Seiryue, or “The ritual of the blue dragon,” is a mobile ritual held in Kiyomizu-dera temple. The temple enshrines Senju Kannon. She is well known as the shape-shifting Deity of mercy. In Kiyomizu-dera, she transforms into a blue dragon. Take a look at the picture above. Over the roof of the temple, there is a beam of blue light. It stands for the dragon.

In the ritual, the dragon and monks stroll around in the temple and its neighborhood to bring it good fortunes.

シカさん

We can enjoy it spring and fall.

七里ヶ浜親方

Make sure what it is.

Starring　行列の順番

The parade

As described before, Seiryue is a mobile ritual. It looks like a parade. Participants stroll around Kiyomizu-dera temple and its neighborhood. In this chapter, let us see who they are.

The blue dragon 青龍

Previously introduced, Senju Kannon of Kiyomizu-dera temple becomes a dragon. It is believed that she leaves the main hall and visit Otowano Taki fall to drink water. The fall is located in the temple.

Heiankyo (the ancient name of Kyoto) is constructed in “Shijin Soh Oh” philosophy. In this, the Four Sacred animal saves a city. They stays in north, south, east, and west of it. Kiyomizu-dera is in the east of Kyoto and a dragon saves it there. I suppose this is one of the reasons people saw Seinju Kannon as a dragon in Kiyomizu-dera.

In Seiryue, She appears as a 60′ paper dragon.

会奉行（えぶぎょう）

He is a chief of Seirue. He holds a stick which has a dragon head.

Tenpoh shu 転法衆

They plays sea-shell instrument called “Hora-gai” and lead the parade.

Shiten noh 四天王

Shiten noh are the four Deities who guards Buddhism. In this ritual, they are guardians of the dragon.

Juroku zenshin 十六善神

They are the 12 guardians of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra. They stroll around saying, “Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu (We believe in Kannnon).”

Yasha shin 夜叉神

They also are the guardians of Buddhism. He is enshrined in a small temple belongs to Okuno in temple in Kiyomizu-dera.

In Seiryue, he transforms into two ladies. They splash “Hako Kudoku Sui” water over us with sticks to give us good fortune.

The parade

3 must-sees

Seirue consists of 3 must-sees. Let see us what they are.

#1 Hakko Kudokusui no Gi at Okunoin temple　八功徳水の儀於奥の院

In Okunoin temple, Kannon is enshrined as in the main hall of Kiyomizu-dera temple. In Hakko Kudokusui no Gi, she gives Yasha Shin Hakko Kudoku Sui water. It is the sacred water found in Fudaraku Jodo paradise Kannon rules. Yasha Shin give us good fortune for us as described before.

After the ritual, the parade heads for Saimon Gate by way of Otowano Taki and Kyodo temple.

#２ Seiryu no Mai dance at Sai Mon bridege 青龍の舞於西門

Saimon used to be the main gate of Kiyomizu-dera temple. In Seiryue, the parade walk through it. In front of the gate, the dragon performs “The dragon dance.”

After it, it goes to it to a couple of shops in the neighborhood to give them good fortunes.

シカさん

This is the most exciting thing in Seirye. Have splashes of Hakko Kudoku Sui water!

#3 Rakkei no Gi　落慶の儀

After that, the parade goes back to Okunoin by way of the main hall. Yasha Shin give back Hakko Kudoku Sui water to Kannnon to complete Seiryue.

About Kiyomizu-dera temple 清水寺の基本情報

How to get to Kiyomizu-dera temple? 清水寺へのアクセス

About 15 minutes walk from Gojo Zaka or Kiyomizu michi bus stops.

Kyoto station to Kiyomizudera by bus: To avoid busy route

Kiyomizudera temple is the most popular destination for tourist in Kyoto. From Kyoto station, the route 206 bus is always crowded. In this post, I'll show you the other ways to avoid that busy route. 

kyotokankoyagi.com

2023.01.17

The last time I saw them is 8/18/2022.

Chozu washbasin 手水

At the entrance of Shinto shrines and Buddhist temple, except small ones, we find a washbasin filled with water called Chozu (手水) with which every visitors wash hands and mouth to prepare for the sacred places they visit.

Some of them are ornamented with flowers and plants. They are not for decoration. Shrines and temples put them on Chozu because they welcome them telling the season the visitors in.

These days, Hanachozu /Hanatemizu (花手水) is a la mode. Hanachozu originally means Chozu without water and its washbasin is filled with only flowers. The ones we see today are filled with water and flowers. And the most Kawaii one is located Konkai Komoji temple (金戒光明寺).

Afro Buddha and Afro duckies アフロ大仏とアフロアヒル

Konkai Komyoji is not a famous place like Kiyomizu-dera temple or Kinkakuji temple. Only so-called Kyoto-enthusiasts knew it as a place for Afro Buddha (Amitabha) but about a year ago, it won a fame for Kawaii-lovers.

In front of the main hall of Konkai Komyoji, there is a Chozu. There used to be rubber tortoises in the basin.

One day, all of a sudden, the temple found they all “disappeared.” Few days later, they come back there and vanished away again. A monk was hesitant to say “stolen” but it was apparent what happened to them. We were at a loss for words and only Afro Buddha knows where they were.

It is said that Afro Buddha grew his Rahotsu (螺髪) hair because he thought about the ways to help us for a long time. I’m sure he found us in despair. The monk found rubber duckies in the washbasin one morning. Someone donated them to the temple in secret.

Some of them grew Afro Rahotsu as Afro Buddha. They are the Afro duckies.

Now, there are lots of duckies and they make 3-D Raigozu.

Raigozu 来迎図

In Buddhism in Japan, we believe when a one ceased to exist, Amitabha, with many Deities, comes form Gokuraku Jodo paradise to bring them there.

Take a look at them. I suppose they shape Raigozu in 3 dimensions to bring us some contentment while we are alive. 合掌

This post is dedicated to the victims of 3.11 and all the people in suffer. 合掌