Gate of Chion Temple, Kyoto

Category

Library Item

Item no

16684

Title

Gate of Chion Temple, Kyoto

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1912

Size

9.0 x 14.0 cm

Type

Photograph; Postcard

Location

Art and Design Library

Chion-in is the chief temple of Jodo-Shu (the Jodo means pure land), which is one of the sects of Buddhism and it was established by the monk Honen (1133-1212). The original temple was built in 1234 and it had been rebuilt many times due to fires or wars. The Tokugawa family, who ruled Japan from 1603 to 1868, contributed to the construction of many buildings in Chion-in in order to guarantee their prosperity because they believed in Jodo-Shu. Another aim was to show their political and economical power to the Emperor and the aristocracy in Kyoto in order to restrict them. The building on the postcard is the gate in the Chion-in, which is called Sanmon (san meaning three and mon meaning gate in Japanese) and it was built in 1621. This gate built within the emperor's territory shows the majesty of the shogun who ruled Japan in practice. The gate is one of Japan's national treasures.

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Architecture > Architectural features > Gates

People

Places > Asia > Japan

Plants > Trees

Religion > Religious facilities > Buddhist temples