Rinsho-in is a sub-temple of Myoshin-ji. It was established in 1634 by a shogun as a memorial for his foster mother. The temple has a classic karesansui (枯山水 or "dry landscape") garden, but its fame comes from two beautiful sliding door paintings that face each other in the abbot's quarters. The paintings are of dragons, a common theme in Buddhism as it is the symbol of wisdom. What makes these paintings unique is that one of the dragons is osu (雄, or male) and the other is mesu (雌, or female). It is the only painting of a female dragon that I know of; this rarity may explain why dragons have become extinct. :-)
Rinsho-in is not usually opened to visitors, but some years it will let a few in for a week or two. Unfortunately no photography is allowed past the inner gate, so you will have to google the web for the dragons' pictures. Access: Nearby: Chishō-in 智勝院 (50m), Shunkō-in 春光院 (80m), Tokuun-in 徳雲院 (90m), Kingyū-in 金牛院 (100m), Tenkyū-in 天球院 (140m), Yotoku-in 養徳院 (140m), Tōkai-in 東海院 (170m), Shōtaku-in 聖澤院 (170m), Daishin-in 大心院 (180m), Daiō-in 大雄院 (180m),... External links: Kyoto Navi, 京都風光, Satellite view, Map Keywords: Japan, 日本, Japon, Kyoto, 京都, Ukyo-ku, 妙心寺, temple, Myoshin-ji, 寺院, 仏閣, 麟祥院. Rinsho-in, subtemple, 塔頭 Statistics: id 450, 3 photos. |
