Kiyomizu Dera - Kyoto

nobody@flickr.com (mattlindén) — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:21:31 -0800

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My first stop in Kyoto was the very well-known temple of Kiyomizu - which, albeit a beautiful place, did to me have a slightly disneylandesque feel to it. While not as spiritual as the Sanjusangendo or as relaxing as the Ryoanji Rock Garden, what you can say is that this place did have a lot going on - swarms of schoolchildren (many of whom approached us to answer questions regarding jobs/nationality/what we thought of Japan), many attempting the 'walk of love', and of course, plenty of fellow tourists.

One of the most amazing features of the main temple is that not one single nail was used in the construction - I found this really impressive!

Slanting rooves sweep down
To chiming bells
Overlooking the sea of humans
Traversing the path of love

Matt

From Wikipedia:

Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺), officially 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.

Kiyomizu-dera was founded in the early Heian period. The temple dates back to 798, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633, during a restoration ordered by the Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is not a single nail used in the entire structure. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water.

It was originally affiliated with the old and influential Hossō sect dating from Nara times. However, in 1965 it severed that affiliation, and its present custodians call themselves members of the "Kitahossō" sect.

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Kiyomizu Dera - Kyoto