IZUMO: THE OLDEST SHRINE: The Izumo Shrine, located in the town of Taisha on the northwest coast facing

Korea, is believed to be the oldest shrine in Japan. The Kojiki in the 8th century describes the mythic origins of the shrine in the story of its chief kami, Okuninushi no Mikoto (also Onamochi). In this myth, Okuninushi no Mikoto is developing the world of mortal man when Ninigi no Mikoto (grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami) descends to earth. Okuninushi no Mikoto gives over temporal rule of the land to Ninigi no Mikoto in exchange for control over divine affairs. The sun goddess was so pleased by this gift to her grandson that she had a shrine erected for Okuninshi no Mikoto on the Izumo site. He is traditionally regarded as the god of marriage, good fortune, and agriculture. Some scholars have suggested that this myth might represent a pre-historic territorial agreement between the Yamato (Japanese) invaders and another racial group previously in control of this northern approach to Korea. The design of the present shrine may date back to the first century. It has been periodically rebuilt. The last honden built in 1744 is the twentyfifth building since the original. One of the main festivals held at Izumo Shrine is Kamiari Matsuri (the gods being present) in October. It is believed that at this time gods throughout Japan come to Izumo to discuss their respective kingdoms. For this reason one ancient name for October in many parts of Japan is Kanazuki,month without gods. During this festival small box-shaped housed are placed in the shrine precincts to house the visiting gods.
Izumo Shrine 1
(photo credit)

Izumo Shrine Entrance with torii and view of haiden.

The architectural style, taisha-zukuri, provides a different style from the the flat roof and almost square shape of the Ise Shrine. The Izumo Shrine is composed with two levels of roof curves and a long narrow hall (see photo 3). During the Nara period, when Buddhism was popularized, changes were made to the design of Izumo Shrine. The roof was made curved and the Chinese style gable-end boards and ridge-end ornament were added to the original

structure. Legend holds that the high-floor dwelling style of the Izumo Shrine is meant to resemble the shape of the emperors palace. A central post probably symbolizes the august central pillar, a pillar with which Izanagi and Izanam-I, the first deities of Japanese, stirred the ocean as they created the islands of Japan.

Izumo Shrine 2

(photo credit)

Plan of Izumo Shrine (larger image)(photo) Izumo Shrine 3

(photo credit)

The residence of the kami is centrally located in the honden. Pilgrims do not worship within the kami sanctuary. The haiden, or worship hall, for this purpose is considered to be a later addition to the shrine.

Izumo Taisha, Japan

Search

Sacred Sites
Search

Web

Explore Sacred Sites World Atlas View sacred sites maps and locations worldwide. Fine Art Prints
Photographs and essays from Martin's pilgrimage travels. Purchase prints of sacred

sites and other items. Sacred

Sites Book Upcoming Events Martin Gray

Selections from Martin's book, "Places of Peace and Power."

Schedule of upcoming slide shows and pilgrimages.

Biography, future plans,

and other information. Nomadics

Stock Photos Latest Newsletter The most current edition of the Sacred Sites Newsletter. Bibliography
Bodymind exercises and movement meditations. Martin's entire catalogue of images is available. 1000 sources, arranged

topically and alphabetically.Geomancy

Foundation

Assist in the research and teaching work of Martin Gray

Keep Up to Date!
Subscribe the Sacred Sites newsletters to receive updates, activities, announcements, book reviews, and links to related websites. Don't wait, to Subscribe Now!

Healthy Hands DVD now on SALE!

Exercises and self-therapy for hands, wrists and forearms. Now at a new low price! Read more...

National Geographic
Order copies of the Geography of Religion, with many photographs by Martin Gray, from from Amazon.com.

ResourcesA comprehensive list of other helpful websites. Below are the currently featured sites. Magic Planet NomadicsGeomancy Foundation

A pilgrim praying at a Kami spirit dwelling, Izumo Taisha temple (Order Custom Fine Art Print)

Situated at the foot of the sacred Yakumo and Kamiyama hills, the temple of Izumo Taisha is considered to be the oldest and most important Shinto shrine in all of Japan. The main shrine is dedicated to Okuninushi-no-kami, a Shinto deity. According to the Kojiki (the Legendary Stories of Old Japan) and the Nihon Shoki (the Chronicles of Japan), these being the two oldest books in Japan, the main shrine was the largest wooden structure in the country prior to 1200 AD. The height of the main shrine was then about 50 meters, surpassing the 46 meter height of the Todaiji Temple in Nara (the largest wooden structure in the world today). Sometime around 1200, following one of the many fires that ravaged the site, the main shrine was rebuilt to a height of 25 meters. The present main shrine dates from 1744. Legends relate that Okuninushi's father courted and married his mother at Izumo. Because of this divine marriage, the shrine has from ancient times been a special place for marriage for

the Japanese people. Okuninushi is also the deity who is traditionally credited with the introduction of medicine and the art of farming. Izumo Taisha hosts at least fifteen major festivals each year and the beautiful complex of buildings nestled in a virgin forest is always bustling with pilgrims. The November festival of Kamiarizuku, 'the time when the spirits gather' is described in detail in Chapter One of my book, Places of Peace and Power, included on this web site.

Pilgrims awaiting Kami spirits at Kamiarizuku festival, Izumo Taisha, Japan. (Order Custom Fine Art Print)

Shinto priests welcoming Kami spirits at the Kamiarizuku festival, Izumo Taisha temple, Japan (Order Custom Fine Art Print)

The Deeper Meaning

Nonviolent Communication

Home | Site Map | Advertise With Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Other Resources
1983-2006 Martin Gray, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyrights

Izumo Taisha
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search Izumo Taisha (; also Izumo no yashiro) is one of the most ancient and important of the Shinto shrines in Japan. Its name means "The Grand Shrine of Izumo." No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Taisha, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god kuninushi-no-mikoto. A style of architecture, Taisha-zukuri, takes its name from the main hall of Izumo Taisha. That hall, and the attached buildings, are National Treasures of Japan. According to tradition, the hall was previously much taller than it presently is. The recent discovery of the remains of enormous pillars has lent credence to this. Several other buildings in the shrine compound are on the list of Important Cultural Assets of Japan.

Visits of the Kami to the Izumo Shrine, Japan

by Tom Bender Located near a small bay on the west side of Honshu Island across from Hiroshima is the Izumo Shrine, the most ancient Shinto shrine in Japan. This shrine has been venerated continually for well over a thousand years. Every year in late fall the kami, or earth spirits, of Japan leave their normal homes throughout the country and gather for a week at the shrine. During this period, the Shrine is also visited by thousands of pilgrims who have come to celebrate the arrival of the kami. This visit of the spirits even has a special name in the Japanese language - the period of the visit is known as kami-arizuke (period with the gods) at Izumo, and kannazuki (period without gods) in all other parts of Japan. At the time of their 1998 visit, we performed an experiment in remote dowsing to see if the visit caused any change in the chi

energy of the Shrines site. Dowsers Sig Lonegrin in Europe; Joey Korn and James Sullivan in North America; and Hitomi Horiuchi in eastern Japan dowsed a map of the shrine precincts before, during, and after the visit of the kami. All found a major change in the energy of the site during the visit, and a return to the earlier energy state after the departure of the spirits. One dowser registered confusion because his reading first showed an energy node at one shrine building, and rechecking later, found it at a different building. A call to the Shrine produced a schedule of events during the week, which indicated that a welcoming ceremony had been held at the first building at the time of the first reading; and later the spirits moved to the second building for another ceremony! In spite of the Westernization of Japan, the Japanese still acknowledge the existence of the kami and continue their annual visits to the Shrine to honor them, as they have for probably more than a thousand years. The presence of the spirits is still perceptible to visitors, and people gather from around the world to celebrate and honor them. Below: Honden, or main shrine building at Izumo Taisha, in ancient Shinto style.

Below: Energy lines on site before and after kami visit.

Great Gate Izumo shrine

Oracle Hall

Main shrine