Kiyomizu-dera
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| Kiyomizu-dera 清水寺 |
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| The main building and its stage. The building is a national treasure | |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Independent (Kitahossō) |
| Founded | 798 |
| Address | 1-294 Kiyomizu Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto |
| Country | Japan |
| Website | homepage |
Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺), full name Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺) is an independent Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) UNESCO World Heritage site.[1] Not one nail is used in the whole temple. The temple should not be confused with Kiyomizu-dera in Yasugi, Shimane, which is part of the 33-temple route of the Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage through western Japan.[2]
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[edit] Origin and history
Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period.[3] The temple dates back to 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.[4][5] It separated from the Hossō school in 1965. Its present maintainers call themselves members of the "Kitahossō" sect. [6]
[edit] Present
The main hall has a veranda, supported by tall pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the city. The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge".[5] This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive a 13m jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. Two hundred thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived.[5] The practice is now prohibited.[5]
Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water drop into a pond. Visitors to the temple collect the water, which is believed to have therapeutic properties, from the waterfall. It is said that drinking the water of the three streams confers wisdom, health, and longevity.[5] However, some Japanese believe that you must choose only two — if you are greedy and drink from all three, you invite misfortune upon yourself.
The temple complex includes several other shrines, among them the Jishu Shrine, dedicated to Ōkuninushi, a god of love and "good matches".[4] Jishu Shrine possesses a pair of "love stones" placed 18 meters apart, which lonely visitors attempt to walk between with their eyes closed. Success in reaching the other stone with their eyes closed implies that the pilgrim will find love, or true love. One can be assisted in the crossing, but this is taken to mean that a go-between will be needed. The person's romantic interest can assist them as well.
The complex also offers various talismans, incense, and omikuji (paper fortunes). The site is particularly popular during festivals (especially New Year's and obon in the summer) when additional booths fill the grounds selling traditional holiday foodstuffs, among other things, and the crowds are immense.[7]
In 2007, Kiyomizu-Dera was one the 21 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of the World. [8] It was not one of the seven winning sites, but was considered.
[edit] Images
 Otowa-no-taki, the waterfall where visitors drink for health, longevity, and success in studies |
 Statuettes of Ksitigarbha (or Jizou) en masse |
 A deva gate |
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 Kiyomizu-dera in cherry blossom season |
 One of the two lovestones |
 Evening silhouette of three-story pagoda |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kiyomizu-dera |
[edit] See also
- Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)
- List of Buddhist temples in Kyoto
- List of National Treasures of Japan (temples)
- The Glossary of Japanese Buddhism for an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Buddhism, Japanese Buddhist art, and Japanese Buddhist temple architecture
- The New Seven Wonders - Wikipedia's list of the other finalists can be found here.
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities)". http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/688/multiple=1&unique_number=814. Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
- ^ "Chūgoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage". http://tripatlas.com/Chūgoku_33_Kannon_Pilgrimage#List%20of%20Temples%20with%20Kannon. Retrieved on 2008-12-18.
- ^ Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869, p. 111.
- ^ a b "Kiyomizu Temple". 2007-04-07. http://www.pacificfriend.ca/html/kiyomizu_temple.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-18.
- ^ a b c d e "Kiyomizudera, Kyoto". http://www.sacred-destinations.com/japan/kyoto-kiyomizudera.htm. Retrieved on 2008-12-18.
- ^ < MKOK
- ^ "Kiyomizu-dera Temple". http://www.kyoto.travel/place_to_go/kiyomizudera_temple.html. Retrieved on 2008-12-20.
- ^ "The Finalists for The Official New 7 Wonders of the World". http://www.new7wonders.com/classic/en/n7w/finalists/.
[edit] References
- Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1956). Kyoto: The Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869. Kyoto: The Ponsonby Memorial Society.
[edit] External links
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