Gezicht op de Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto c. 1895 - 1905

This is a photograph by Kōzaburō Tamamura, capturing Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto. Notice the Kiyomizu-dera temple complex, set among lush trees: these elements are not merely aesthetic choices but are laden with symbolism. Temples, across cultures, represent sacred spaces, a meeting place between the earthly and the divine, while the surrounding flora signals renewal, growth, and the cycles of nature. The image reminds me of how similar motifs appear even in religious paintings from the Italian Renaissance. A parallel can be drawn to depictions of the Madonna in a hortus conclusus, or enclosed garden, symbolizing purity, protection, and a sacred space. Like the garden, the temple is seen as a serene refuge. Through centuries, and continents apart, this symbol reappears, constantly evolving to reflect the cultural values and the collective hopes of the communities that embrace it. It highlights a fundamental, perhaps subconscious, human impulse: the desire for sanctuary and spiritual harmony.