Kyoto 3, Kiyomizudera
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Making a wish
Near the main hall at Kiyomizu Dera is the Otowa waterfall, (Otowa-no-taki) where the falls is channeled into three streams of water that fall into a pond below. The tradition is to catch the water in a long handled cup and drink it to have a wish granted for health, longevity, and success in studies. The three streams are believed to be one for longevity, one for love, and one for knowledge, (but all the water comes from the same source). Supplicants make a wish to the protective deity Fudomyo-o at the shrine behind the falls and drink one cup of water by slurping it from their hands. These school girls are wishing for 'success in studies'.
OtawanotakeOtawa waterfallmaking a wishthree water streamswish granting powersKiyomizu DeraKyotoJapanUNESCO World Heritage
![The popular expression "to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu" is the Japanese equivalent of the English expression "to take the plunge".[5] This refers to an Edo period tradition that held that, if one were to survive a 13m jump from the stage, one's wish would be granted. 234 jumps were recorded in the Edo period and, of those, 85.4% survived.[5] The practice is now prohibited](https://photos.smugmug.com/Japan/Japan-2015/Kyoto-3-Kiyomizudera/i-JWkx9ks/0/9a248f44/Ti/Kiyomizu%20Dera%20Hondo%20%28Great%20Hall%29%20with%20Kyoto%20city%20in%20the%20background%2C%20Japan-Ti.jpg)
jimholmquist
on November 14, 2016Terrific shot and an interesting tradition!
Rick Willis
on November 14, 2016Negates the need for plastic bottles for drinking water...
Lgood
on November 13, 2016What a lovely tradition, and what a wonderful capture of the students making wishes. I really enjoyed learning about this, thanks for sharing.
Byron Fair Photography
on November 13, 2016Very cool.
fotoeffects
on November 13, 2016Great shot and interesting bg info!
Franks-Focus
on November 13, 2016Interesting custom & nice capture of it in process.
Judith Sparhawk
on November 13, 2016Really interesting custom--fun seeing the happy, hopeful, expressions on their faces.
Terry Allen
on November 13, 2016Thank you for your comments!