Shōren-in Temple

is a Buddhist temple located in the Awadaguchi Sanjōbōchō neighborhood of Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It belongs to the Tendai sect of Japanese Buddhism. It is also known as the . Its precincts were designated a National Historic Site in 1942.

== History == Shōren-in originated from a small chapel called Shōren-bō built by Saichō in the eastern precinct of Mount Hiei. The site is currently the third parking lot of Enryaku-ji. Shōren-bō was the residence of numerous famous monks including En'nin. It was moved to a location in Sanjō Shirakawa, slightly northwest of the current location at the end of the Heian period. In 1150, Emperor Toba and Empress Bifukumon'in made Shōren-bō an official place of prayer for the imperial family. As a result, the temple's status began to rise. Furthermore, Emperor Toba had his seventh son, Prince Kakukai, making it became a monzeki temple, and afterwards numerous sons of the imperial family and regent families served as chief priests. Prince Kakutai became the second head priest, but as for the succession, Kujo Kanezane pressured Kakukai to give it to his younger brother, Jien. During the Kamakura period, the temple was relocated to its current location on high ground to avoid flooding of the Shirakawa River. This was the site of the former temple called Juraku-in. The tomb of Emperor Hanazono, located southeast of the temple, is called "Jurakuin no Ueno Misasagi", which is a remnant of this name.