Kyoto Myōshin-ji (Taizō-in) 🌿

Myōshin-ji is the head temple of the Myōshin-ji school of the Rinzai sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism. 🌸🍃 Originally a detached palace of Emperor Hanazono called Higashinomiya, it was converted into a Zen temple after the emperor's abdication. Many sub-temples were later established around it, forming a large temple complex known as Nishi-no-Miya by the citizens of Kyoto. 🏯 🌸🍃 The highlights include the ceiling of the lecture hall, adorned with Kano Tan'yū's "Cloud Dragon Painting," and the karesansui (dry landscape) garden of Taizō-in, also known as the Motonobu Garden, designed by the renowned painter Kano Motonobu. The garden uniquely uses white sand to represent the "yang" and black sand to represent the "yin," creating a distinctive contrast. 🌟 🌸🍃 #Kyoto #KyotoTravel 🌺