| The shrine is mentioned in the ''[[Nihon shoki]]'', as well as in the ''[[Fudoki|Izumo fudoki]]'', the most complete of the surviving provincial ''fudoki'' "gazetteers" of the 8th century. In the ''Nihon shoki'', Ôkuninushi, based as Izumo, is described as overseeing the realm of the gods, or ''yû'' 幽, while the emperor, based at [[Yamato province|Yamato]], oversees the realm of man, or ''ken'' 顕. On special occasions during the [[Kofun period|Kofun]] through [[Nara period]]s, such as on the occasion of the accession of a new emperor, priests from Izumo journeyed to Yamato to perform rites, offer prayers, and present gifts of sacred objects such as ''[[magatama]]'' meant to extend the protection of the gods over the emperor and the state.<ref name=tnm>Gallery labels, "Yamato and Izumo," special exhibit, Tokyo National Museum, Feb 2020.</ref> | | The shrine is mentioned in the ''[[Nihon shoki]]'', as well as in the ''[[Fudoki|Izumo fudoki]]'', the most complete of the surviving provincial ''fudoki'' "gazetteers" of the 8th century. In the ''Nihon shoki'', Ôkuninushi, based as Izumo, is described as overseeing the realm of the gods, or ''yû'' 幽, while the emperor, based at [[Yamato province|Yamato]], oversees the realm of man, or ''ken'' 顕. On special occasions during the [[Kofun period|Kofun]] through [[Nara period]]s, such as on the occasion of the accession of a new emperor, priests from Izumo journeyed to Yamato to perform rites, offer prayers, and present gifts of sacred objects such as ''[[magatama]]'' meant to extend the protection of the gods over the emperor and the state.<ref name=tnm>Gallery labels, "Yamato and Izumo," special exhibit, Tokyo National Museum, Feb 2020.</ref> |
| The shrine has been reconstructed numerous times over the course of its history. A reconstruction in [[1664]] produced a particularly significant number of models, manuals, and other documentary and material artifacts relating to the design and construction of the shrine.<ref name=tnm/> | | The shrine has been reconstructed numerous times over the course of its history. A reconstruction in [[1664]] produced a particularly significant number of models, manuals, and other documentary and material artifacts relating to the design and construction of the shrine.<ref name=tnm/> |