kiyomizudera – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

Kiyomizu-dera: A Mountainside Kyoto Temple With a Sacred Waterfall

Susan Spann Blog August 9, 2021August 8, 2021Buddhism, Japan, Kannon, Kiyomizu-dera, kiyomizudera, Kyoto, Kyoto temples, temples

On July 6, 2021, I celebrated my 50th birthday with a trip to Kyoto’s Kiyomizudera–one of my favorite temples in the ancient capital (partially because it combines two of my other favorite things: mountains and waterfalls).

Remembering the Unborn: Kiyomizudera’s Mizuko-Kannon

Susan Spann Blog January 24, 2018January 22, 2018Buddhism, Japan, Kannon, Kiyomizu-dera, kiyomizudera, Kyoto, mizuko, temples, unborn

The Japanese term mizuko (literally, “water child”) refers to a deceased baby, infant, or fetus. This includes stillborn and miscarried children as well as those who died by abortion, and in some cases also applies to babies that die shortly after birth. A funerary rite, called mizuko kuyō, is often performed on behalf of these children, and Japan has many shrines honoring mizuko–mostly in combination with statues of Jizō, a kind incarnation of the Buddha who is considred the patron and protector of mizuko.

Kyoto’s Jishu Shrine

Susan Spann Blog February 13, 2017November 8, 2017Buddhism, Japan, Jishu Shrine, kiyomizudera, Shinto

Jishu Jinja (shrine) lies on the grounds of Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera, a Buddhist temple established during the 8th century and dedicated to the goddess Kannon (goddess of mercy, and a protector of Kyoto). Like many Shintō shrines, Jishu Jinja also has an altar to Inari, god of rice, sake, and fertility (among other things):

A Visit to Kiyomizu-dera (Kyoto, Japan)

Susan Spann Blog February 6, 2017November 8, 2017Buddhism, history, Japan, Kannon, Kiyomizu-dera, kiyomizudera, temples

Kiyomizu-dera (more formally, Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera) is a Buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto. The temple lies in Higashiyama, on the slopes of Mount Otowa, and has a beautiful view of the former Japanese capital: Originally founded during the 8th century, Kiyomizu-dera derives its name from a famous waterfall on the temple grounds. (Kiyomizu means “pure water” in Japanese.) Visitors can ladle water from the falls while praying for blessings and purification. (The day I visited, the line was short–only about 35 minutes–but I decided to forego the blessing in favor of spending more time on the temple grounds.) Kiyomizu-dera was a popular pilgrimage site during the Heian period, and