| Rinzai-ji | |
|---|---|
臨済寺 | |
 Rinzai-ji Sanmon | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| Deity | Amida Nyōrai |
| Rite | Rinzai school |
| Location | |
| Location | 7-1 Ōiwa-chō, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka-ken |
| Country |  Japan |
  Rinzai-ji Show map of Shizuoka Prefecture Rinzai-ji (Japan) Show map of Japan | |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°59′35″N138°22′33″E / 34.99306°N 138.37583°E /34.99306; 138.37583 |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Imagawa Ucjichika |
| Completed | 1536 |
Rinzai-ji (Japanese:臨済寺), is aBuddhist temple belonging to theMyōshin-ji branch of theRinzai school ofJapanese Zen,Buddhism located in theAoi ward of the city ofShizuoka,Shizuoka Prefecture,Japan. Itsmain image is a statue ofAmida Nyōrai. It was thebodaiji of theImagawa clan, a powerfulSengoku perioddaimyō clan. The temple is noted for itsJapanese garden, which is a nationally designatedPlace of Scenic Beauty; however, the temple is only open to the public for two days each autumn, and it is not possible to view this garden other than during that period.
Rinzai-ji was founded in 1536, byImagawa Ujichika for his son,Imagawa Yoshimoto, on the site of a villa owned by his mother at the base of Shizuhata Castle. Yoshimoto had been sent into the priesthood as he was the third son, and was not regarded as being in the line of succession. His uncle,Sessai Chōrō was the founding priest. However, when both of Yoshimoto's elder brothers died, he returned to a secular life and became chieftain of the Imagawa clan after a bloody succession dispute. The temple continued to be used as thebodaiji for the clan. The temple was burned down in 1568 when theTakeda clan ofKai Province invadedSuruga Province.
When the youngTokugawa Ieyasu was held hostage inSunpu by theImagawa clan, he was sent to Rinzai-ji to be tutored bySessai Chōrō. During the invasion of Suruga Province by the Takeda clan in 1568, Rinzai-ji was burned down. It was rebuilt by Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1582. A number of buildings at the temple date from theEdo period, including the currentMain Hall andSanmon.
The Hondō of Rinzai-ji is anirimoya-style structure from the early 17th century. It has a frontage of 22.7 meters ad a depth of 16.8 meters. It was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1983.[1]
TheJapanese garden at Rinzai-ji became a nationally designatedPlace of Scenic Beauty in 1936.[2]
Media related toRinzai-ji at Wikimedia Commons
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