Introduction to Tenryuji temple
Tenryuji Temple was built in 1339. It is the head temple of the Tenryuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism and is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple is located in Arashiyama, a major tourist destination in Kyoto.
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Tenryuji temple (Kyoto) A large temple in Arashiyama
It is the head temple of the Tenryuji branch of the Rinzai sect of Buddhism and is also registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This temple is located in Arashiyama, a major tourist destination in Kyoto. At the back of the temple grounds is a beautiful strolling garden with a pond.
Traditional Buddhist vegetarian cuisine
I had buddhist vegetarian cuisine at “Shigetsu” located within the temple grounds. It was a charming building with Japanese-style architecture. As I walked down the hallway, I could see carp pond from the window.
The room where I dined was a large Japanese-style room with a felt carpet.
After waiting for a while, the buddhist vegetarian cuisine was brought out. The menu included rice, tofu soup, sesame tofu, yuba, kuruma-fu, simmered shiitake mushrooms, rape blossoms dressed in mustard and vinegared miso, rice wrapped in oak leaves with sweet bean paste, boiled beans, fu, rice dumplings, konjac, pickles, oranges, strawberries, and more.
When I visited again on another day, I had the dish shown in the photo below.
The buddhist vegetarian cuisine at Tenryuji Temple was prepared according to tradition. No meat, fish, garlic, or chives were used. Seasonal ingredients were used, and the broth was made from kelp, shiitake mushrooms, roasted soybeans, etc.
What I felt after eating the meal was that it was light in flavor but very satisfying. The sesame tofu in particular was delicious, with a strong sesame flavor. When I finished eating it all, I felt happy.
There was also a message of thanks for the meal written on the chopsticks bag. The food was also prepared with the utmost care to avoid waste as much as possible. It was not only delicious, but also a meal that taught me about Buddhist thought.
Higashi-Honganji temple (Kyoto) Huge wooden buildings
