Shoudengokoku Zenshi

Shoden Gokoku Zenji, formally known by its mountain name Kissho-zan, is a Zen temple of the Rinzai Nanzen-ji school located in Nishigamo, Kita Ward, Kyoto. Holding the prestigious rank of Shozanha among Rinzai temples, it has long stood as a center of rigorous Zen practice and national protection. The principal image, a Shakyamuni Buddha, presides over the tranquil meditation hall, silently witnessing the devotion of generations of practitioners. True to its name as a temple dedicated to the protection of the nation, the grounds carry an atmosphere of austere clarity. The karesansui dry garden, with its borrowed scenery of the surrounding mountains, offers visitors a space for deep contemplation and peace of mind.