Itsukushima Shrine

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Itsukushima Shinto Shrine
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The torii of Itsukushima Shrine, the site's most recognizable landmark, appears to float in the water.
LocationItsukushima, Japan
CriteriaCultural: i, ii, iv, vi
Reference776
Inscription1996 (20th Session)
Area431.2 ha
Buffer zone2,634.3 ha
Websitewww.en.itsukushimajinja.jp
Coordinates34°17′45″N 132°19′11″E / 34.29583°N 132.31972°E / 34.29583; 132.31972
Itsukushima Shrine is located in Japan
Itsukushima Shrine
Location of Itsukushima Shrine in Japan
Itsukushima Shrine
"Itsukushima Shrine" in kanji
Japanese name
Kanji嚴島神社

Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社 (嚴島神社), Itsukushima-jinja) is a

National Treasures.[2]

The Itsukushima shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions. It is most famous for its dramatic gate, or torii on the outskirts of the shrine,[2] the sacred peaks of Mount Misen, extensive forests, and its ocean view.[1][3] The shrine complex itself consists of two main buildings: the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja, as well as 17 other different buildings and structures that help to distinguish it.[3]

History

Origin

Itsukushima jinja was the chief Shinto shrine (ichinomiya) of Aki Province.[4]

This shrine is one of the "Three Great Shrines of Aki Province", along with Take Shrine and Hayatani Shrine.[5]

The first torii on the site is said to have been erected in 593, supposedly by Saeki Kuramoto during the reign of

Sue Takafusa there in 1555, Motonari is said to have tainted the island's grounds by battling on the island.[2] Spilling blood violated the strict taboos meant to preserve the sacred purity associated with Shinto shrines.[6] The only surviving structure in Itsukushima shrine from the Kamakura period
is the Kyakuden or "Guest-God's Shrine".

Kiyomori

It was not uncommon during the 12th century for the nobility to build shrines or take on other architectural projects in order to "reflect their power and splendor."[7] The Taira are known specifically for their involvement in maritime trade with the Song dynasty (960–1279) and for attempting to monopolize overseas trade along the Inland Sea.[8]

Kiyomori was at the height of his power when he established the Taira dominion over the island. He "ordered construction of the main hall of Itsukushima shrine as a display of reverence for the tutelary god of navigation and to serve as a base for maritime activities..."[8] Miyajima soon became the Taira family shrine.[2] Supposedly, Kiyomori chose the location also for the reason to further establish himself in the Heian aristocracy as one who deviated from the social norms of Shinto pilgrimage .[9] He lavished great wealth upon Itsukushima, and he enjoyed showing the place to his friends and colleagues, or even to royal personages..."[10]

It is also said that

Kiyomori rebuilt the shrine on account of a dream he had of an old monk who promised him dominion over Japan if he constructed a shrine on the island of Miyajima, and pay homage to its kami who are enshrined there for his success in life.[6][2] The renovations funded by the Taira allowed for Itsukushima to "grow into an important religious complex."[9]

The Itsukushima Shrine at high tide, when it appears to float on the water

Religious significance

The Itsukushima shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of

Kannon," therefore the island was understood as the home of the bodhisattva.[9] In Japanese, the word Itsukushima translates to "island dedicated to the gods."[2] The island itself is also considered to be a god, which is why the shrine was built on the outskirts of the island.[2] Adding to its sanctity, Mount Misen is the tallest peak at about 1,755 feet.[2] Tourists can either hike or take a ropeway to the top.[2]

Its treasures include the celebrated Heike Nōkyō, or "Sutras dedicated by the House of Taira." These consist of thirty-two scrolls, on which the Lotus, Amida, and Heart sutras have been copied by Kiyomori, his sons, and other members of the family, each completing the transcription of one scroll, and it was "decorated with silver, gold, and mother-of-pearl by himself [Kiyomori] and other members of his clan."[2]

Originally Itsukushima was a pure Shinto shrine "where no births or deaths were allowed to cause pollution. Because the island itself has been considered sacred, commoners were not allowed to set foot on it throughout much of its history to maintain its purity. Retaining the purity of the shrine is so important that since 1878, no deaths or births have been permitted near it.

Burials on the island are forbidden. To allow pilgrims to approach, the shrine was built like a pier over the water, so that it appeared to float, separate from the land.[12] The red entrance gate, or torii, was built over the water for much the same reason. Commoners had to steer their boats through the torii before approaching the shrine.

View from the torii

Architecture

The torii gate, accessible from the island during low tide

Japan has gone to great lengths to preserve the twelfth-century-style architecture of the Shrine throughout history. The shrine was designed and built according to the Shinden-zukuri style, equipped with pier-like structures over the Matsushima bay in order to create the illusion of floating on the water, separate from island, which could be approached by the devout "like a palace on the sea."[6] This idea of intertwining architecture and nature is reflective of a popular trend during the 16th century as well as the Heian period in which Japanese structures tended to "follow after their environment," often allowing trees, water, and other forms of natural beauty to enter into the decor of homes and buildings. That led to a far more intimate relationship between the two.[7]

Itsukushima honden
Itsukushima haiden

The most recognizable and celebrated feature of the Itsukushima shrine, is its 50-foot (15 m)-tall vermilion otorii gate ("great gate"), built of decay-resistant

Japanese Buddhism associated with the Shingon Sect. The torii appears to be floating only at high tide. When the tide is low, it is approachable by foot from the island. Gathering shellfish near the gate is popular at low tide. At night, powerful lights on the shore illuminate the structure. The current torii dates to 1875, although there has been one on that site since 1168.[2]

Shinto architecture has many distinct parts, most of which include the shrine's honden (main hall) and the unusually long haiden (main oratory), and its equally long heiden (offertory hall). The honden "is an eight-by-four bay structure with a kirizuma roof surfaced in cypress bark."[2] Its walls are decorated in white stucco, and were constructed using a process requiring fifteen coats of white stucco, with vermilion woodwork.[2]

Extending from the sides of the haraiden of the main shrine is a noh stage which dates from 1590.[1] Noh theater performances have long been used to pay homage to the gods through the ritual acting out of key events in Shinto myth.

On September 5, 2004, the shrine was severely damaged by Typhoon Songda. The boardwalks and roof were partially destroyed, and the shrine was temporarily closed for repairs. Today anyone can visit the shrine at a cost of 300 yen.[2]

Gallery

  • The torii at low tide
    The torii at low tide
  • The torii at sunset
    The torii at sunset
  • The torii at sunset
    The torii at sunset
  • The torii at night
    The torii at night
  • The torii at low tide, from the inside of the shrine
    The torii at low tide, from the inside of the shrine
  • The buildings that make up the shrine itself are also built in the water.
    The buildings that make up the shrine itself are also built in the water.
  • Barrels of sake in one of the shrine's "floating" buildings
    Barrels of sake in one of the shrine's "floating" buildings
  • The shrine's halls and pathways on stilts
    The shrine's halls and pathways on stilts
  • The torii gate as seen from the castle at low tide
    The torii gate as seen from the castle at low tide
  • The torii with a visitor and view of the Seto Inland Sea
    The torii with a visitor and view of the Seto Inland Sea
  • Five-Tiered Pagoda at Itsukushima
    Five-Tiered Pagoda at Itsukushima
  • Deer near the torii gate
    Deer near the torii gate
  • Panorama of the floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine
    Panorama of the floating torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine
  • 2016 G7 ministerial meetings
    2016 G7 ministerial meetings
  • Inside of Itsukushima main shrine (Haiden)
    Inside of Itsukushima main shrine (Haiden)
  • Bridge in Miyajima
    Bridge in Miyajima
  • Tahōtō Pagoda
    Tahōtō Pagoda
  • Chashitsu in its garden setting, circa 1900
    Chashitsu in its garden setting, circa 1900

Artwork

  • Aki Province: Itsukushima, Depiction of a Festival (Aki, Itsukushima, Sairei no zu from Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces) by Hiroshige
    Aki Province: Itsukushima, Depiction of a Festival (Aki, Itsukushima, Sairei no zu from Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces) by Hiroshige
  • Itsukushima in Aki Province by Hiroshige
    Itsukushima in Aki Province by Hiroshige
  • Miyajima in Aki Province by Kunisada
    Miyajima in Aki Province by Kunisada
  • Aki Miyajima Shiohigari from 100 Views of the Provinces by Hiroshige II
    Aki Miyajima Shiohigari from 100 Views of the Provinces by Hiroshige II
  • Itsukushima Shrine by Kobayashi Kiyochika
    Itsukushima Shrine by Kobayashi Kiyochika
  • Mori Motonari Attacking Sue Harutaka at Itsukushima by Yoshitoshi
    Mori Motonari Attacking Sue Harutaka at Itsukushima by Yoshitoshi
  • Itsukushima moon (Itsukushima no tsuki) by Yoshitoshi
    Itsukushima moon (Itsukushima no tsuki) by Yoshitoshi
  • Snow on a clear day at Miyajima (seiten no yuki [Miyajima]), woodblock print, from the series Souvenirs of Travel II (Tabi miyage dai nishū), by Hasui Kawase
    Snow on a clear day at Miyajima (seiten no yuki [Miyajima]), woodblock print, from the series Souvenirs of Travel II (Tabi miyage dai nishū), by Hasui Kawase
  • Illumination of Lotus Sutra donated in 1164
    Illumination of Lotus Sutra donated in 1164
  • Itsukushima Shrine Mon
    Itsukushima Shrine
    Mon

See also

References

  1. ^
    Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric (2005). "Itsukushima-jinja"
    in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 407.
  2. ^
    JSTOR j.ctt6wqfhm
    .
  3. ^ a b "Ramsar and World Heritage Conventions: Converging towards success - Case study: Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Japan" (PDF). Ramsar. 15 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya", p. 3 Archived 2013-05-17 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved 2012-11-20.
  5. ^ Hiroshima. Hiroshima City. 1986.
  6. ^ a b c d e Sadler, A. L. (2009). A Short History of Japanese Architecture.
  7. ^
    ISBN 978-1100744452
    .
  8. ^ a b Shively, Donald H. (1999). The Cambridge History of Japan, Volume 2: Heian Japan. Cambridge University Press. p. 635.
  9. ^
    JSTOR 44478243
    .
  10. ISBN 978-0804705233
    .
  11. ^ "Itsukushima". GoJapanGo. 2010. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
  12. ISBN 9780202010434
    .

External links

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