Shinsenen

Shinsenen (神泉苑) is a Shingon Japanese Buddhist temple located south of Nijō Castle in the approximate center of the modern city of Kyoto, Honshu, Japan. It was founded by Kūkai in 824 and predominantly consists of a large water garden centering about a pond. It is said to be the oldest existing garden in Kyoto.[1]

Shinsenen
神泉苑
The central shrine at Shinsenen
Religion
AffiliationShingon
Location
LocationMonzencho, Oike-dori Shisenencho Higashi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
CountryJapan
Architecture
FounderKūkai
Completed826
Website
http://www.shinsenen.org/

History

First built in the year 794, the site was originally connected to the Heian Palace of that time and was used as a private garden for the Emperor. According to the records, the site originally extended approximately 400 meters from north to south and about 200 meters from east to west[2] (500 meters and 240 meters according to different sources[3]).

In 863 a plague extended throughout the city and a sacred ritual to appease the angry spirits was held. Later, a total of 66 pikes (representing the regions of Japan of that time) were erected on the south end of the Shinsenen, Mikoshi from the Gion-jinja (today's Yasaka Shrine) were brought in and a ritual was conducted[3]. Over the years this became a local festival and the pikes were mounted on decorated carts, which is said to be the origin of the modern day Gion Matsuri[4].

In 1603 when Tokugawa Ieyasu built the Nijō Castle, a large portion of the garden's land was absorbed by the castle grounds, reducing its size. After 1607 the garden was reconstructed and later became a Buddhist temple of the Shingon school[2].

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See also
  • Tō-ji, a major and contemporary Shingon temple in Kyoto

References
  1. "Shinsenen". Shinsenen is the oldest existing garden in Kyoto and dates back to the Heian era (794-1185).
  2. 国立国会図書館. "神泉苑（しんせんえん）と快我上人（かいがしょうにん）との関わりについて知りたい。". レファレンス協同データベース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  3. "神泉苑　京都最古の庭園を歩く｜京都観光　歴史と文学の旅". sirdaizine.com. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  4. "Shinsenen History". Shinsenen Official Website. Retrieved April 18, 2019.

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