, formerly written as , is a Buddhist temple

Temple

A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...

 in Higashiyama-ku

Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto

' is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It was created in 1929 when it was split off from Shimogyō-ku. During the years 1931 to 1976 it also covered the area of present-day Yamashina-ku, which was an independent town until its merger into the city in 1931...

 in Kyoto

Kyoto

is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...

, Japan. For centuries, Sennyū-ji was a mortuary temple for aristocrats and the imperial house. Located here are the official tombs of Emperor Shijō

Emperor Shijo

was the 87th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1232 through 1242.-Genealogy:...

 and many of the emperors who came after him.

History

Sennyū-ji was founded in the early Heian period

Heian period

The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...

. The origin of this temple, which is commonly called Mitera or Mi-dera, can be traced back to the Tenchō

Tencho

was a after Kōnin and before Jōwa. This period spanned the years from January 824 through January 834. The reigning emperors were and .-Change of era:* February 6, 824 : The new era name was created to mark an event or series of events...

 era (824-834) when the priest Kūkai

Kukai

Kūkai , also known posthumously as , 774–835, was a Japanese monk, civil servant, scholar, poet, and artist, founder of the Shingon or "True Word" school of Buddhism. Shingon followers usually refer to him by the honorific titles of and ....

 established a small temple in this location. That modest structure and community were initially known as Horin-ji

Horin-ji

is the name of a number of Buddhist temples in Japan. In particular, it usually refers to:*Hōrin-ji , Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture *Hōrin-ji , Arashiyama, Kyoto Prefecture...

. The major buildings in Senyu-ji was very much reconstructed and enlarged in the early 13th century.
Tsukinowa no misasagi

Emperor Go-Horikawa

Emperor Go-Horikawa

was the 86th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years from 1221 through 1232....

 and Emperor Shijō

Emperor Shijo

was the 87th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. This reign spanned the years 1232 through 1242.-Genealogy:...

 were the first to be enshrined in an Imperial mausoleum at Sennyū-ji. It was called Tsukinowa no misasagi.

Go-Momozono is also enshrined in Tsukinowa no misasagi along with his immediate Imperial predecessors since Emperor Go-Mizunoo

Emperor Go-Mizunoo

was the 108th Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Mizunoo's reign spanned the years from 1611 through 1629.This 17th century sovereign was named after the 9th century Emperor Seiwa and , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he could be called the "Later...

 -- Meishō

Empress Meisho

was the 109th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Meishō's reign spanned the years from 1629 to 1643.In the history of Japan, Meishō was the seventh of eight women to become empress regnant. The six female monarchs who reigned before Meishō-tennō were Suiko, ...

, Go-Kōmyō

Emperor Go-Komyo

was the 110th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Kōmyō's reign spanned the years from 1643 through 1654.This 17th century sovereign was named after the 14th century Nanboku-chō Emperor Kōmyō and go- , translates literally as "later;" and thus, he could be called...

, Go-Sai

Emperor Go-Sai

, also known as was the 111th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sai's reign spanned the years from 1654 through 1663....

, Reigen

Emperor Reigen

was the 112th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Reigen's reign spanned the years from 1663 through 1687.-Genealogy:...

, Higashiyama

Emperor Higashiyama

was the 113th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Higashiyama's reign spanned the years from 1687 through 1709.-Genealogy:...

, Nakamikado

Emperor Nakamikado

was the 114th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Nakamikado's reign spanned the years from 1709 through 1735.-Genealogy:...

, Sakuramachi

Emperor Sakuramachi

was the 115th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Sakuramachi's reign spanned the years from 1735 through 1747.-Genealogy:...

, Momozono

Emperor Momozono

was the 116th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Momazono's reign spanned the years from 1747 until his death in 1762.-Genealogy:...

 and Go-Sakuramachi

Empress Go-Sakuramachi

was the 117th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Go-Sakuramachi's reign spanned the years from 1762 through 1771....

.

Nochi no Tsukinowa no Higashiyama no misasagi

Kokaku

Emperor Kokaku

was the 119th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.Kōkaku's reign spanned the years from 1780 through 1817.-Genealogy:...

, Ninko

Emperor Ninko

was the 120th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Ninkō's reign spanned the years from 1817 through 1846.-Genealogy:Before Ninkō's ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was ....

, and Komei

Emperor Komei

was the 121st emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Kōmei's reign spanned the years from 1846 through 1867.-Genealogy:Before Kōmei's accession to the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was ;, his title was ....

 are also enshrined at .

Art

Sennyū-ji's large nehan-zu painting depicts Buddha on his death bed. This massive image (8 meters x 16 meters) is the largest in Japan. The image at nearby Tōfuku-ji

Tofuku-ji

is a Buddhist temple in Higashiyama-ku in Kyoto, Japan. Tōfuku-ji takes its name from two temples in Nara, Tōdai-ji and Kōfuku-ji. It is one of the so-called Kyoto Gozan or "five great Zen temples of Kyoto". Its honorary sangō prefix is .-History:...

 is the second largest of its kind in Japan, measuring 7 meters x 14 meters. Both images are only rarely displayed, most recently in 2003 for three days only.

See also

• Tsuki no wa no misasagi
  Tsuki no wa no misasagi
  Tsuki no wa no misasagi is the name of a mausoleum in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto used by successive generations of the Japanese Imperial Family....
  
  
• List of Buddhist temples in Kyoto
• List of National Treasures of Japan (ancient documents)
• For an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture, see the Glossary of Japanese Buddhism
  Glossary of Japanese Buddhism
  This is the glossary of Japanese Buddhism, including major terms the casual reader might find useful in understanding articles on the subject. Words followed by an asterisk are illustrated by an image in one of the photo galleries...
  
  .

External links

Senyū-ji website