Japan is an enchanting country, famous for many things such as its scenic beauty and its architecture. However, the people of Japan are more known for perfection in everything that they undertake. Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which is abundantly blessed with nature, is the representative of almost every thing that Japan stands for. The temple is near Mt Otowa as well as near Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountain range. Stunning landscape of mountain peaks surrounds the temple. All the five elements of nature (Panchamahabhuta) are abundantly available in and around this temple; cherry blossoms in spring, lush green in summer, coloured leaves in autumn, and snowscapes in winter. It takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills; Kiyomizu means “pure water”.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple was founded in 778. The temple has been open to the public since then. The temple is visited by a large number of devotees and tourists every day. It has more than 30 Buddhist temple buildings, including the national treasure Main Hall and many other important cultural properties. Wood has been the material of construction in Japan since historical times. Many of these temple buildings were destroyed by fire many times but were rebuilt again and again with the same vigour. Most of the temple’s present buildings were constructed in 1633. There is not a single nail used while constructing these wooden buildings. In 1944, Kiyomizu-dera Temple was registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List as one of the historic monuments of ancient Kyoto.
Temple architecture stands for the deep rooted faith of the society. People want to visit the temple structure to reaffirm and experience the piece of mind they are looking for. Kiyomizu-dera Temple is a temple of the Kita-Hosso sect. After it was opened, it adopted the doctrine of the Hosso sect, one of the six sects of Nara Buddhism. The tranquility offered by the ambience is more important or is the ambience created because of the similar vibrations of the visitors is an unanswered question.
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