Itsukushima Shrine

 

The first record for Itsukushima Shrine was recorded in the year 811.  It is a shrine built in the sea.  There are many theories as to why it was built in the ocean water.  Some think it was an attempt to build a shrine to honor the goddess of the sea.  Or, it was build as a manifestation of the faith in the Buddhist belief of the Pure Land. It was believed that when people died, their soul crossed over by boats into the "next world" to go to paradise, the Buddhist Pure Land. Others say it was built in the ocean because Miyajima was sacred land and couldn't have a shrine on its soil. 

Whatever the reason, it's neat to see a shrine and a torii gate all "floating" on the ocean.

 

This shrine is a series of covered walkways and rooms open to the weather and the ocean view.  When there are storms, the shrine will receive a beating from the ocean waves.  Because the foundation posts are submerged in the water, they decay over time. Also, the cleaning of algae and leveling of the sandbar are quite unique for shrine maintenance.  There is a lot of work that goes into keeping this shrine as well-maintained and beautiful as it is!

As luck would have it, we got here just as a wedding was finishing up!

What a nice place to get married!  He is handsome and she is beautiful! 

As tourists were gathered around taking pictures (us included), their photographer was busy getting their kimonos just right and showing them how to hold their fans for their wedding photos. 

Inside the covered pathway.

Inside the Haiden, there were several people praying with priests.  Hard to tell that a wedding just took place here.

Itsukushima Shrine is beautiful and it was fun to see a shrine in the ocean.  There were a lot of tourists around, but there were still plenty of worshippers.  We enjoyed walking through it.