Izumo-taisha

Izumo-taisha
	Monjin-no-yashiro, Amasaki-no-yashiro, Mimukai-no-yashiro, and honden
Affiliation
Deity
Festival
Type
Location
	Shown within Japan
Geographic coordinates
Style
	www.izumooyashiro.or.jp
	Glossary of Shinto

Izumo-taisha, also known as Izumo Grand Shrine or Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the oldest and most important Shinto shrines in Japan. Its exact establishment date is unknown. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, the shrine is dedicated to the gods Lua error in Module:Unicode_data at line 293: attempt to index local 'data_module' (a boolean value)., who is known as the Shinto deity of marriage, and Kotoamatsukami, a group of heavenly deities. The shrine is famous for two major festivals held there. Many people believe that it is the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan, even older than the Ise Grand Shrine.

Izumo-taisha's main hall, called taisha-zukuri, is a style of architecture that takes its name from the shrine. The main hall and the attached buildings were designated National Treasures of Japan in 1952. According to tradition, the hall was once much taller than it is now. The discovery of the remains of enormous pillars in 2000 supports this tradition.

To maintain the power of the kami and preserve architectural techniques, Izumo-taisha has been rebuilt every 60 to 70 years. This process of regular rebuilding is called "Sengū" (遷宮) and is also practiced at other important Shinto shrines, such as the Ise Grand Shrine, which is rebuilt every 20 years.^[1]

Izumo-taisha Media

Scale model reconstruction of the ancient Izumo-taisha honden, based on large pillars found near the area
Honden (main hall)
A few scenes from hatsumōde in Izumo-taisha, 2019
First torii leading to Izumo-taisha.
The Kaguraden with large shimenawa.
Izumo Taisya, Izumo, Shimane prefecture, Japan
torii at Izumo Taisha（ja:出雲大社銅鳥居）
Roofs with chigi and katsuogi
Izumo Taisya, Izumo, Shimane prefecture, Japan