Nanzen-ji, previously Zenrin-ji, is one of the most famous temples of Rinzai Zen. Built by Kian Soen, a priest of the late Kamakura period (1185-1333), under the patronage of emperor Kameyama (1249-1305). It became one of the most influential Rinzai temples ever in the “Gozan” (temple rank system in Japanese Zen Buddhism). The temple facility is located at the foot of the eastern hills of Kyōto and most famous for its traditional garden of the Hôjô (abbot’s quarters) and the impressive wooden structure of the San-mon (main gate). The Nanzen-ji aqueduct, constructed in 1890 through the temple grounds, carries irrigation water from the Lake Biwa Canal.
other temples
