The origins of Kiyomizu-dera are shrouded in legend, with a sparsity of verifiable historical documentation. The legend of the founding of Kiyomizu-dera, is found in theKiyomizu-dera Engi compiled byFujiwara no Akihira and included in theGunsho Ruijū (Collection of Classical Japanese Writings), theKiyomizu-dera Engi Emaki (produced in 1520), theKonjaku Monogatarishū (Tales of Times Now Past and Present), and theFusō Ryakuki (Records of the Buddhist Literature) contain legends about the temple's founding. According to these sources, the founding legend is roughly as follows:
In 778,Kenshin (later renamed Enchin), a monk ofKofuku-ji inYamato Province and training at Kojima-dera (present-dayTakatori, Nara), received a message in a dream that led him north to Mount Otowa, the site of Kiyomizu-dera in the Higashiyama area of Yasaka-go, Atago District,Yamashiro Province. When Kenshin discovered a golden stream, he traced its source and found a white-robed ascetic named Gyōei Koji, who had retreated to the mountain, practicing ascetic practices under the waterfall and praying to the Senjū Kannon (Sahasrabhuja). Gyōei Koji, who was 200 years old, told Kenshin, "I have waited many years for you to come. I am now leaving for the eastern provinces, so I leave the rest to you." He then left. Realizing that Gyōei was an incarnation of Kannon, Kenshin carved a statue of the Senjū Kannon from the sacred tree Gyōei had left behind and enshrined it in Gyōei's former hermitage. This is said to be the beginning of the temple. The waterfall where Gyōei Koji practiced ascetic practices later came to be called Otowa Falls, which is still on the grounds of Kiyomizu-dera.[6][7] Two years later, in 780,Sakanoue no Tamuramaro (758–811), who had entered Mount Otowa to hunt a deer, encountered Kenshin. Tamuramaro had come to the mountain in search of deer blood for medicinal purposes to help his wife, Takako, recover from her illness. However, after being persuaded by Enchin of the sins of killing, he converted to faith in Kannon, donating his own house as themain hall to house the statue and naming the temple Kiyomizu-dera.Kiyomizu means "pure water".[8][9] Later, when he was appointedShogun and ordered to pacify theEmishi in the eastern provinces, Tamuramaro is said to have visited Kiyomizu-dera, to pray for victory. Later, with the help of a young warrior and an elderly monk (incarnations ofBishamon-ten, the messenger of Kannon, andJizō Bosatsu), he won the battles and returned safely to the capital. In 798, Tamuramaro, working with Enchin, extensively renovated the main hall and created statues of Bishamon-ten and Jizō as attendants to the Kannon statue, enshrining them together. Based on these legends, Kiyomizu-dera regards Gyōei as its founder, Enchin as its founding priest, and Tamuramaro as its principal patron.
In 805, Sakanoue no Tamuramaro was granted land for the temple by theGrand Council of State. In 810, the temple was officially recognized byEmperor Saga, and given the name "Kita Kannon-ji."The Pillow Book cites the festival at Kiyomizu Kannon as an example of a "noisy thing," and references to Kiyomizu Kannon in the "Yugao" chapter ofGenji Monogatari and theKonjaku Monogatarishū, indicate that it was a well-known Kannon shrine in the mid-Heian period.
The Kiyomizu-dera complex has burned down nine times, recorded since the fire of 1063 (mentioned in theFusō Ryakuki) until its destruction in 1629 in the early modern period.
Since theHeian period, it had long been under the control of theHosso sect of Buddhism,[7]Kofuku-ji, and from the mid-Heian period it also heldShingon Buddhism. However, it was frequently caught up in the conflict between Kofuku-ji andEnryaku-ji, and was burned down in 1165 by an incursion by Enryaku-jiwarrior monks.[6] In 1469, the temple was destroyed by fire during theŌnin War. TheJi sect's fundraiser, Gan'ami, was brought in to rebuild it. Prior to joining Kiyomizu-dera, Gan'ami had been involved in projects such as rebuilding bridges and temple buildings and providing public relief. He used fundraisers and connections he had made with important figures to lead the reconstruction project. The temple was granted a 130koku estate for its upkeep byToyotomi Hideyoshi. The current main hall was rebuilt in 1633 after a fire in 1629 with a donation fromTokugawa Iemitsu.[10] Many of the other buildings were rebuilt around this time. In the earlyMeiji era, the temple changed its sect to theShingon-shū Daigoji-ha school, but reverted to Hosso sect in 1885.
In 1914, Ōnishi Ryokei, the head priest of Kofuku-ji and head of the Hosso sect, became the chief priest of Kiyomizu-dera. Ōnishi separated from the Hosso sect in 1965 and founded the Kita-Hosso sect, becoming its first abbot. He served as the chief priest of Kiyomizu-dera for nearly 70 years until his death in 1983 at the age of 107, and is considered the "founder of its revival." In 1966, Ōnishi began holding bi-monthly Kita-Hosso Buddhist culture lectures, and in 1974, he founded the Japan-China Friendship Buddhist Association, contributing to international exchange, peace movements, and cultural activities through Buddhism.[11]
The expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of theEnglish expression "to take the plunge".[9] This refers to anEdo-period tradition that held that if one survived a 13-meter (43-foot) jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. During the Edo period, 234 jumps were recorded, and of the jumpers, 85.4 per cent survived.[9] The practice was prohibited in 1872.[9]
The temple complex includes several other shrines, among them the Jishu Shrine, dedicated toŌkuninushi, a god of love and "good matches".[8] Jishu Shrine possesses a pair of "love stones" placed 10 meters (30 feet) apart,[12] which lonely visitors can try to walk between with their eyes closed. Success in reaching the other stone with their eyes closed implies that the pilgrim will find true love.[13]
The complex also offers various talismans, incense, andomikuji (paper fortunes). The site is particularly popular during festivals, especially at New Year's and duringobon in the summer, when additional booths fill the grounds selling traditional holiday foodstuffs and souvenirs.[14]
In 2007, Kiyomizu-dera was one of 21 finalists for theNew Seven Wonders of the World,[15] but was not picked as one of the seven winning sites. The temple was covered entirely by semi-transparent scaffolding while it underwent restoration works in preparation for the2020 Olympics.
Kiyomizu-dera is located in the foothills of Mount Otowa, part of the Higashiyama mountain range that dominates eastern Kyoto. The main hall has a large veranda, supported by tall pillars using''kakezukuri'' [ja], that juts out over the hillside and offers views of the city. There isnot a single nail used in the entire structure. Large verandas and main halls were constructed at many popular sites during the Edo period to accommodate large numbers of pilgrims.[16]
Beneath the main hall is the Otowa waterfall, where three channels of water fall into a pond. Visitors can catch and drink the water, which is believed to have wish-granting powers. There is also the Tainai Meguri, a dark tunnel said to represent the womb of Daizuiku Bosatsu (the bodhisattvaMahāpratisarā).[17][18]
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