Sep 4, 2014 - 1 min read

Temple of Sala Tree - Torinin Kyoto

Bewitched by the beauty of the Deciduous Camellia

By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

There are dozens of sala trees in the front garden of the main temple building. Experience their beauty in full bloom during the 'Sala Flower Festival' each year from Jun 15 to 30. No reservations are needed

Myoshinji Temple, the head temple of Rinzai School of Zen Buddhism, is a gigantic complex of 48 small temples in Kyoto. This 'Temple of Sala Tree', Torin-in, is one of the 48 under the umbrella of Myoshinji Temple. When I visited, many tourists were there to enjoy beautiful flowers

Sala flower (Deciduous camellia) only lasts for a day. Flowers that have bloomed will drop off onto the ground within a day. There are more flowers on the ground than on the trees

One of the pleasures of visiting temples: Since this is 'The Temple of Sala Tree', sweet cakes are made in the shape of a sala flower (1,600 yen, including entry fee to the temple)

Front garden of the main temple building is called, 'Garden of Sala Tree'. The Sala flower, for its fleeting life, is cited in a famous piece of old Japanese literature, 'The Tale of Heike' as follows: "The sound of the Gion Shoja bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sala flowers reveals the truth that the prosperous must decline."

Here we call this flower, 'sala flower' or 'deciduous camellia', but in fact sala trees don't grow in Japan's climate. The truth is they plant 'Japanese summer camellia, or Hime-Shala (Stewartia monadelpha)' as a substitution of sala flower (deciduous camellia) and call them as such. Nobody knows when and who started to call them 'sala flower' (deciduous camellia) here!

'Hiryu-no-yadorigi' (Soaring Dragon Mistletoe). In 1966, birds carried seeds of Japanese black pine onto this 300-year-old Japanese umbrella pine tree, and the black pine has grown with it

I strolled in the 'Garden of Senryo' through Hojo, then arrived at the Shoin building. You can enjoy Shojin-ryori (Buddhist vegetable cuisine) here! (5,950 yen including temple entrance fee and green tea with sweet cake)

In front of the Shoin building, where Buddhist vegetable cuisine is served, there is a Karesansui Garden (Japanese Rock Garden), a 'Garden of Horai', to please your eyes

I listened to a monk's sermons while enjoying the serene gardens and the fleeting beauty of sala flowers. Despite their short lives, they live their lives fully by blooming so beautifully in pure white, and even after they have dropped off the ground, their beauty never changes. Their resilient elegance amazes me

Garden of Senryo. It is a miniature garden located between the main temple building and Shoin

This stopped me in my tracks when I was coming out of Shoin! The simple, yet crisp beauty of just a water basin and gravel in a narrow space intrigued me.

In late June this year, I visited the 'Sala Flower Festival' held at Torin-in Temple, 'The Temple of Sala Trees', in Kyoto.

Sala trees in Japan are not the same trees whose flowers bloomed in unison when Gautama Buddha passed away. The Japanese summer camellia (Hime Shala: Stewartia monadelpha) seems to have replaced them at some point in the past. Sala flowers, which were cited in 'The Tale of Heike' (13th century) are also Japanese summer camellias. Whichever the case, I was impressed anew by the fleeting, yet resilient beauty of sala flowers and enjoyed the serenity they gave me.

This temple is usually closed to the public, but sometimes special public viewings such as 'Spring Festival', 'Lantern Festival', and the 'Sala Flower Festival' to which I attended, are held for the pleasure of the public.

More info

Find out more about Myoshinji Temple.

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Masayoshi Hirose

By Masayoshi Hirose

Community writer

Following Follow

Takako Sakamoto

Translated by Takako Sakamoto

Community writer

Following Follow

Masayoshi Hirose

Masayoshi Hirose Photographer 9 years ago

Kansaikate,Thank you! June of next year, please come to Torin-in here!
Summer camellia will welcome you.

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Cathy Cawood

Cathy Cawood 9 years ago

I didn't know about summer camellias. Now I will look for them. Beautiful photos!

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