Tenryū-ji

Tenryū-ji
天龍寺
Sōgenchi Garden, a Special Place of Scenic Beauty
Religion
AffiliationTenryū-ji Rinzai
DeityShaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni)
StatusHead Temple, Five Mountain Temple (Kyoto)
Location
Location68 Saga-Tenryūji Susukinobabachō, Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
CountryJapan
Geographic coordinates35°0′57.47″N 135°40′25.58″E / 35.0159639°N 135.6737722°E / 35.0159639; 135.6737722
Architecture
FounderAshikaga Takauji and Musō Soseki
Completed1345
Website
http://www.tenryuji.com/

Tenryū-ji (天龍寺), formally known as Tenryū Shiseizen-ji (天龍資聖禅寺), is the head temple of the Tenryū-ji branch of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, located in Susukinobaba-chō, Ukyō Ward, Kyoto, Japan. The temple was founded by Ashikaga Takauji in 1339, primarily to venerate Gautama Buddha, and its first chief priest was Musō Soseki. Construction was completed in 1345. As a temple related to both the Ashikaga family and Emperor Go-Daigo, the temple is held in high esteem, and is ranked number one among Kyoto's so-called Five Mountains. In 1994, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto".