This huge magnificent enchanting heritage temple has so much to offer to the world as well as to the history and present of Japan. The temple complex is the home to many architectural marvels such as Neo Mon, Sai- Mon, Zuigu-do Hall, Hondo (Main hall), O kuno-in Hall and many others. Each structure has a story to tell. Excellence in aesthetics and perfection in construction of each structure has led to a promising place in the cultural history of Japan. Architecture and culture of the place go hand in hand.
Mention of the broad Kiyomizu stage, which hangs over the front of the main hall, is inevitable. The most renowned of all the structures is this Kiyomizu. The stage is approximately 200 sq. mt. in area and stands on 168 wooden pillars. This structure was built using a special method: 12-meter high pillars made from thick, centuries-old trees and a floor made of 410 cypress boards assembled and installed without using a single nail, instead relying on locking wooden joints.
It was renovated in 2008 by Hinoki- precious Japanese cypress. Kiso-hinoki has been used since ancient times in shrines, temples and castles. Due to its slow growth, this cypress has a high density of annual rings, but the wood grain is straight and easy to work with. The beautiful pale pink bark is smooth and fragrant. This is Japan’s most famous coniferous plant. Since ancient times, this tree has been prized not only for its ornamental value, but also for its durable wood. Thus the structure made out of it is not only beautiful but eternal.
The stage offers a stunning view of the whole city of Kyoto, whose beauty has long captivated many visitors. “Standing on a Hinoki stage” is the Japanese expression for “stepping into the limelight.” It is an old idiom in Japan. Certain recognised theaters were built from cypress. Performing at such a theater marked an actor as one
of the best. The relation of architecture and such expression is not new.
