Powered By

Skin Design: Jasmine85

Powered by Blogger

P115 - Japan - Itsukushima Shinto Shrine


Itsukushima Shinto Shrine, Hatsukaichi , Japan ( UNESCO WHS )




Itsukushima Shrine (Japanese: 厳島神社, Itsukushima Jinja) is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima) in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Japanese government has designated several buildings and possessions as national treasures.

The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of the Shinto deity Susano-o no Mikoto, brother of the great sun deity, Amaterasu (the tutelary deity of the Imperial household). The first shrine buildings were probably erected in the 6th century, and the shrine has been destroyed many times. The present shrine dates from the mid-16th century, having been rebuilt in keeping with its earlier 12th century design.

The current sixteenth century shrine follows the design established in 1168, when funds were provided by the warlord Taira no Kiyomori. The shrine's construction, consisting of pier-like structures built over the bay, is due to the holy status that the island once commanded. Commoners were historically not allowed to set foot on the island, and had to approach by boat, entering through the gate that appears to float. Beside the shrine is a noh stage.

The dramatic gate (torii) of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions, and the view of the gate in front of the island's Mount Misen is classified as one of the Three Views of Japan (along with the sand bar Amanohashidate, and Matsushima Bay). The gate has existed since 1168, though the current gate dates back to 1875. The gate, built of camphor wood, is about 16 metres high and was built in a four-legged style to provide additional stability.

The gate only appears to be floating at high tide; when the tide is low, the gate is surrounded by mud and can be accessed by foot from the island. It is common practice for visitors to place coins in the cracks of the legs of the gate and make a wish. Gathering shellfish near the gate is also popular at low tide. At night, powerful lights on the shore illuminate the gate.

Retaining the purity of the shrine is so important that since 1878, no deaths or births were permitted at the shrine.[citation needed] To this day, burials on the island are still forbidden.

On September 5, 2004, the shrine was severely damaged by Typhoon Songda. The boardwalks and roof were partially destroyed, leading to its temporary closure.


嚴島神社是一座創建於593年前後,位於日本廣島縣廿日市市境內島嶼——嚴島(舊名宮島)——島上的一座神社,主要祭奉的日本古傳說中的三位海洋女神(宗像三女神)。嚴島神社修築於瀨戶內海海濱的潮間帶上,神社前方立於海中的大型鳥居(日式牌樓)是被稱為「日本三景」之一的嚴島境內最知名的地標。嚴島神社除了大部分的建築結構都被日本政府指定為國寶之外,神社內也收藏了許多國寶級的物品,並且在1996年時與神社後方彌山上的原始林區並列於世界遺產名單中(其中神社屬世界文化遺產,而彌山則為世界自然遺產)。


References sources : Wikipedia

Share Bookmark:

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Sign by Danasoft - Get Your Free Sign

jasmine8559 - View my 'UNESCO' postcards on Flickriver
jasmine8559 - View My 'Wishlist' on Flickriver

Postcards Countries

Svalbard Spain United States of America Antarctica South Georgia Falkland Islands Bolivia Peru Ecuador Colombia Venezuela Guyana Suriname French Guiana Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Argentina Chile Greenland Canada United States of America United States of America Israel Jordan Cyprus Qatar United Arab Emirates Oman Yemen Saudia Arabia Iraq Afghanistan Turkmenistan Iran Syria Singapore China Mongolia Papua New Guinea Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Malaysia Tiawan Philippines Vietnam Cambodia Laos Thailand Burma Bangladesh Sri Lanka India Bhutan Nepal Pakistan Afghanistan Turkmenistan Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Japan North Korea South Korea Russia Kazakhstan Russia Montenegro Portugal Azerbaijan Armenia Georgia Ukraine Moldova Belarus Romania Bulgaria Macedonia Serbia Bosonia & Herzegovina Turkey Greece Albania Croatia Hungary Slovakia Slovenia Malta Spain Portugal Spain France Italy Italy Austria Switzerland Belgium France Ireland United Kingdom Norway Sweden Finland Estonia Latvia Lithuania Russia Poland Czech Republic Germany Denmark The Netherlands Iceland El Salvador Guatemala Panama Costa Rica Nicaragua Honduras Belize Mexico Trinidad & Tobago Puerto Rico Dominican Republic Haiti Jamaica The Bahamas Cuba Vanuatu Australia Solomon Islands Fiji New Caledonia New Zealand Eritrea Ethiopia Djibouti Somalia Kenya Uganda Tanzania Rwanda Burundi Madagascar Namibia Botswana South Africa Lesotho Swaziland Zimbabwe Mozambique Malawi Zambia Angola Democratic Repbulic of Congo Republic of Congo Gabon Equatorial Guinea Central African Republic Cameroon Nigeria Togo Ghana Burkina Fassu Cote d'Ivoire Liberia Sierra Leone Guinea Guinea Bissau The Gambia Senegal Mali Mauritania Niger Western Sahara Sudan Chad Egypt Libya Tunisia Morocco Algeria
Map Legend: 26%, 70 of 263 Territories
 Postcards received from 


ArgentinaAustraliaAustriaBelgiumBosnia and HerzegovinaBelarusBrazilBulgariaCanadaChinaChileCyprusDenmarkEgyptIrelandEstoniaCzech RepublicFinlandFranceGuernseyGermanyGreeceHong KongCroatiaHungaryIcelandIndonesiaIndiaIranIsraelItalyJapanKorea, SouthLatviaLithuaniaSlovakiaLuxembourgMacauMontenegroMacedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic ofMoroccoMauritiusOmanMexicoMalaysiaNetherlandsNorwayNew ZealandPeruPolandPortugalSerbiaRomaniaPhilippinesRussiaSouth AfricaSloveniaSingaporeSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUnited Arab EmiratesThailandTurkeyTaiwanUnited KingdomUkraineUnited StatesUruguayVietnam

Free money making opportunity
Postcards Exchange