Japan is home to several temples called Kiyomizu-Dera temple, but Kyoto is the most famous of them. Its full name is Otousan Kiyomizu-Dera temple, or the Temple of pure water. This Buddhist complex in the Higashiyama area was so called because of the waterfall, which is located on its territory. It is believed that this water has healing powers.

The temple was founded in 778 by a monk named Entin. There are two versions for its construction. According to one legend, a monk appeared in a dream the goddess Kannon and ordered to stay near the Otowa waterfall. Entin laid in the mountains of the monastic settlement, and then met hunted there shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. The prayers that are offered up Entin goddess Kannon, helped to cure a sick wife of the shogun and himself to win in a military campaign. In gratitude shogun in 798 built a temple on mount Otowa, became the main building of the monastery. According to another legend, the temple appeared from behind the wife of the shogun, who repented of their sins, ordered to demolish his property and erected a Buddhist temple. Shogun won a victory in a military campaign, disposed to turn their residence with the Cathedral in the monastery.

In the early ninth century the monastery became the property of the Imperial court and received the right to conduct official prayers for the health of the Imperial family. At about this same time the Church got its current name.

At the end of the next century Kiyomizu-Dera temple was under the management of one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in the country - Kofuku-JI. This monastery was in a state of hostility with the monastery of Enryaku-JI temple. Clashes between them very often took place with the use of weapons, the monastery Kiyomizu-Dera temple had been subjected to pogroms. Most strongly Kiyomizu-Dera temple was damaged in 1165, when the monks of enryaku-JI temple, burned the main temple and other buildings. Kiyomizu-Dera temple many times turned to ashes, but it was rebuilt.

Buildings that can be seen in use today were constructed in 1633. In the temple complex, which is a national cultural heritage, consists of a prayer hall, a pagoda, the main temple with the statue of the goddess Kannon, shelter for bells and other facilities.

Describe the abode of the Kiyomizu-Dera temple and its ceremonies often the works of Japanese literature of the XI-XIII centuries, in dramatic and comedic plays, are used in the productions of traditional theaters Kabuki and Bunraku.