Kiyomizu-dera
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The Buddhist temple Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺?) is a Unesco World Heritage listed site in the Eastern Kyoto region of Higashiyama and is one of the best known sights of the city.
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[edit] Origin and history
The temple dates back to 798, but the present buildings were constructed in 1633. The temple takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means pure water, clear water or limpid water. It is notable for its vast veranda, supported by hundreds of 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". This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive jumping from the stage, one's wish would be granted.
The fall is 13 meters, but the lush vegetation below the platform might cushion the fall of a lucky pilgrim. However, the practice is now prohibited. Two hundred and thirty-four jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived.
Beneath the main hall is the waterfall Otowa no taki, 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 in metal cups on poles (which, though shared, are sanitized in UV trays) or commemorative plastic cups. It is said that drinking the water of the three streams confers wisdom, health, and longevity. However, some Japanese believe that you must choose only two -- if you are greedy and drink from all three, you invite misfortune upon yourself.[1]
The temple complex contains several other shrines, notably Jishu-jinja, dedicated to Okuninushino-Mikoto, a god of love and "good matches". Jishu-jinja 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, eyes closed, is taken as a presage that the pilgrim will find love. One can be assisted in the crossing, but this is taken to mean that an intermediary will be needed. The person's romantic interest can assist them as well.
The complex also includes all the fixtures of a popular temple, being one of the most-visited attractions of the city: hawkers offering various talismans, incense, and omikuji (paper fortunes ranging from "great blessing" to "great curse") abound. 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. (Indeed, the high popularity of the place means that tourists will find it difficult to take pictures on the main temple's platform.)
The temple is also a particular haven for students wishing the aid of deities in graduation, and is well known for having trees whose branches are covered with paper wishes tied there by the hopeful.
[edit] How to get there
By bus, get off at Kiyomizu street (Kyoto city bus) or Gojou hill (Keihan bus). From there it takes approximately a 14 minute walk.
[edit] Other sites
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] Images
Evening silhouette of three-story pagoda |