National treasure
Itsukushima Shrine

As described below, the building group of Itsukushima Shrine consists of a group of shrines built and arranged with harmony and unity, and buildings historically formed around it, under a certain clear idea Become.

Itsukushima was the island of God that residents of the coastal islands around the island felt the spirit of the mountainous mountain with the mountain peak as the main peak from the ancient times and revered this. People have worshiped the God who is staying here as Itsukushima God and wished to worship from the other side across the sea, avoiding the island which is the land of God for a long time.

After that, from when it began to build like a worship facility at the water's edge of the island, it would have been developed as a shrine building of the shrine. The construction of Kagehiro Saeki, sponsored by Kiyomori as mentioned above, is intended to organize the main shrines in this primitive form and make the splendid city-style buildings of the shrine appear in this area It was.

The headquarters facing the north and the Sessha Maroudo Shrine westward facing the ocean are connected by a corridor which is influenced by sleeping creation which is the residence style of the ruling class of the Heian period. The feeling of sleeping in the Heian period remains remarkably on the detailed style of each shrine and the gentle curve of the roof made of the bark of the cypress called "Hiwadabuki".

This is a testament to the fact that Itsukushima Shrine has inherited the form and composition of the former shrine well in repeated fires and rebuilding after the disaster.

A group of shrines at Itsukushima Shrine is a unique concept that unveils a vivid red-painted religious building group on the sea, against the backdrop of the deep green covered mountains of Mt. Misen, the mountain of God Below is creating a unique landscape.

By worshiping from the opposite shore in the old days, the whole island centered on Mt. Misen was sanctified, but eventually the shrine was established at the water's edge of the island and as the front view of the group of shrines was emphasized, The mountainside behind the mountains including Mt. Misen became more important as the natural landscape with the background effect of the group of shrines. In this way, the sea area to the Otorii built to the front of the group of shrines and the mountain ridge like the folding screen towards Mt. Misen behind are recognized as an integrated natural environment surrounding the shrine.

Arrange a group of shrines that spread lightly over the front of the mountain masses. To this, the composition which adds the effect of the sea surface which makes the facial expression change to the sun by the condition of the sun ray is splendid, contrast of color and texture also gives effect. The existence of the group of shrines that constantly changes its expression according to the tide of the tide seems to see a famous piece of masterpiece.

The value as a scenic spot was recognized among the people in the beginning of the 18th century and was advertised nationwide as one of the three scenic spots in Japan "Aki no Miyajima" and was aimed at those who visited here.

As well as many other shrines, the islands of Itsukushima Shrine have been in contact and fusion of Shinto and Buddhism thought since the Heian period, so many Buddhist architecture was built within Itsukushima. Many of them were destroyed by the Waste Buddha interpretation movement after the Meiji Restoration. In addition to the shrine's shrine, Buddhist architecture built on the hills of the surroundings since the Middle Ages even barely escaped the wave of the abolition of abolition Buddha interpretation movement is also an essential architecture indispensable for the history of Itsukushima Shrine It is a thing.