Japanese matrons at the Otowa waterfall, Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple, Kyoto, Japan
Kiyomizu-dera is an ancient Kita Hossa Buddhist temple located on Otowa-san (Otowa mountain to the east of Kyoto. It was founded in the Heian period in 798 AD, but the present buildings date to 1633 AD. The Great Hall (Hondo), the best known building on the site, was constructed by Tokugawa Iemitsu in Amazingly, not a single nail used in the construction of entire structure. The current custodians belong to the kitahossa sect. Notably it was constructed from wood without using a single nail in the entire structure. A waterfall, Otowa-no-taki, is contained within the complex that is though to have wish granting properties. The water gives its name to the temple; kiyomizu means pure water. Near the main hall at Kiyomizu Dera is the Otowa waterfall, (Otawa-no-taki) where the falls is channeled into three streams of water that fall into a pond below. The tradition is to catch the water in a long handled cup and drink it to have a wish granted for health, longevity, and success in studies. The three streams are believed to be one for longevity, one for love, and one for knowledge, (but all the water comes from the same source). Supplicants make a wish to the protective deity Fudomyo-o at the shrine behind the falls and drink one cup of water by slurping it from their hands. These Japanese matrons may be wishing for 'health and longeveity'.
Size: 3333px × 5000px
Location: Otowa waterfall, Kiyomizudera, Kyoto, Japan
Photo credit: © Terry Allen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 798, ad, autumn, buddhist, culture, cups, falling, fudomyo-, handled, health, heian, hossa, japan, kita, kiyomizu-dera, kyoto, long, longevity, making, mask, matrons, otowa-san, otowo, period, reaching, sect, shrine, stream, streams, studies, success, temple, tourism, tradition, travel, vertical, water, waterfall, wearing, women
