Changes

*''Built: 12th century''

*''Re-established: 12th century, [[Taira no Kiyomori]]''

*''Rebuilt: [[1556]]''

*''Rebuilt: [[1556]]''

*''Japanese'': 厳島神社 ''(Itsukushima-jinja)''

*''Japanese'': 厳島神社 ''(Itsukushima-jinja)''

Itsukushima Shrine is a [[Shinto shrine]] located on [[Miyajima]] in [[Aki province]] ([[Hiroshima prefecture]]). Much of the shrine is built out over the water, and at high tide is said to appear to float; the massive ''yotsu-ashi'' (four-legged) ''[[torii]]'' is easily one of the most famous in the country, and is cited as one of the Three (Most) Beautiful Views in Japan.

Itsukushima Shrine is a [[Shinto shrine]] located on [[Miyajima]] in [[Aki province]] ([[Hiroshima prefecture]]). Much of the shrine is built out over the water, and at high tide is said to appear to float; the massive ''yotsu-ashi'' (four-legged) ''[[torii]]'' is easily one of the most famous in the country, and the shrine is cited as one of the Three (Most) Beautiful Views in Japan, along with [[Matsushima]] and [[Amanohashidate]].

The shrine, constructed in [[Heian period]] ''[[shinden-zukuri]]'' style, was re-founded and rebuilt by [[Taira no Kiyomori]] in the 12th century, and remains strongly associated with the [[Taira clan]] today. It is said that Kiyomori took great pride in the shrine, donating extensive funds to it and showing it off to a great number of friends and noble personages<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan to 1334''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958. p276.</ref>.

The shrine was first established in the 6th century, but the site is said to have been considered sacred even before that.

 

[[Taira no Kiyomori]] re-established the shrine in the 12th century, having it built in the ''[[shinden zukuri]]'' style of [[Heian period]] aristocratic mansions. It is said that Kiyomori took great pride in the shrine, donating extensive funds to it and showing it off to a great number of friends and noble personages<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan to 1334''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1958. p276.</ref>.

In [[1554]], the shrine and other areas of Miyajima Island were the site of the [[battle of Miyajima]], fought between [[Sue Harukata]] and [[Mori Motonari|Môri Motonari]]. Following the battle, the shrine was rebuilt in 1556<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan 1334-1615''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1961.pp234-235.</ref>.

In [[1554]], the shrine and other areas of Miyajima Island were the site of the [[battle of Miyajima]], fought between [[Sue Harukata]] and [[Mori Motonari|Môri Motonari]]. Following the battle, the shrine was rebuilt in 1556<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan 1334-1615''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1961.pp234-235.</ref>.

The shrine is dedicated to three daughters of [[Susano-o|Susano-ô]], and holds many treasures, including the ''[[Heike Nokyo|Heike Nôkyô]]'', a set of 32 scrolls of [[sutra]]s copied onto lavishly decorated paper by Kiyomori, his sons, and other members of the Taira clan.

The shrine is organized around two structures - the ''honden'' and ''haiden'' - which extend out over the water. These, along with a platform for ritual dances and a stage for [[Noh]] performances, are connected to the land by a series of covered walkways. The Noh stage is said to be, perhaps, the oldest in the world. The two main buildings, and the dance platform, located one in front of the other, face out over the water, forming a direct line with the ''torii''. A secondary shrine, with its own ''honden'' and ''haiden'' arranged similarly, sits to the east of the main shrine, facing perpendicularly across the face of the main shrine; this ''maro-do jinja'' is dedicated to a number of male guest deities, while the main shrine is dedicated to female deities, namely, three daughters of [[Susano-o|Susano-ô]]. The shrine's treasures include the ''[[Heike Nokyo|Heike Nôkyô]]'' (a set of 32 scrolls of [[sutra]]s copied onto lavishly decorated paper by Kiyomori, his sons, and other members of the Taira clan), and a painting by [[Yokoyama Taikan]] of [[Okakura Kakuzo|Okakura Kakuzô]] as Chinese poet [[Qu Yuan]].

[[Image:Itsukushima-panorama.jpg|center]]

[[Image:Itsukushima-panorama.jpg|center|thumb|800px|The main section of the shrine, as the tide comes in. When the tide is high, the complex extends out over the water. It faces out towards the ''torii'', which would be off to the right from this point of view.]]

==References==

==References==

*Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. p165.

*Mason, Penelope. ''History of Japanese Art''. Second Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. p165.

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[[Category:Shrines]]

[[Category:Shrines]]