Tenryu-ji Temple

INFO: Cultural Program for IAAP Congress 2016 at Tenryu-jiji Temple
We would like to provide you the following program of optional cultural experiences
xperiences: Zen Meditation
(Zazen): Tea Ceremony (Sado): Japanese Calligraphy ((Shodo), and Guided Walking Tour of the Garden, at
the famous Tenryu-ji Temple.
Date:
August 27th (Sat), 2016
or
September 3rd (Sat), 2016
Time:
14:00 – around 16:30 (program) + shojin ryori (Zen vegetarian cuisine)
Fee-based
JPY 16000 (about CHF 134, USD 130,, and EUR 123 as of December 1st, 2015; all inclusive: transportation*,
entrance fees, meal, and tax)
* Transportation (round trip):
): from Grand Price Hotel Kyoto (main hotel) to Tenryu-ji
Tenryu by chartered bus
Choose 3 activities from 4 options (Zen
Zen Meditation
Meditation,, Tea Ceremony, Japanese Calligraphy, Walking around
Garden with guide:: approx. 40 minutes each
each)
You can enjoy these three programs in the tatami matted rooms of Tenryu-ji.
+ After this program, participants will enjoy shojin ryori (Zen vegetarian cuisine) at a Japanese-style
restaurant in the garden of the temple
temple. In Zen Buddhism, as natural parts of everyday life, cooking and
eating have always been regarded as forms of spiritual practice. As mentioned above, the cost of this
meal is included in the price.
+ Family member are welcome to participate in this program
program. Please enjoy together!
Tenryu-ji Temple
http://www.tenryuji.com/en/
Tenryu-ji is Rinzai Zen training temple, one of UNESCO’s world heritages site. This temple is located in
Saga-Arashiyama, a scenic western area of Kyoto.
Tenryu-ji was established in 1339 by the shogun (general) Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358)
(1305
and has the
well-known
known circuit style garden created by Muso Soseki (1275-1351),
1351), one of the most prominent Zen
masters of that age. In Japanese writing, his name ““Muso Soseki”” is represented as “夢窓疎石”.
“
The first
two letters mean Dream and Window. We may experience what
hat he saw through his gardens. Muso
Soseki’s other works are the garden at Saiho
Saiho-ji (so-called Koke-dera)
dera) in Kyoto, Zuisen-ji
Zuisen in Kamakura, Erin-ji
in Koshu, Yamanashi and so on.
Muso Soseki lived his life in journey, walking around Japan. It is said that he found “universal truth” in
changes in his wandering life. For him, ccreating gardens was a spiritual practice and looking them was a
daily discipline.
Zen priests practice Zazen to arrive at the spiritual state of nothingness. Priests can sit and practice Zazen
anywhere at any time, in their room, on a rock, in garden,, although it must be very difficult to reach such
a state. Muso Soseki created gardens
rdens for Zazen as the ideal setting for this delicate work.
Yasuhiro Tanaka,
Chair of Organizing Committee