Tōrin-in


Tōrin-in is a sub-temple of the temple complex of Myōshin-ji in Kyoto, Japan. As such, it is affiliated with the Myōshin-ji school of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.

Name

The temple is named for Donglin Temple at the base of Mount Lu in China.
Due to a famous 300-year-old sal tree on the grounds, it is colloquially known as the Sal Tree Temple. A festival is held every June to celebrate the sal tree and its flowers.

History

The temple was founded in 1531 in Kamigyō-ku as a family temple for the Hosokawa clan, and named. In 1556, it passed to the Yamana clan, whose family temple it remains to this day, and was moved to its current location within Myōshin-ji and renamed to Tōrin-in.

Visiting

The temple is not generally open to walk-up visitors, but is open year-round for shukubō and shōjin-ryōri. The current head priest, is a noted researcher on devotional cuisine, frequently appearing on television and in magazine articles, and a class on devotional cuisine is held every Tuesday.
Further, the temple holds three annual events, which are open to the public :