Nanzen-Ji Temple, Kyoto

Nanzen-Ji Temple is the headquarters of the Nanzen-ji school of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist sect. In 1264, Emperor Kameyama built a palace here. He believed in Zen Buddhism, became a monk-priest and changed the palace into a temple in 1291.

The temple reflects the lordly Chinese style that arrived in Japan along with Zen. Later this style evolved into the lightness of the native Japanese style.

An illustration of the complex.

To get to the main pavilion, which was the former abbot's quarters, one passes under an aqueduct.

I climbed to the top of some stairs to view the water passing on the water way.

The existing pavilion is made of Japanese cypress, gabled and shingle roofed. It was restored in 1703.

The garden is a typical one with large ponds and strolling lanes. It is surrounded by woods. The garden is for sitting and meditation, not for strolling.

A group of rocks forms a natural waterfall.

View of temple from the garden. A portion of Emperor Kameyama's ashes was buried in a small mausoleum in the corner of the garden.