Night Photography Extravaganza -- The Kiyomizu-dera

At this touristy spot, Kyoto was festive and lively. The air became increasingly fresh as one continued to climb up, and the autumn colors came into view, from the evergreen that was the pine trees to the dark amber and flushed scarlet of the Japanese maple and the shrubs of Azaleas. The trees at the Kiyomizu-dera Temple are mostly of one species, namely of the Japanese maple, and as such when they change colors, they do so uniformly. The sensation of viewing a large swathe of crimson foliage was much more than what meets the eye. At this season, the nature of Kyoto exhibits a repertoire of colors, the very tone of which warms up the atmosphere, fully compensating for the cold currents that were circulating in the air. It was a warmth that enters through one’s vision into the depths of the soul. I was moved, to say the least, by the brilliant display of nature’s craftsmanship. Meaning “The Pure Water Monastery,” the Kiyomizu-dera Temple stands holy on Mt. Otowa, by the Otowa spring, which still flows today. The resident deity Kannon, known for compassion, graces the Kiyomizu-dera Temple. The Kiyomizu-dera Temple was born of the vision of Monk Enchin Shonin from Nara. It was founded in the year 778 A.D. At that distant point in history, Japan’s capital was in Nara, until the Emperor relocated his seat of authority to Kyoto in 794 A.D., in his attempt to avoid the increasingly intermeddling influence of the Nara Buddhists in matters of politics. Having received this vision, Enchin Shonin came to Kyoto. He met an ascetic Buddhist, Gyoei-koji, who instructed him to build a sacred statue of Kannon. That was how Enchin Shonin came to guard the sacred hut of Gyoei-koji by the waterfall, and eventually established the temple. The current structures standing in Kiyomizu-dera Temple were constructed in 1633 on the orders of shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu, who had also made significant effort in expanding the structures of the Nijo Castle. All of the wooden structures were destroyed by fire for many times, and they were reconstructed numerous times in their history. Architecturally, there has been not one nail used in building these structures, this is a wonder in terms of technique, but common in all of Japan’s ancient buildings. In the winter, the Kiyomizu-dera Temple is lit up for night scenery amidst its fall foliage, and it would be an understatement to call it fantastic. In terms of timing, I encourage visitors to arrive at the Kiyomizu-dera Temple by 3:30pm or so. In this way you will be able to capture breathtaking scenery there both in daylight and in the early evening. Around 4pm or so, you would not really have a choice, as the throng will push you toward the viewing platform at Okuno-in Hall, where you will see the Main Hall against the silhouette of Kyoto City. That is the time when everybody wishes to grab a prime spot for photo taking. 4pm or so is when people mark their spots. Thereafter, you are stuck in the crowd, until the dusk has #kiyomizudera #heianperiod #redfoliage #buddhism #japan #kyoto