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Miyajima Island (official known as Itsukushima Island) floats like a diamond in the Inland Sea of Japan. From the misty beginnings of Japanese history Miyajima has been classified as one of the most scenic places in Japan.

It is said that Itsukushima Shrine, one of the Three Scenic Views of Japan, was established by Saeki-no-Kuramoto. In the late Heian Period, the current shrine building was constructed in its present form, as a shrine on the sea, with the assistance of Taira-no-Kiyomori. The conception of a shrine whose grounds include the sea, with its form ever changing with the ebb and flow of the tides, is like nothing else in the world.

An aerial view of the Itsukushima-jinja torii

A chōzuya or temizuya is a

Shinto purification fountain for a ceremonial

purification rite known as temizu

Water-filled basins, called

chōzubachi, are used by

worshipers for washing their left

hands, right hands, mouth and finally the handle of the water ladle

to purify themselves

before approaching the

main Shinto shrine or shaden

This symbolic purification is normal before worship and all manned shrines have this facility, as well as many Buddhist temples and some new religious houses of worship

The temizuya is usually an open area where clear water fills one or various stone basins. Wooden dippers are usually available to worshipers

Lanterns which we often see at shrines and temples, were introduced from Baekje, an ancient city of Korea, in the Nara period. They are dedicated to prayer for the help of Gods. They are usually made of stone, copper, or iron. We often see stone or copper lanterns outside shrine or temple buildings.

The hanging lanterns along the corridors were firstdedicated by Terumoto Mori, a grandchild of Motonari Mori. The lanterns of those days were made of casting iron and the shape was different from what it is today. They are now stored in the Treasure Hall.The present lanterns were made of bronze in the early 1900, which were modeled after those of 1366

Green branches of Sakaki: Sacred Tree of Shinto

In the Shinto religion of Japan, nature is sacred. To be in contact with nature is to be close to the gods, and natural objects are worshipped as sacred spirits, or kami. Especially sacred is the sakaki (Cleyera japonica), an evergreen tree found in Japanese mythology, literature, and sacred rituals Tamagushi - literally "jewel skewer“ is a form of offering made from a sakaki tree branches and strips of paper, silk, or cotton that are offered to kami in ceremonies at Shinto shrines

In December of the year Heisei 8 (1996), Itsukushima Shrine was registered as a World Heritage Site.

In background Mount Misen, a sacred mountain where the gods are believed to have descended to earth and the two storied pagoda

Miyajima Tahoto (Two-storied Pagoda) built in 1523

Green branches of Sakaki and Zigzag shaped paper streamers, known as O-Shide or Shide used in Shinto rituals

The zigzag papers are immediately apparent to anyone who visits Japan. They are very ancient and are thought to date from the Heian period (794-1185 AD). They probably represent the very earliest kind of paper folding in Japan The zigzags form a family of related kinds of ritual symbols  

The incredible concept for building a shrine standing in the sea was either an attempt to build the mythical Ryugu-jo (Dragon Palace) because the enshrined goddess is the goddess of the sea. Or, it was built as a manifestation of the faith in the Buddhist belief of Pure Land during the Fujiwara Period. It was believed that when people died, their soul cross over by boats the "next world" to go to Gokuraku Jodo (paradise, Buddhist Pure Land)

The vermilion color of the shrine and of the O-torii is considered to keep evil spirits away. As for Itsukushima Shrine, the shrine buildings are coated with vermilion lacquer, which is also efficient as protection from corrosion

The five storied pagoda seen from Itsukushima Shrine

Komainu are a pair of lion-like guardian figures placed at each side of a shrine or temple entrance, or a worship hall, and are believed to ward off evil spirits

Purification fountain

Marodo Shrine (Shrine for the Guest Deity) Haraiden (purification hall)

Main Shrine (Honden)

Main Shrine (Honden)

Main Shrine (Honden)

KomainuOne of the statues with its mouth open is male and the other with its mouth closed is female

Associated with the Itsukushima shrine, and considered a part of its sacred geography, are seven much smaller shrines positioned at intervals around the 19-mile circumference of the island. There are no roads to most of these shrines therefore pilgrims use small boats to approach the rocky shores where the temples are located

The beautiful Otorri gate, standing in the sea and leading to the Itsukushima shrine, is the symbol of Miyajima Island.The box shaped upper part of the great Torii is filled with about 7 tons of stones, each as big as a human fist

The present Otorii, the eighth that was constructed since the Heian period (794-1192), was built in 1875 with the wood of camphor trees

Ema  wooden wishing plaques of Japanese shrines

Zigzag shaped paper streamers, known as Shide and sacred Sakaki (Cleyera japonica)

Shimenawa is a rice-straw rope with shide paper strips. It marks the border between a sacred place and the secular quarter.The origin is said to have begun when the Goddess Amaterasu was taken out of the heavenly cave (ama no iwato), the God, Futodama-no-mikoto closed the entrance of the cave with shimenawa rope, to prevent Amaterasu from reentering.Today Simenawa is used to prevent bad luck and evil spirits from entering. Shimekazari (straw rope decoration) put at the entrance on New Year also has the same meaning.

The Itsukushima Shrine extends out over the water so that at high tide it seems to be floating on the sea. It consists of the Main Shrine and many subsidiary shrines and buildings all connected by wide corridors and galleries. Itsukushima Shrine has been designated as a National Treasure

Sake barrels, but they are not full of rice wine. When displayed near a Shinto shrine, such barrels are called kazaridaru, which means “decoration barrels.”

The decoration of barrels known as kazaridaru signifies a spiritual connection and relationship between brewers and shrines for prosperity. Most brewers donate these sake barrels to shrines for Shinto ceremonies, rituals and festivals. Japanese believe that sake acts as a symbolic unification of Gods and people

Sori-bashi (Arched Bridge)

Sori-bashi (Arched Bridge)

Sori-bashi (Arched Bridge)

Sori-bashi (Arched Bridge)

Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu Nicoleta Leu Gabriela Balaban InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors

Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda

Sound: Wagaku - Shinto Shamanic Kagura Dance Music (Kuniburi No Utamai)

2016