japan52 miyajima9 senjokaku shrine
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Miyajima Island (official known as Itsukushima Island) floats like a diamond in the Inland Sea of Japan. From ancient times, people have sensed the spiritual sanctity of Miyajima, and have revered and worshipped the island itself as goddesses
Toyokuni Shrine is dedicated to the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (one of the three unifiers of Japan in the 16th century) and his loyal aid Kato Kiyomasa. In 1587 Hideyoshi Toyotomi ordered the establishment of this Shrine as a place where sutra-chanting would be held in honor of war casualties. The building is called Senjokaku (Hall of One Thousand Tatami Mats), reflecting its standing as the largest structure on Miyajima Island. While it is the biggest building in Miyajima, it has never been finished with its construction halting on Hideyoshi Toyotomi's death
Miyajima
Goju-no-to
Goju-no-to, Five-storied Pagoda
The Five-storied Pagoda
was originally constructed in
1407, and it was restored in
1533. The main deity enshrined
here is the Buddha of Medicine,
accompanied by the Buddhist saints Fugen and Monju.
The Buddhist images
symbolizing the deity and the saints
were removed in the early Meiji
era. Now these are enshrined in
the Daiganji Temple
This structure is said to be one of only five examples
in Japan. It resists horizontal oscillation
caused by earthquakes and typhoons
One of the unique structural features is the
central pillar of the pagoda, which extends
from the peak of the roof only to the second story -
instead of to the foundation.
When major repair work was carried out in 1945,
the structure was restored to its original style by
coating it with red lacquer
The pagoda is 27.6 meters high and its roof is covered with layers of Japanese cypress bark shingles
Itsukushima Shrine
Tahoto PagodaDaisho-in Temple
Goju-no-to, Five storied Pagoda is not open to the public
The names of donors have been carved on each of the sixteen pillars of the first story. Fourteen of these donors were women
Senjokaku Shrine - The Hall of a Thousand Tatami Mats
Originally, Amida Buddha and two
subordinate Buddhist saints,
Anan and Kasho-sonja, were
enshrined in the Buddhist altar until the early
Meiji era. Since that time,
however, the altar has been used in
Shinto rituals
Senjokaku Shrine - The Hall of a Thousand Tatami Mats
The fact that this structure, unique among the buildings belonging to Itsukushima Shrine, is unpainted and that its exact date of founding is recorded makes it a valuable gauge of the passage of time. The traces of weathering on its pillars and floor boards can be used to determine the approximate age of any other wooden structure on Miyajima
Old Specimen of the Sago Palm, Cycas revoluta, growing in front of shrine
Countless votive picture tablets (ema) that had been hanging on the walls of Itsukushima Shrine buildings until the mid Meiji era decorate the walls inside the hall
The construction of the hall was discontinued after 11 years when Hideyoshi passed away, and it still remains unfinished today
One of the offerings (a Japanese compass)
Since it is situated on a hill, the wind that blows through the area is comfortable
A shimenawa is a straw rope with white zigzag paper strips (shide)
Mask
Countless Ema (wooden tablets with votive pictures) at Senjokaku (Hall of One Thousand Tatami Mats) in Toyokuni Shrine
The shamoji, a style of wooden spoon used to serve cooked rice without impairing the taste, is said to have been invented by a monk who lived on the island. The shamoji is a popular souvenir, and there are some outsized examples around the shopping district
When the tide is low, O Torii is approachable by foot from the island
Text: InternetPictures: Sanda Foişoreanu Nicoleta Leu Gabriela Balaban InternetCopyright: All the images belong to their authors
Presentation: Sanda Foişoreanuwww.slideshare.net/michaelasanda
Sound: Japanese Traditional Music - Shossho 2016