Shinjuan

About Shinjuan

Shinjuan (眞珠庵) is a sub-temple of Daitokuji in Murasakino, Kita Ward, Kyoto, whose main hall of 1638 and early Edo Tsusen-in were designated Important Cultural Properties on April 7, 1900, and its kuri (priests' quarters) of 1609 on June 21, 1962. It was founded with the Zen master Ikkyu as its first abbot (Kyoto City Tourism Association).

According to the Kyoto City Tourism Association, Shinjuan was founded in the Eikyo era (1429 to 1441), burned in the Onin War, and was rebuilt in 1491 by the monk Bokusai and the wealthy Sakai merchant Sokei Sorin.

Three Buildings

The main hall is an abbot's hall with a hip-and-gable cypress-bark roof; the Kyoto City Tourism Association notes that it enshrines a statue of Ikkyu (an Important Cultural Property) and keeps sliding-door paintings attributed to Soga Dasoku. The Tsusen-in is said to be the dressing pavilion of Emperor Ogimachi's consort, moved here, and includes the small tea room Teigyokuken (Agency for Cultural Affairs, Kyoto City Tourism Association).

The kuri dates from 1609, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs notes that Shinjuan is the only Daitokuji sub-temple to keep its abbot's hall and kuri in their complete original arrangement. In front of the main hall is a dry garden of stones in groups of seven, five and three (Kyoto City Tourism Association).

Visiting Shinjuan

According to the Kyoto City Tourism Association, Shinjuan can be visited by application. The address is 52 Murasakino Daitokuji-cho, Kita Ward, Kyoto; telephone 075-492-4991. It is about a 10-minute walk from the Daitokuji-mae city bus stop.