Enryaku-ji

Enryaku-ji
延暦寺
Konpon-chūdō (根本中堂), Enryaku-ji's main hall)
Religion
Affiliation	Tendai
Deity	Bhaisajyaguru (Yakushi Nyorai)
Location
Location	4220 Sakamoto Honchō, Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture
Country	Japan
Architecture
Founder	Saichō
Date established	788
Completed	1642 (reconstruction)
Website
www.hieizan.or.jp

Enryaku-ji (延暦寺, Enryaku-ji) is a Tendai monastery located on Mount Hiei in Ōtsu, overlooking Kyoto. It was first founded in 788 during the early Heian period (794–1185)^[1] by Saichō (767–822), also known as Dengyō Daishi, who introduced the Tendai sect of Mahayana Buddhism to Japan from China. The temple complex has undergone several reconstruction efforts since then, with the most significant (that of the main hall) taking place in 1642 under Tokugawa Iemitsu. Enryaku-ji is the headquarters of the Tendai sect and one of the most significant monasteries in Japanese history. As such, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)". The founders of Jōdo-shū, Jōdo Shinshū, Sōtō Zen, and Nichiren Buddhism all spent time at the monastery. Enryaku-ji is also the center for the practice of kaihōgyō (aka the "marathon monks").