Myokenji

Myoken-ji is a major head temple of the Nichiren sect, founded in 1321 when the monk Nichizo received temple land from Emperor Go-Daigo at Imaoji in Kyoto. In 1334 it received an imperial decree making it the first officially recognized Nichiren temple in Kyoto. The temple suffered repeated destruction — most notably during the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance of 1536, when forces from Mt. Hiei burned it and drove its congregation to Sakai. Rebuilt, it was then relocated in 1584 to its present site by order of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who used the former grounds to construct his own castle. The Sanmon gate is a designated National Important Cultural Property, and the temple grounds include three celebrated garden courtyards inspired by the works of Ogata Korin.