Kiyomizu-dera renovation in January, 2020 清水寺工事英語で説明

Kiyomizu-dera renovation in February, 2020

For International Readers

2020.02.16 2019.03.06

Overview

Kiyomizu-dera temple is one of the most popular destination for tourists in Kyoto. It consists of about 15 buildings and some of them were renovated/reconstructed in the name of “Heisei no Daikaisyu (Reconstruction in Heisei period). ” Unexpectedly, Akihoto, the former emperor, gave up his throne to his son on 31 April. On the very next day, his son Naruthito acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne and the new era Reiwa started. So, the reconstruction is “Heisei and Reiwa no Daikaisyu” actually.

In February, Kiyomizu-dera looks like this

Now we can see the roof of the main hall for the first time in nearly 3 years. The scaffold will be removed in the near future.

On Feb. 9, most of the scaffold was removed.

On Feb.16, the removal of the scaffold is still going on.

In January

Now the most of all the shading sheet was removed and we can see the roof.

The renovation of the Hiwadabuki roof was finished. I suppose the cage will be removed by the Sakura season in late March.

On Jan. 19th

The roof of the cage was removed. Now we can see the iconic Kiyomizudera hall for the first time in nearly 3 years!

In January 2020, can we get to the main hall and the stage?

　いちきしま　ひめ

Yes, we can! We can visit the main hall and the stage! Don’t worry!

Now Kiyomizu-dera is covered with scaffold but we can get to the main hall and the stage. Click the photo above. We can see people at the center of the stage. It is an only part we can be on.

Inside of the main hall. Nearly the same view we had before the renovation. There are white boards for construction but it looks the same before the renovation started.

~~In November, the ceiling of the main hall is also under reconstruction.~~

The renovation of the main hall was finished.

This is the stage before the reconstruction started. Now, there are scaffolds are on the stage and we can visit the reduced area. The stage is around 227 square yards but the area left for us is around 45 square yards

Fortunately, we can enjoy the same view of Kinunkei (錦雲渓) valley as before. On 2nd November 2019, the leaves were still green. In couples of weeks later, we can admire the beautiful autumn leaves. Kinunkei is considered as the paradise where Kannon, the Deity enshrined in Kiyomizudera.

Kiyomizudera statues 1: Kannnon with 1000 hands

The Gohonzon, the Buddhist statue of Kiyomizu-dera temple, is "Juichimen Senju Kannon," who saves us with 11 faces and 1,000 eyes and hands.

　いちきしま　ひめ

ATTENTION!

Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most crowded landmark in Kyoto. Fortunately, it opens to us on 6 a.m. Most of tourists visit there around 9 a.m. or later. It would be better to enter Kiyomizu-dera before 8 a.m.

たけちよ

Believe me. I visit there every single month.

In December, Kiyomizu-dera looked like this

In December 2019, the main hall is covered with a huge cage with net to fix the roof. Now we cannot see the iconic Kiyomizu-stage belongs to the main hall.

Fortunately, the net of the cage is on removing. It tells us the renovation is ending. Kiyomizu-dera temple announced the reconstruction will end in the next spring.

The roof of the cage, the top layer of the shading sheet is removed and we can see the second layer of the sheet.

This fall, the main hall is illuminated. The renovation is to be finished in the next spring. This year is the last opportunity to see it illuminated in the cage.

In early-December, we admired tiny flower called Manju Shage (曼珠沙華) under the stage.

Now in November, we are able to admire SAKURA!

Behind Kiyomizu-dera, there is Jishu Shrine. We can see Cherry blossom there. Cherry blossoms usually are in bloom in spring but some of them blooms in fall and winter.

In Jishu Shrine, there is a statue of bunny. Turn left in front of it. You’ll see the Sakura.

Now (24th Nov.), the autumn leaves are in full bloom.

How is the renovation carried on?

The main hall is renovated in a huge cage covered with shading sheet. So, we cannot see what is going on inside.

On the other hand, on night illumination, the main hall is illuminated in side of the cage. The renovation work is suspended at night but we can see how the reconstruction is carried on.

Usually, we don’t have night illumination in Kiyomizu-dera. The next one is the night illumination in Autumn leaves season. The renovation will be finished in the next spring. I suppose the night illumination is the last one under reconstruction.

げきすせん

From 16th Nov. to 1st Dec.17:30～21:00

七里ヶ浜親方

It may be the last night illumination under renovation. DO NOT MISS IT!!!

Kiyomizu-dera is one of the most popular destination to admire autumn leaves in Kyoto. Check the link below.

KIYOMIZU-DERA in Autumn Leaves and night illumination 2019

Kiyomizu-dera temple has the most amazing autumn leaves and night illumination in Kyoto. You can learn the best way to enjoy them in this article with a help of a goat Kyotoite!

What is Heisei no Daikaisyu? 平成の大改修

Since its foundation in the 8th century, Kiyomizudera was reconstructed in nearly every five decades: Wooden buildings were damaged by whether and the vivid colors of pillars affected by sunlight. For these reasons, Japanese temples are to be renovated regularly.

Heisei no Daikaisyu began in 2017. It has been five decades since the last renovation. Famous buildings like Shakado (the place enshrines Buddha), Amidado (the place enshrines Amitabha), and the west gate are repainted in Gokusaishiki, the Japanese vivid colors. Most of all the buildings are renovated in the Daikaisyu but the most stunning incident is the change of the roof of the main hall. It is the last part of the Daikaksyu and will be finished in the next March, i.e., we can admire Kiyomizudera in the cage only in the following twelve months. This may be the last time to see Kiyomizudera in that way in our life.

The roof of the main hall

Hiwadabuki roof

Today, the main hall is a scaffold named Suyane for the purpose of restoring of the roof. The roof of the main hall is built in a technique called Hiwadabuki. It is a popular art of roofing and we can see it in many Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. These roofs are made of Hinoki (cypress) bark. Thin barks are put together and make thick roof.

How to make Hiwadabuki roof?

Now let us make a small inspection of the roof. Kiyomizudera is located at the top of a hill. When climb up the hill, we’ll find a building named “Umatodome.” It is a building worked as a stable for visitors. We can find a model of the roof there.

Why Hinoki cypress?

Hinoki is a popular wood for house building. It contains oil and can make roof water and worm proof. In addtion to it, the roof of Hiwadabuki is lighter than that of other materials. For example, about 1 sq yard of Hieadabuki roof is about 110 lbs and a roof of cray tile roof is heavier than 5 times. It is so sturdy wood that even Japanese mythology prefers it. Horyuji temple in Nara is the oldest wooden building on the earth and was built in the 7th century with Hinoki.

Strip the bark of Hinoki cypress

Craftspersons named “Motokawashi” strip the bark of Hinoki. They choose at least over 70 years old Hinoki tree. Near the root of a tree, they put a tool look like spatula between bark and trunk and peel off the bark. They take off only the surface of the bark to avoid devastate the life of the tree. The tree gains bark again and they can have bark about a decade later.

Make the bark roof

Attention: The photos in this chapter are not of Kiyomizudera temple.

Hieadabuki roof without bark looks like this.

Barks are slivered in long trapezoid shape. They are called “Hiwada.” Craftsperson called “Hiwadabukishi” have them moisten and put together to make a sheet of barks.

They put the sheet on the frame of the roof and nail them to it with bamboo nails hidden in their mouth. When Hiawdabukishi nail a sheet to the roof, they shift it a little to build thick and large roof.

The layers of the sheet of Hiwada make strong roof.

This is the main hall of Kiyomizudera temple before the Daikaisyu started. Take a look at something green on the roof: Mosses. Hiwadabuki roof usually has mosses or plants (actually some have flowers!) on it. They bond sheets of Hieada strong and make them tough.

Other renovations

Gokusaishiki colors

Buddhist temple is painted in this vivid color. Usually we can see them in this color because sunlight mades them fade away or soot of candle hides them. It is expensive to re-paint them that not the all temples afford that. In Kiyomizudera, Shakado, Amidado, the west gate, and other buildings were re-painted in this way.

Overview on Kiyomizu-dera temple

Kiyomizu-dera temple is one of the most famous landmarks in Kyoto and lures many tourists.

Its history dates back to the 778 A. D. The monk called Enchin had an oracle while he was asleep; Go to the Mt. Otowa. He found a golden stream and met Senju Kannnon, the Kannnon (Guanyin) who saves people with her 1,000 hands.

This is the foundation of Kiyomizu-dera temple.

In early days, Kiyomizu-dera temple belonged to Kofukuji temple and Hosso-syu school. And In 1965, it established Kita-Hosso-syu and was separeted of Hosso-syu.

In 1994, it was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites.

Though its long history, the building of Kiyomizu-dera temple we see today was constructed in the 17th century as a dedication of Tokugawa Iyemitsu, the 3rd Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate because the former building was burnt out by the fire.