Kiyomizu-dera temple

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[Official Name] Otowayama Kannon-ji [Religious Sect] Tendai-shu sect [Kaizan] Enchin Shonin [Kaiki] Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro [Location] Kiyomizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu

	Brief Explanation
	**	from the Konjyaku-monogatari-shu
	History
	Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro
	The view of Kiyomizu-dera
	**	Kiyomizu-dera in winter

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Brief Explanation

The official name for Kiyomizu-dera temple (Clear Water Temple) is "Otowayama Kannonji". Kiyomizu-dera temple is located in a place of magnificent scenery; in the south is a mountain, in the west is the view of Kyoto, and we could also enjoy the distant view of the Arashi-yama mountains. The scenery we see from the famous "butai of Kiyomizu" is always beautiful, with cherry blossoms in the spring and leaves changing its colors in the autumn. Especially there are many maple trees in the ravines, and in autumn, it looks as though red and golden colored clouds have rose into the air. The autumn leaves, glowing red and purple with the splendor of the setting sun are marvelous, however, the lightened up leaves in the night, as if they are floating in the air are also beautiful, almost like a fantasy.

The main hall was rebuilt in 1633 by Tokugawa Iemitsu in the Edo era, and is designated as a national treasure. Some architecture such as the Nio-mon gate is of the Muromachi era, but the others were all built in the Edo era, and fifteen buildings are designated as national treasures. In a large precinct of a hundred and twenty thousand square meters, national treasures and important cultural properties stand orderly.

According to some historical materials, in 778, priest Enchin was inspired in a dream to build the Kiyomizu-dera temple in this land. He was soon given the sacred land of Otowa, and with Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro's support, finished the buildings in 798. By the way, the principal image of this temple, Kannon was able to be made because Tamuramaro's wife called out to the court ladies and collected money from them. In this way, this temple was built by Tamuramaro's own money.

The main hall which is the famous "butai of Kiyomizu", is one of Japan's three greatest butais. This verandah (butai) juts out way over the valley below, that we say "jumping off of the butai of Kiyomizu" for expressing a desperate situation. In the Konjyaku-monogatari-shu made in the Heian era, there is a story about a man who actually jumped off of the butai of Kiyomizu.

**from the Konjyaku-monogatari-shu
Long ago, there was a police man named Tada-akira. When he was still young, he had a fight with some young men. The young men drew their swords and tried to kill him, so Tada-akira also drew his sword and tried to break through the enemy's line. However, the young men blocked his way, leaving Tada-akira unable to run away. In a desperate situation, Tada-akira removed the nearest door and jumped, putting his weight on it. He jumped from fourteen meters above, but the door aptly helped by controlling the speed of the falling, and so Tada-akira landed beautifully without hurting himself at all. The young men, who had watched this scene, were all totally marveled. During the fight, Tada-akira was praying towards the temple saying "Kannon, help me." It seems that he was saved because of this. This story has been handed down since Tada-akira told the story later on.

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History

After the capital moved to Heian-kyo, Tamuramaro and Enchin encountered at the Otowa no taki (Sound of Feathers Waterfall), and Tamuramaro offered his mansion which was made into the Kita Kannon-ji temple. Later on, the Shishi-den (Throne Hall) in Nagaoka-kyo was moved and placed here as the main temple, and from the clear flow of the waterfall (Otowa no Taki), the temple was named Kiyomizu-dera temple (Clear Water Temple). In 807, when Sakanoue-no Tamuramaro visited the temple to pray for the attack to conquer the Ainu, it had a marvelous effect, so it is said that he moved the principal image to Kyoto, and built the Kiyomizu-dera temple. In the late Heian era, however, the temple was entangled in the civil war between Kofuku-ji temple and Enryaku-ji temple and was burned down a couple of times, so many of the buildings we see today were rebuilt in 1633 by the 3rd Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Iemitsu.

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Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro

Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro won fame for subjugating the Ainu, and became Japan's first Seii-taisho-gun. His faithful and warmhearted character drew many followers, and his courageous attack frightened the powerful Ainu, that people gave in one after another. In this way, the Imperial Court's control, at last, reached near the Tohoku region.

Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro is a descendant of the Chinese people called "Torai-jin" who came to Japan in the 5th century. His father was also a military commander who took an active part in the Nara era. It is said that his father had a good physique and looks for a man in that time. After all, he was 180 centimeters high! Also, he was a Shogun who made crying children calm, however, many children also were attached to him. His grave lies in Kyoto. There is a legend that when something very important in the world occurs, his grave shakes.

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The view of Kiyomizu-dera

Kiyomizu-dera in winter