Japan's Most Famous Torii

So far, we have seen just about everything you think of when you think of Japan. We have seen the Great Buddha in Kamakura, we have been to the Ghibli Museum, we have seen a Sumo Tournament, and, as of today, we have finally seen the red torii in the water at the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island.

The front of the Itsukushima Shrine

We were able to get really close to the torii during low tide.

After taking this picture, we walked through Itsukushima Shrine itself. The shrine was first built in 593, and then rebuilt in 1168 above the water. During high tide, visitors can only get to the shrine by taking the bridge. During low tide, however, visitors can walk up to the shrine on the exposed land between the shrine and the torii. When I walked through Itsukushima, I felt the strategic building of the shrine. The information sheet given to me when I paid for my entrance said, “The contrast of the blue sea, green hills and the vivid vermilion-lacquered shrine is breathtakingly beautiful.” This is completely true. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it feels peaceful to be in the shrine itself because it blends itself so well with the landscape.

It is interesting to come from a very religious southern state in the US to a largely non-Christian Asian country. You would think there would be a large contrast, but there is actually quite a bit of cross-over in the religious patterns. Similar to Christianity, Shinto is everywhere. The nature of the religion suggests this, but visitors can also see this with the numerous shrines, including individual ones in the home. Everyone prays here, and everyone is involved in Shinto. The only difference in practicing patterns seems to be the fact that Shinto is only on the island of Japan, whereas Christianity spreads the globe. This fact right here seems to be what draws me to the shrines. Although I don’t practice the religion, I feel like it is a welcoming religion. Shinto is not a missionary religion, so it pretty much welcomes anyone who is living in Japan. 

The famous torii at sunset

Morgan D. 

Class of 2015