Manshuin Temple

The Manshuin Temple (曼殊院), also known as the Manshuin Monzeki, is a Tendai temple located near the Shugakuin Imperial Villa at Sakyō-ku, Ichijo-ji, Takenouchi-cho, in northeast Kyoto, Japan.

The temple was founded by Dengyo Daishi in the 8th century. It was then located in near Mount Hiei and known as Tobibo, but renamed Manshuin in 1108 or 1109. In the early Edo period the temple moved to its current site. Today the temple is notable both both for its buildings and a fine garden.

The entry building contains a Tiger Room with images said to have been painted by Kano Eitoku 狩野 永徳 (1543-1590), Bamboo Room with Edo wood-block prints, and Peacock Room with pictures by Ganku 岸駒 (1749/56-1839). The main temple hall (Great Shoin) dates from the early Edo period, and is now listed as an important cultural property. It contains a Waterfall Room with slides by Kanō Tanyū 狩野探幽 (1602-1674), and Snowy Scenes Room with screen pictures by the same artist and shelves much like those in the Katsura Imperial Villa. The smaller hall (Small Shoin) is also an important culture property; it contains the Mount Fuji Room (pictures by Kanō Tanyū on the sliding doors); Twilight Room with royal throne and more paintings by Kano; and a tea room.

The temple's major garden is in the Karesansui (枯山水) style, and now designated as an eminent scenery; it contains a notable "Pinus pentaphylla" tree, now about 400 years old, set within an "island" on a stream of white sand. The inner garden is quite small, and features a stone basin and old well.

References

* "Manshuin Monzeki", undated brochure from the temple (August 2007).
* [http://www.jgarden.org/gardens.asp?ID=410 Jgarden.com article]