Kyoto, Japan - 17 April 1984; Kiyomizu in an ancient district of the city of Kyoto, famed for its scenic narrow alleys, the famous Kiyomizu Ware ceram
Kyoto, Japan - 17 April 1984; Kiyomizu in an ancient district of the city of Kyoto, famed for its scenic narrow alleys, the famous Kiyomizu Ware ceramics - with their characteristic cracked glaze - and the noted Buddhist Temple of Kiyomizu-dera, shown here. This was founded in 778 CE, in the early Heian period, by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633, ordered by the Tokugawa Iemitsu. There is not a single nail used in the wooden Temple and surrounding buildings . The temple takes its name from the waterfall within the complex, which runs off the nearby hills. Kiyomizu means clear water, or pure water. This famous leap - shown here - has an interesting derivation. The main hall of the temple has a large veranda, supported by tall pillars, that juts out over the hillside and offers impressive views of the city. The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese translation of the English expression "to take the plunge".This refers to an Edo-period tradition that if one were to survive a 13-meter jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. During the Edo period, 234 jumps were recorded, and of those, over 85% practice was prohibited in 1872, but the name and history remain.
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Photo credit: © Jon Bower / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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