見真大師霊跡

Gazing up at Kiyomizu-dera’s wooden stage, have you ever wondered about the stories etched in the stones below? This unassuming stone monument at the foot of Kiyomizu-dera, the Kennin-ji stone, tells a tale of a different kind. It commemorates Shinran Shonin, founder of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism and the very first Kennin-ji. Kiyomizu-dera and Kennin-ji, seemingly separate, are linked by this memorial to Shinran. He died in 1262 at the age of 90. He passed away at his brother’s residence, the Zenshin-in, right here in Kyoto. Later, the Hōnen-ji Temple was constructed at this location. It was eventually moved, but this stone remains. It anchors the memory of Shinran to this spot. This spot is near what was once the Toragase stone, a tiger-shaped rock that gave the area its original name, Toragase-cho. This area is significant because the stone not only marks Shinran’s death. It also reveals a connection to Kiyomizu-dera. Shinran, a key figure in Japanese Buddhism, left his mark near this iconic temple. The Kennin-ji stone at Kiyomizu-dera is more than just a marker. It’s a window into the rich, interwoven history of Buddhism in Kyoto. It reminds us that even seemingly unrelated locations can hold hidden connections. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of Shinran Shonin, whose presence still resonates at the foot of Kiyomizu-dera.