Sunday, December 7, 2014

Kyoto VI—Kiyomizu-dera

今年恰好是古京都遺址(古都京都文化財),名列聯合國教科文組織世界遺產的二十週年紀念。讓我想起日本中小學生畢業旅行必來的清水寺。

Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) are celebrating their 20th anniversary as part of UNESCO World Heritage Site this year, which reminded me about Kiyomizu-dera, a temple that all primary and high school students of Japan are required to visit to deepen their knowledge about the country’s history and spirit.

Primary School students visiting Kiyomizu-dera


清水寺和其周邊,包括二条、三条、五条茶碗坂等,大概是京都最熱鬧的區之一。這幾條多數由階梯組成的,是步行前往清水寺,會經過的古街。街道兩旁茶座、點心舖、京都風情小物、陶瓷店、織錦緞店滿是,是尋找當地特色小物的好地方。熙來攘往的街道,偶爾一位藝妓娉娉嫋嫋經過,步行中的人群會像斷電般停了下來;滿街遊人佇足欣賞古風美人呢。

Located halfway up Otowa Mountain in the eastern part of Kyoto City, Kiyomizu-dera is one of the oldest temple in Kyoto. It was established in 778, even before Kyoto became the capital of Japan; Kyoto was the capital of Japan between the 8th – mid 19th century.