en-us-Kenninji temple (建仁寺)

Kenninji temple (建仁寺) is the oldest temple of Zen (禅) in Kyoto. Famous for the national treasure "The painting of God of the wind and God of thunder" Located in Higashiyama, Kyoto near Gion, at the end of Hanami Lane. It is considered to be one of the so-called Kyoto Gozan or "five most important Zen temples of Kyoto". Built in 1202 it belongs to Kyoto's Five Great Zen Temples after the Mountain system (Gozan - 号山). There are two zen gardens: The Chou-on-tei,"The garden of the sound of the tide", which has a San-zon-seki, a Buddhist triad stone arrangement and a Zenzen-seki for sitting. The founding priest was Yōsai famous for introducing Japan to the tradition of drinking tea and Zen practice. At first they practiced a mix of Tendai, Shingon and Zen Buddhism. Kyoto is full of hidden gems and it is quite hard to describe the serenity of that place. 1 of the Best!