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Risachantag — Japan: Cleansing Dragon
Published: 2006-07-04 03:09:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 35363; Favourites: 1210; Downloads: 2077
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Description
Most temples in Japan have these areas where you wash your hands, or drink the water, to purify yourself. I'm not quite sure what the symbolism of the dragon statues that often form a part of these places are; again, if anyone knows the details, I'd be very happy to hear about them. Taken at Kiyomizu Temple.*EDIT*
According to
"Dragons live in every single body of water, they are spirits and gods. They have the water pouring out of their mouths because its water from the holy creatures mouth. Shinto belief. The god of all dragons is the dragon of the sea."
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Comments: 168
sorry but its a shrine not a temple
shinto => shrine
buddhism => temple
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Hello! I really like your photo. May I use it for my senior project? It'll just be in a power point, and I can site you as a source if you'd like. If you'd rather I bought it just let me know, Thank you!
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This is cool. I want to come to Japan just to see things like this. it's my life dream to come there and take pictures.
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i just posted a picture of this same exact dragon then stumbled on your shot. i loved it there
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the dragon usually represents one of the four direction, north west south east. the blue dragon of the west, or was it north... idk, but ya cool pic, i was there.
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Oh my god, i wasn't there in my life , i hate you all ! ! No, i'm kidding... ! Cool shot, Japan is beautiful as a place and as a culture of mith and customs !
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i so have almost the same picture lying around on my camera. just got back from japan a week ago, yeah i would like to know the same thing.
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i so have almost the same picture lying around on my camera. just got back from japan a week ago, yeah i would like to know the same thing.
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I like to go to Japan to see those one of these days.
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another reason why there is a dragon at this temple is because there is another water area that is said to grant wishes. and they have a festival for a god that is a dragon that is said to drink for that water spot. i forget all the specific details, but if you were there you may have noticed once in the temple there was an area where there was a long line to get to an area with a mini waterfall.
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DOOD !!! I came to this place too !! XD
So awesome !!
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hey man. that's pretty cool, I went to This temple back about 4 years ago, And I also have the same exact picture. I found this while browsing, and I was 'HEY! I'VE BEEN THERE!' ha ha, so it was a cool experience. rock on.
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wow i went to kiyomizu a few weeks ago and i have this exact picture, lol. glad i decided not to upload it now.
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Man, I've always wanted to go to Japan, it's been my dream for sooo long now. If I recall correctly, the dragon in Japanese culture symbolizes strength, purity, honor, loyalty, and in some cases dignity. It isn't uncommon to see dragons in Japan, dragons, to the Japanese, are the great and wise protectors of their country, homes and lives. Dragons are the wise all seeing protectors of Japan, or so they believe. I've spent alot of my time studying Japanese culture, but sadly I've come to find out alot of horrific things about their culture, however that was in the past, I've now come to love Japan for all its glory. The art that comes from there is amazing, and their lanuage is so interesting to me, the music that comes from Japan is so wonderful to listen to, and listening to the music can teach you alot of things that you can not read about on the internet, or books.
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Oh my god!!! I was there too!
Did you visit the shinto shrines too? as well as the jump?
It was amazing!!!
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Umm..if im correct i know ive seen that that statue somewhere, i recall its the AZURE DRAGON the spirit that protects the east of japan!?
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beautifal photo i love things like that and especalie when there frome japan.
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great shot. i love japanese dragons. the only thing i know about is that they protect women and their child and if they carry a red ball its the symbol for fertility
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funny thing is i feel a connection to dragons......i wear one around my neck and i never take it off......hmmmm......interesting legend
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That place looks so much better than London!
Great photo!
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when i visited japan last year i saw one of those at a temple, me and my mom were a little skittish about actually drinking from it, lol it was gorgeous tho
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This is soo awsome!!!the photo's great and that detail's awsome!^^
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awe I really love this dragon photo, would be amazing to go visit and see for myself.
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wow, that legend kind of explains why Haku is a dragon spirit in Spirited Away o.0... and an awesome legend that is.
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Hey, I was just there ! I took a photo quite the same
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Wow, cool, I visited that same spot last March 
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Ooh, Kiyomizudera was one of my favorites! That dragon caught my eye, too.
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Kyomizudera!
I was there this summer.
It really was worth the trip.
Around june, there are lovely bushes with pretty blue flowers everywhere in temples and shrines... I can't remember if they are called hydrangeas or hyacinth...
Another great place to visit is the Heian Shinto Shrine.
The gardens are THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE EVER!!!!!!
I loved it there, as you could tell.
If you do go to japan, take a sidetrip to Hakone and ride the cable car. It's so cool.
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*points* I SAW THAT!! XD I have a picture of that same dragon! I washed my hands in it. I don't feel healthier or anything though.... -___-' I visited Kiomizudera temple while on my visit to Japan, and it has the most beautiful view I've EVER seen!
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I really like your picture. It turned out so much better than mine did
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I think thats true I remember seeing a thing on t..v about chinese dragons
and the piccy is so cool!
Lil Mr./Mrs. First comment is right, that would be an awesome garden decoration.^^
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I'm really enjoying this series of photos, even if i am going through it backwards. Mah, I want to go to Japan!
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