Ancient main shrine of Izumo-Taisha / Three pillars foundation / Sacrifice people
Monday, January 16, 2017
This is a model of ancient main shrine of Izumo-Taisha.
It is said the height was over 48 meters.
Current main shrine(24 meters)
Huge wood pillars foundation were found in 2000.
Three big pillars are tied as one pillar.
Actual size model and location in current Izumo-Taisha main shrine.
Three pillars unit is Japanese Shinto religion's basic.
Ancient Torii,a gate of shrine, was three pillars architecture.
Three pillars Torii is called Mihashira-Torii.
Ancient Jewish people brought the architecture to Japan.
Torii gate variety
Pillar and three pillars unit mean a man.
legs and male genitalia = 2+1
Before huge shrine was built,local people lived in peace.
But Japanese local leader who had divinity of Ookuninishi was killed by different race from neighborhood country.
They already killed many Japanese before that.
(Ookuninishi is God of the land = Izumo-Taisha's main deity)
After the murder,different race group ruled Japanese people.
But rulers had to build very high shrine...because vengeful ghost appeared.
Rulers tried to return the former leader's spirit to heaven.
Many Japanese young men were dedicated as sacrifice to build the huge shrine.
Generally,Japanese Shinto shrine is place for nature gods.
They are staying in nature and inside of main shrines.
We care for them with love because they use the thankful heart feelings to protect the area.
So,huge shrine architecture is not needed in true Shinto.
Plain and simple shrine is enough indeed.
But Izumo-Taisha's shrine was used for killed human spirit.
Of course killed leader was great person who was possessed with God of land,but he was not a nature god itself.
Museum of Izumo-Taisha history.
Photos by wikipedia