Kiyomizo-dera Temple

These are pictures from the temple Kiyomizo-dera, near Kyoto. Its origins date from 778 A.D. Inside are many images of the deity Kannon, with her 42 arms (some say a thousand). Approaching the temple, one first sees a three-story pagoda, some 31 meters high. The largest feature of the site is a wooden stage where people can view the countryside and the changing leaves of trees all around. The stage is supported by 168 pillars and is constructed of 410 cypress boards. Amazingly, there are no nails in the structure. It's entirely held together by interlocking joists.Two other interesting features are the Otowa waterfall (which we would call a series of falling streams.) A long-handled ladle is provided for those who wish to drink the water, which is said to extend life and fulfill one's wishes,. A spookier feature is a tunnel that descends some stairs to enter. It's pitch dark inside, because it represents the womb of a female bodhisattva, and you emerge on the other side, reborn. (See our book THE RED-HEADED DEMON for Seikei's adventure with a boy mistaken for a bodhisattva.)

Toshugu Shrine

The Toshugu Shrine is one of the most elaborately decorated in Japan, a land that prizes simplicity. Toshugu's twelve buildings encompass the tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the samurai warrior who founded the dynasty that ruled Japan for nearly four centuries. His grandson, the reigning shogun, ordered the unusual shrine to be built. Carvings shown here include an elephant sculpted by a man who had never seen an actual elephant, but only had it described to him.

Toshugu Shrine

This is the Toshugu Shrine, probably the most elaborately decorated building in Japan, a land that prizes simplicity. Its twelve buildings encompass the tomb of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the samurai warrior who established a dynasty that ruled Japan for nearly four centuries, until 1868. Among the carvings are two of an elephant (the brass one and the gray one) that were created by a man who had never seen an elephant, but only had it described to him. You can also see a sleeping cat and the famous three monkeys ("hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil.")