Rinsen-ji, Buddhist temple in Arashiyama, Japan.
Rinsen-ji is a Zen Buddhist temple in the Arashiyama area of Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, made up of several wooden halls set around a dry garden of raked gravel and placed stones. A dedicated Founder's Hall stands separately on the grounds, and painted sliding doors decorate the interior of the main buildings.
A retired emperor founded this temple in 1335 and placed it under the guidance of a respected Zen master who became its first head priest. Over the following centuries the complex was damaged by fire more than once and rebuilt each time, which explains why the current buildings date from different periods.
The temple displays painted sliding doors created by master artists of the 16th century and houses a wooden statue of its founder in a dedicated hall. These artworks show visitors the artistic traditions connected to Zen Buddhism during the temple's early years.
The temple is a short walk from Saga-Arashiyama Station and easy to reach on foot from the main Arashiyama area. Moving slowly through the gravel garden helps to notice the arrangement of the stones, which rewards a patient look.
Beneath the Founder's Hall lies a natural stone formation shaped like a lotus flower, marking the burial place of the Zen master who spent his last days at this site. Most visitors walk over this spot without realizing what rests below them.
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