temple grounds and displays Buddhist paintings, Zen monk artworks, calligraphy, and portraits from different periods. The collection preserves important works that document both religious and artistic traditions.
The museum was founded in 1984 to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Shōkoku-ji Temple and preserve its most important artworks as national treasures. This established the institution as a guardian of the artistic legacy connected to the temple.
The collection features works connected to Zen Buddhism, including paintings and calligraphy that reflect spiritual life in Japan over centuries. Visitors encounter rotating displays that show how artists expressed religious ideas through their craft.
The museum is easily accessible from Imadegawa Station and situated within the peaceful temple grounds. Visitors should allow time to explore all exhibition areas and experience the setting properly.
The first exhibition hall contains a reconstructed Sekkatei tea house originally from Kinkaku-ji Temple, displaying its original architectural design. This rare structure lets visitors experience traditional tea house architecture firsthand.
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