Itsukushima Shrine

 Some people wonder why people go to Shinto shrines. We are learning about shrines to learn about Japanese culture.  In Japanese culture, we experienced Bunka and Fuchu Dai Ichi. Another reason our class is learning about shrines is to help us learn about Shintoism. Some other things we learned about shrines were about the uji, kami and spirits. We have been studying Place for a very long time and the two Place categories are Nature Place and Human Place. That is why we are learning about Shinto shrines. 

Most shrines are located in totally different places than each other. Our shrine, Itsukushima Shrine, was created near Hiroshima Shrine. It is located on Miyajima Island. It is off the coast of Hiroshima City. The shrine is in Miyajima Town. To enter the shrine, you have to go past the torii gate. The torri gate is a vermillion color as well as the shrine itself. In this bit of the paragraph, it will have a little bit of the Nature Characteristics. On the island our shrine is on it has lots of trees. Our shrine blends in with its surroundings. The shrine is located on a mountain called Mountain Misen. In this part of the paragraph, there will be some Human Characteristics. Itsukushima Shrine is located a five to ten minute walk from the Miyajima ferry. Our shrine was built by Taria No Kiyomori. Taria no Kiyomori constructed the shrine in the 12^th century and he built the shrine on top of water.  Itsukushima shrine has a torii gate that is also built on top of water so when the tide is high it looks like the shrine and the torii gate floating. But when the tide is low, you can walk up to the torii gate. Sometimes the shrines torii gate is called the otorii. Our shrine is guarded by stone kitsune. 

Each Shinto shrine has Shinto beliefs. Shinto believes you have to purify yourself before you can enter a Shinto shrine. You purify yourself because purification keeps you healthy and keeps sicknesses away from sick people. Shinto also belives the Sun Goddess is a kami spirit. The Sun Goddess is a goddess that created the sun. Her name is Goddess Amaterasu. Shintoism and Buddhism are the same in some ways, although they have fairly different religions and family traditions. Shintoism has a lot to learn if people look deep inside.  

Why are shrines so important to the kami and the Shinto religion? Miyajima Island has been celebrated as a sacred island. The very first kami lived in Itsukushima Shrine. In ancient times, Itsukushima shrine was worshiped as a god. It’s a special sight for Shinto and Buddhism because of Taira no Kiyomori. The Taira family dedicated Istukushima Shrine. The shrine was believed to be constructed in the year 593. It was the first shrine on Miyajima Island. When Itsukushima Shrine was built it was an attempt to build the mythical Rygu-jo which means Dragon’s Palace. It is one of the most interesting shrines in Japan.

by Mike, Kendall, Katelyn and Jared

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