San-mon Gate

Nanzen-ji Temple
Kyoto, Japan

Originally the villa of the retired emperor Kameyama, Nanzenji was converted into a Zen temple in 1291. By 1380 it was ranked first among all Zen temples in Japan. The original temple was destroyed during the Onin Wars (civil war, 1467-1477); its present buildings date from around 1600.

Nanzenji's large gatehouse (Sanmon) is shown here. A variety of statues and paintings are displayed on the second floor of the two-story building.