22. venture
into
dark
the
darkroomlight
capture your emulsion
23. From the end of the Nara Period, Kyoto has functioned as the crossroads of
Japanese history. Starting from Heian Period until the Emperor moved to Tokyo,
it was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years. The city grew in prosperity in all
its aspects. Under this era, many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines were built.
Kyoto became the prominence of old religious architecture Even today, Kyoto
is the cultural center of Japan, and continues to be loved by Japanese and people
of the world alike. In this book, I will introduce four famous Temples and shrines
that were related to this thriving time in Japanese history.
The Heian period is the last
division of classical Japanese
history, running from 794
to 1185. It is also considered
the peak of the Japanese
imperial court. The word
“Heian” means “peace and
tranquility” in Japanese.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple
The expression “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” is the Japanese equivalent
of the English expression “to take the plunge”.
Founded in the early Heian period in 798, rebuilt in 1633. Kiyomizu-dera
Temple is perhaps the most beloved of Kyoto’s temples and is a fixture in
the minds of the Japanese people. The temple’s veranda juts out of the side of
a mountain supported by 13-meter-high wooden columns without a single nail.
The main hall with its distinctive hip-shaped roof of cypress bark rests to
the rear of the veranda and houses within it a priceless statue of Kannon
Bodhisattva, the goddess of mercy. From the veranda, one can appreciate fine
In Heian period, Buddhism views facing west over the city of Kyoto. This is an auspicious place to watch the
transforms into a new form sunset, which may also explain the romantic associations accorded to the temple.
closer to Japanese Idea.
Several other buildings designated as “national treasures” dot the grounds, as do
Unlike the current
NaraBuddhism, it turns into waterfalls and landmarks which have entered popular lore. Thus people come to
a Buddhism that would the temple to drink water from the falls by collecting it in tin cups; the water
appeal to Japaese of all class is said to have therapeutic properties, and drinking from the three different
streams is said to confer health, longevity, and success in studies.
Another development is Kana script was developed
the Kana Script. Japanese from Chinese characters. It is
writing today involves a simple alphabet system
a mixture of Chinese consisting approximately
characters and two forms fifty characters.
of kana. It was simpler
in Heian period, usually
in kana, with a few Chinese
characters.
