古都京都の世界文化遺産・清水寺 / Kiyomizu Dera - Kyoto World Cultural Heritage

今週は京都でとても有名な文化遺産を紹介して来ます。この遺産の名前は「清水寺」です。僕は毎年京都で行ったとき、絶対に清水寺へ行って参りました。清水寺のビューは永遠もあきあきしません。じゃ、はじめましょう。
As for this week, I'm going to write about one of the most famous World Cultural Heritage Site in Kyoto. The name of the place would be 'Kiyomizu Dera'. In fact, I would definitely pay a visit to 'Kiyomizu Dera' whenever I travel to Kyoto, Japan. Probably this is because the view of 'Kiyomizu Dera' never fail to amaze me, therefore I decided to write about 'Kiyomizu Dera' this week. Well, shall we begin?

これは「清水寺」の「仁王門」の写真です。
この門の両脇には京都で最大の仁王像があります。
This would be the 'Nio Mon' of 'Kiyomizu Dera'.
On both sides of the gate, stood the biggest
'Ni Ou' statues of Kyoto.
According to 'Buddhism', 'Nio' is also known
as the Guardians of the great Buddha.

本堂の入口左側には、90キログラム以上の大錫杖と
14キログラムの小錫杖と12キログラムの高下駄があります。
実は僕は90キログラム以上の大錫杖を持ってみていました。。。
やはり、無理です。
On the left of the entrance to the main temple of 'Kiyomizu Dera',
stood a 90kg 'khakkhara', or more commonly known as a staff for the
monks in Japan, a 14Kg 'khakkhara' and a 12Kg wooden clogs.
In fact I tried to carry the 90Kg 'khakkhara' and I failed miserably. :P

次は「清水寺」の境内一番有名な所です。その所は。。。
The following would be the most famous spot of 'Kiyomizu Dera' and that would be...

「清水寺」の「舞台」です。 不思議点： この高い舞台は釘を使わずに組み上げられていました。 伝説： もし「清水寺」の「舞台」から飛び降りたら、死なずに、願いが叶います。 注意： 実は、昔で「清水寺」の「舞台」から飛び降りた人の事件、ほんまに存在がありました。 だから、人々の安危のために、今は舞台から飛び降り禁止です。 Stage of 'Kiyomizu Dera'. Amazing fact: The stage was built without the use of a nail. Believe: If you can survive from a jump from the stage of 'Kiyomizu Dera', one of your dream will definitely come true. Note: In fact there was numerous incidents of people jumping down from the stage of 'Kiyomizu Dera' before, although the survival rate was more than 80%, the government of Kyoto have ban people from jumping down from the stage of 'Kiyomizu Dera' ever since.

音羽の瀧 これは「清水寺」の境内に人気の場所です。 連日、六根清浄、所願成就を祈願するために、たくさん人はここで落ちる清水を柄杓に汲んでいます。 （僕は「清水寺」へ参るとき、この活動は絶対にしなければなりません。：Ｐ） Otowa no Taki This was one of the famous spot of 'Kiyomizu Dera'. Everyday there will definitely be a queue coming out from this place. This is because people believe that by drinking the water from the waterfall, you will be able to purify your soul and get your dreams granted. (Actually, I have been drinking the water from the waterfall, every time I pay a visit to 'Kiyomizu Dera'.)

「清水寺」境内の写真 Photos taken within the compound of 'Kiyomizu Dera'

附１：「清水寺」の境内・縁結びの神様「地主神社」
Add-on 1: A matchmaking Shrine within the compound of 'Kiyomizu Dera', known as 'Jishu Jinja'.

	以上は「地主神社」の写真です。 The photos in the above were taken within the compound of 'Jishu Jinja'.

伝説：「地主神社」境内の「恋占いの石」 「地主神社」の境内に、一対の「恋占いの石」があります。 一方の石からもう一方の石へ、目を閉じたまま歩いて 無事にたどり着くことができれば恋が叶います。 誰かの助けを借りれば、人のアドバイスを受けて恋愛が成就します。 独身の皆さん、ぜひ試してください。 Believe: Love Fortune Telling Stones There is a pair of Love Fortune Telling Stones within the compound of 'Jishu Jinja'. If you can find your way from one stone to the other with your eyes closed, your dream of finding your true love will be granted. However, if you require some form of help to find your way from one stone to the other, it means that you can only find true love with the help of others. Those who are still single should give this a try. :P

附２：「清水寺」・夜の特別拝観
Add-on 2: 'Special Night Opening' of 'Kiyomizu Dera'

「清水寺」夜の特別拝観のビューと普通のビューが全然違います。 素敵なビューが観賞できます。 The scenery that you can be getting in the day and the night of 'Kiyomizu Dera' can be very different. Although the scenery can be very different at night, it has added a mystical touch to the scenery of 'Kiyomizu Dera'.

附３：「清水寺」・青龍会
Add-on 3: 'Sei Ryuu E' of 'Kiyomizu Dera'


その「青龍」の姿とシンガポールの「龍舞獅」の姿が大体同じです。
面白いし、格好いいです。
The appearance of the 'Sei Ryuu', or the green dragon, reminds me of the dragon dance that you can be getting during major Chinese festivals, which is both interesting and COOL looking.

もし皆さん「清水寺」で、「青龍会」と「夜の特別拝観」のイベントを参加したかったら、三月中に行ったほうがいいですよ。
If you want to visit both the events of 'Sei Ryuu E' and the 'Special Night Opening' of 'Kiyomizu Dera', I would strongly encourage you to pay a visit to the shrine during mid March.

* こちは「清水寺」の資料です。
^ こちは「地主神社」の資料です。
~ こちは僕が「清水寺」に撮るの写真です。
* Click here to find out more about 'Kiyomizu Dera'.
^ Click here to find out more about 'Jishu Jinja'.　(In Japanese only.)
~ Click here for the photos of 'Kiyomizu Dera' that was taken by me.