ITSUKUSHIMA-JINJA SHRINE
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Itsukushima-jinja is established on the island of Miyajima, at the foot of Mount Misen. The great Torii of Miyajima has existed since the renovation of the shrine by Taira no Kiyomori in 1168. Cleared at low tide, the main shrine consists of the Hai Den and the main hall, the Hon Den. A platform hosts the bugaku dance. The first shrine was built in the 6th century in 593, although this date is questioned by scholars who favour 811. Kiyomori Taira renovated the shrine and raised the vermilion-colored torii into the sea. It was restored several times, notably in 1168, 1241 and 1571. The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano'o, characters from Shintō mythology who are said to have caused another of their sisters, Amaterasu, to withdraw into a cave. The stage of the Nō Theatre dates from 1680, making it one of the oldest in Japan. It is located further south. The treasure pavilion contains sutras and also the Heike no Kyō, consisting of 33 volumes of sutras. These are purely Buddhist texts, with the exception of one volume devoted to the vows made by Taira no Kiyomori. At the back, on the hill to the north, one can see the Thousand Tatami Pavilion, the Senjō Kaku. This pavilion, built in 1587, was donated by Hideyoshi Toyotomi. Miyajima has many other temples such as, for example, Daigan-ji, which is said to date from 1201 and is located south of the shrine.
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