Itsukushima+Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine
By: Ben Trouvais

History
Itsukushima Shrine is the main Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima, or Miyajima which most people call it, which the island is named after. While Japanese historians do not know when the shrine was built, but it is estimated the original shrine was built in the 6th century. The temple was dedicated to the three daughters of the Shinto diety of seas and storms, which is fitting considering the shrine is built on an island. The island of Miyajima, for most of its sacred history, was not aloud to be walked on by citizens of Japan; only monks could walk around the island. To still allow citizens to visit the shrine without breaking these rules, constructors strategically built the shrine on docks. This was done to make the temple appear to people approaching the island that it was floating. Because the shrine appeared to be floating on water, visitors could still visit without technically stepping on the actual island. The torii gate was designed in a simalar fashion; it was not built on land and also appeared to be floating. This way, Shinto followers could visit the shrine without breaking any sort of religious laws.

Important Events
While the shrine continues to carry out it's duties as a shinto shrine, many particular events, including those that continue to occur, have happened regarding the shrine. Close to the shrine is a stage, called a noh stage, which was funded in the 1500's by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man responsible for unifying Japan.The noh stage is used in acting out important scenes from the Shinto religion. These performances are intended to pay respect to the Shinto gods. In 2004, during Typhoon Songda, the shrine was severly damaged. Parts of the roof of the shrine and the boardwalks were destroyed. Untill repairs were made not too long later, the shrine was entirely closed to all people, religious or not.

What Stands Today
Even though the shrine was built in the 6th century, the shrine that is there today is not the one that had originally been there. Because of various forms of violence, both natural and human-made, the shrine has been completly destroyed time and time again. The first time the shrine was rebuilt was in 1168, when the famous warload Taira no Kiyomori, the man who created the first ever samurai based government in Japan, funded the project. The newer shrine, which is what we see today, is a replication of the one built in 1168. The torii gate was added to the shrine when it was rebuit in 1168. The shrine today, however, was built in 1875. It was built with decay-resistant wood and, to add support, has four legs instead of the conventional two legs seen on almost every other gate.