Kiyomizu Dera Temple
Kiyomizu Dera Temple is one of the most popular sites to visit on a Kyoto Trip. It is in the Higashiyama area, that is, the eastern hills of Kyoto. One can walk there from downtown Kyoto. Along the way are many sights and not far away is Yasaka Shrine, Yasaka-no-tō Pagoda, and Kōdai-ji Temple. Because of the many visitors, the path there is lined with shops and restaurants. Once there the view is quite spectacular.
Kiyomizu Dera means “Temple of Pure Water.” The pure water comes from a waterfall, Otowa-no-taki (Otowa Falls), which runs through the complex. It was formally named Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera and was originally affiliated with the Hossō sect. However, in 1965 it severed that affiliation, and its present custodians call themselves members of the “Kitahossō” sect. It is part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.
Kiyomizu-dera dates back to the early Heian Period. The temple was founded in 778 by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758-811) was a general and shogun, who was given the task of conquering the Emishi, a people native to the north of Honshū. He was only the second man to receive the title of shogun. He was counselor and advisor to Emperors Kanmu, Heizei, and Saga.
The present buildings were constructed in 1633 under Tokugawa Iemitsu. Look close and you will find no nails for not a single nail is used in the entire structure.
Some of the features include the following. The Saimon (West Gate) built in 1607 with a roof that is a single kiritsusuma style. The Sanjū-no-tō is the three storied pagoda. Of course, there is Otowa-no-taki (Otowa Falls). Just above the falls are the umatodome, which are stalls for horses used by samurai coming to the temple to pray just in front of Niō-mon Gate, which dates from Muromachi Era. The eleven headed Koyasu Kannon is the goddess for safe delivery of babies. The most popular area is the huge verandah built over a cliff which offers a panoramic view of Kyoto. Japan has an expression “to jump off kiyomizu’s stage” that is the equivalent of “to take the plunge.” The expression refers to an Edo-period tradition that held that if one were to survive a jump from the stage, one’s wish would be granted. During the Edo period, 234 jumps were recorded, 70% by women, most people were in their teens, and of those, 85.4% survived. The practice was prohibited in 1872, probably under penalty of death.
