Special sculpture of Buddha, which is always wet

I found a sculpture in Kiyomizu-dera temple(清水寺, きよみずでら). It was in a kind of cage and always wet.

Because of the water pipe made from bamboo. I was wondering that it has meaning or not. I guess it has, because the history of Japan made it. The history has the meaning in it all the time. Including daily things like a name of town or street, there are deep meaning according to the history. 

And I read a book and search on the internet. But, there is no answer. I just learned there're some kinds of sculptures of Buddha, and some of them have specified hand(s). For example, Buddha with 1000 hands, it can help so many people by the hands. Hands stand for the symbol of help. 

It's written "Wet hand Buddha"

It's called wet hand Buddha. I guess wet hands can help many people. Because if your hands are wet, and you touch, for example, wheat, it clings damply to your hands. If the hands of Buddha are wet, it clings to people, who need help. Perhaps, That's the reason of why it is wet.

It's one of the explanation. I'm not a specialist on history. But, thinking about the reason of strange things, I will come to know the history of Kyoto and Japan. They're very interesting!

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