Kiyomizu-dera
Kiyomizu-dera is a Buddhist temple, the full correct name of which is Otowasan Kiyomizudera. Translated from Japanese it means "Temple of Pure Water". It is located in the east of Kyoto and is the city's main attraction. The date of its foundation is 778, the name takes from the waterfall located in the temple complex. Surprisingly, there are several temples with the same name in Japan, but they are much less known.
The large-scale temple buildings that have survived to this day were erected in 1633 on the hillside. The priceless relic of the temple, the sacred Buddha stone, can be reached by entering the main hall through a tunnel in pitch darkness. The temple has Jishu-jinja - a Shinto chapel (shrine) for the God of the Earth. The idol houses not one deity, but several. Among them is the god of love Okoninushi no Mikoto. There are two large stones of love buried near the chapel. Young people pass from one to another with their eyes closed in order to achieve reciprocal love. The temple is visited every day by thousands of pilgrims and tourists. In spring, the temple complex is decorated with cherry blossoms, filling the area with a charming aroma. In the evening, the trees are illuminated, enhancing the miraculous atmosphere reigning around.
A little history
Kiyomizu-dera was originally a monastery, founded by the monk Entin in 778. According to one legend, in a dream, the bodhisattva Thousand-Armed Kannon ordered him to settle on a mountain near the Otowa waterfall. Entin carried out the order and a little later founded a settlement for monks. In 780, he met Shogun Sakanoue, who was hunting in the mountains. The shogun's wife was ill. The monk offered prayers to the Bodhisattva Kannon for her health, and she was cured. The shogun believed in the power of the bodhisattva and began to worship her intensely. Kannon gave strength to the shogun to defeat the Emishi during the northern campaign. In honor of the deity, together with Entin, they built it in 798. The main temple on Otova Hill.
There is also a legend set out at the beginning of the 9th century, in documents about the founding of the Kiyomizu-dera temple. It says that the shogun shot a deer while hunting. The monk Entin who met him said that this was a great sin. At home, the shogun told his pregnant wife about the incident. In repentance, the shogun's wife ordered the demolition of the house in which they lived, and in its place a temple was erected in honor of the Bodhisattva Kannon. After the victory over the Emishi, the shogun converted his estate and temple into a monastery.
From the 11th century, over the course of several centuries, the Kiyomizu-dera temple complex was repeatedly destroyed, but it was restored each time. The fame of Kannon's power spread throughout the country. Numerous pilgrims, including Japanese nobility, donated large amounts of money.
Kiyomizu-dera today
Of the ancient buildings of the temple, the Western Gate and the bell tower have been preserved. There are shops on both sides of the descent from the gate, some of which have been standing since the 17th century. The main temple was reconstructed in 1633 and is called the Kiyomizu Dais. There is a waterfall in the southern part of the temple complex. From the height of the monastery you can clearly see picturesque Kyoto.
The complex occupies a fairly large area. The buildings stand on solid stone foundations and are lined with stone. There is a beautiful park on the monastery territory. The Kiyomizu-dera temple complex includes a three-tiered pagoda, the Founder's Temple, Shakyamuni Temple, a bell tower, an Inner Pavilion, the Amida Temple, the Asakura Temple, and a sutra library. Near the central gate of Niomon there are 4-meter sculptures of furious tigers guarding the entrance.
South of the Main Temple there are three waterfall streams. It is believed that each stream has its own strength. The right one gives health and prolongs life, the middle one accompanies success in love, the left one helps in learning. You can take a sip from only one, if you get drunk from two, the miraculous power will be halved, and if you get drunk from all three, you can, as punishment for greed, lose even what you have now.
To the south stands the Taisan-ji Monastery, where prayers are offered for a successful birth, and a small pagoda. Many literary works are dedicated to Kiyomizu-dera, glorifying the miracles occurring within its walls and created by the bodhisattva Kannon.
