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 the
Kiyomizu-dera Engi compiled by
Fujiwara no Akihira and included in the
Gunsho Ruijū (Collection of Classical Japanese Writings), the
Kiyomizu-dera Engi Emaki (produced in 1520), the
Konjaku Monogatarishū (Tales of Times Now Past and Present), and the
Fusō 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 of
Kofuku-ji in
Yamato Province and training at Kojima-dera (present-day
Takatori, 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.
Kofuku-ji, and from the mid-Heian period it also held
Shingon Buddhism. However, it was frequently caught up in the conflict between Kofuku-ji and
Enryaku-ji, and was burned down in 1165 by an incursion by Enryaku-ji
warrior monks. Many of the other buildings were rebuilt around this time. In the early
Meiji era, the temple changed its sect to the
Shingon-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.
Present The expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the
English expression "to take the plunge". This refers to an
Edo-period tradition that held that if one survived a 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. 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. The complex also offers various talismans, incense, and
omikuji (paper fortunes). The site is particularly popular during festivals, especially at New Year's and during
obon in the summer, when additional booths fill the grounds selling traditional holiday foodstuffs and souvenirs. In 2007, Kiyomizu-dera was one of 21 finalists for the
New Seven Wonders of the World, 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 the
2020 Olympics. == Architecture ==