The eleven faces and forty-two arms of
Kannon show great compassion.
People have felt very close to the principal
image of the temple and
called the deity “Kiyomizu Kannon-san.”
KANNON REIJO, THE EMBODIMENT OF
KANNON’S COMPASSION
KANNON REIJO,
THE EMBODIMENT OF
KANNON’S COMPASSION
Over 1250 years have passed since the foundation of Kiyomizu-dera Temple. Halfway up Mt. Otowa,
one of the peaks in Kyoto’s Higashiyama mountain range, stands the temple, to which large numbers of visitors
come to pay their respects to Kannon, a deity of great mercy and compassion. For this reason, our temple is
known as a “Kannon Reijo.” “Reijo” is a Japanese word meaning a “holy place”
with which the Kannon’s compassion is abundant.
Visitors will stand before the Kannon with thankful hearts—feelings of gratitude for coming into this world,
your tranquil daily lives, and your loved ones, friends, and acquaintances who are always there beside you.
In other words, worshiping Kannon means taking a hard look at your true self.
Find the Kannon’s compassion in your everyday deeds.
We at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, along with the deity Kannon, wish for the happiness of all people across in the world.
When you visit the temple, simply put your hands together when in front of the statue of Kannon
and offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
