Yoshikawa Kotodo 50th Anniversary Work "Flying Beauty"

About the Artwork:

"Girl Jumping from the Stage of Kiyomizu-dera Temple"

Artist: Harunobu Suzuki (Japan)

Chuban Nishiki-e

25.9cm*18.6cm

1765 (Meiwa 2)

Collection of the National Library of France, Paris

        This is one of Harunobu Suzuki's masterpieces of illustrated calendars. Since ancient times, there has been a custom in Japan of jumping from high places to cure illnesses, pray for success in love, or vow to accomplish a mission. The stage of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto gradually became a symbolic location for this custom. The Kiyomizu stage is built on a steep cliff, approximately 13 meters above the ground, constructed entirely with wooden kabu (dovetail) joints, without a single iron nail. Since ancient times, the Kiyomizu stage has been a place to enshrine the principal deity, Kannon Bodhisattva, and has hosted performing arts such as Gagaku, Noh, Kabuki, and sumo wrestling. In 1629 (Kan'ei 2), the Kiyomizu stage was destroyed by fire and rebuilt four years later with donations from Shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu.

The saying "jumping from the stage of Kiyomizu-dera" originated in the Edo period, reportedly due to two main factors. First, Kiyomizu-dera was a temple with an extreme devotion to Kannon worship, particularly believing that the source of the Otowa Waterfall was connected to the "Potalaka Pure Land" on the distant southern sea in India. Therefore, it was believed among the populace that "Kiyomizu-dera is the Pure Land of Mount Potalaka, and if one can jump from that stage, one can go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss." It was said that if one jumped from the Kiyomizu stage and was still breathing and able to stand up, their wish would be granted. There was even a legend that one could peacefully attain Buddhahood even if they died after jumping from the Kiyomizu stage.

On the other hand, around 1690 (mid-Genroku era), the Kabuki play "Seigen and Princess Sakura" became immensely popular. The plot roughly describes a monk named Seigen from Kiyomizu-dera who falls in love with Princess Sakura and boldly confesses his feelings, but the princess flees upon hearing his confession. During the performance, the actor playing Princess Sakura suddenly opened an umbrella and jumped from the stage into the audience. This stunning performance, combined with traditional beliefs such as "wishes come true by jumping from a high stage" and "one can go to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss," led to the saying "jumping from the Kiyomizu stage." The idea that "some people actually jumped and their wishes came true" gradually spread, and many believed this rumor and actually jumped. According to the "Kiyomizu-dera Joju-in Nikki" discovered within Kiyomizu-dera in the 1990s, 150 to 180 people actually jumped during the Edo period, and about 85% survived. Even today, Japanese people still vow "to jump from the stage of Kiyomizu-dera" to express a certain determination.

The young woman depicted jumping from a high place in the painting is praying for success in love. She holds a specially made umbrella for her safety, and the shell patterns on her flowing clothes subtly incorporate the characters "大二三五六八十," indicating the major months of that year.