Taiyuin-byo+Shrine

The Taiyuin-byo Shrine is located in Nikko, Japan. It is dedicated to Iemitsu, the third Tokugawa shogun. The reason that a whole shrine is dedicated to this shogun is because he was the one who brought isolationism into Japan for about 200 years. Isolation for Japan primarily meant that they couldn’t trade with anyone. The fourth shogun that came after Iemitsu really liked what was done with the country by Iemitsu, and decided to start building the shrine. Ietsuna, the fourth Tokugawa shogun, was the one who came up with the whole idea of the shrine and put everything together. The construction of the shrine took a bit more than a year to finish. The construction started in February 1652 and ended in April 1653.

The long trail going to the shrine is surrounded by a forest, that is mainly consists of Japanese Cedars. There are many structures along the trail to the shrine. The first being one of four gates. It is there to show the entrance into the shrine as well as guard it. The gate has two statues of Nio warriors (one on each side) that guard it. After the gate, there is a water fountain made out of granite. After that there is the second gate. This one has four statues of four different gods (Jikokuten, Koumokuten, Kaminarimon, and Raijin) that also guard the shrine. Further along the path, when you go up some stairs, you will be at the third gate. This one once again has four statues of guards, guarding the shrine. After the gate there are two towers directly across from each other (one being on the right, the other on the left). These are the Drum tower and the Bell tower. The Drum tower is there to represent Birth, while the Bell tower is there to represent Death. From that point on, all along the path, on both sides, there are stone lamps and two sanctuaries. The inner sanctuary is closed to the public. After all of that walking, you finally arrive at the fourth and final gate. This one leads to the shrine itself and Iemitsu’s tomb. All of these structures have mixed in elements of the Shinto and Buddhist religions.

The Taiyuin-byo Shrine is a Shinto shrine, even though it is part of a Buddhist temple. All of the structures and the woods truly make the shrine a remarkable and unique place to go to in Nikko, Japan.