A torii is a gate leading to a jinja. This one stands in the sea before the Itsukushima Shrine.

Charms for safe pregnancy, safe driving, and other well-wishes being sold at Itsukushima Shrine

Typical Shinto Shrine with paper streamers made out of unprocessed hemp fibre.

A jinja (Japanese: 神社) is a Shinto shrine and its surrounding natural area. In common usage, jinja often refers to the buildings of a shrine. Unlike a church or a mosque, a jinja traditionally has neither characteristics of a chapel nor a place for propagation; its sole purpose is for the enshrinement and worship of a kami. In recent centuries, especially significant kami have come to be enshrined throughout Japan. Some kami and jinja that have widespread geographic distribution include: Download high resolution version (796x675, 564 KB) A Japanese torii at Itsukushima Shrine Taken in August 2004 by Dan Smith. ... Download high resolution version (796x675, 564 KB) A Japanese torii at Itsukushima Shrine Taken in August 2004 by Dan Smith. ... A famous floating torii at Itsukushima Shrine Multiple torii at Osaka shrine Torii are widespread in Japan, to the extent that modern architecture sometimes emulates their form. ... The torii of Itsukushima Shrine, the sites most recognizable landmark, appears to float in the water. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 903 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1024x768, 903 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Eastern Orthodox shrine Buddhist shrine just outside Wat Phnom. ... Shinto ) is the native religion of Japan and was once its state religion. ... Eastern Orthodox shrine Buddhist shrine just outside Wat Phnom. ... It has been suggested that Ecclesia (Church) be merged into this article or section. ... A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... A chapel is a private church, usually small and often attached to a larger institution such as a college, a hospital, a palace, or a prison. ... Taken during a Hindu prayer ceremony on the eve of Diwali. ... “Megami” redirects here. ...

• Asama Shrine (also called Sengen Shrine)
• Aso (Aso Shrine)
• Hachiman (Hachiman Shrine)
• Hikawa Shrine
• Inari (Inari Shrine)
• Kumano (Kumano Shrine)
• Munakata Shrine
• Shinmei Shrine
• Suwa Shrine
• Tenjin (Tenman-gū)
• Toshogu

The most famous Shinto shrine in the world is Itsukushima Shrine on the island of Miyajima. Its "floating" torii is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Japan, for both domestic and foreign tourists. Asama Shrine(浅間神社 Asama Jinja,Sengen Jinja) is a type of Shinto Shrine in Japan. ... ASO is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to: // Aso is a common kurdish name Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Albany Symphony Orchestra Antisense oligonucleotides Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Annapolis Symphony Orchestra American Symphony Orchestra Japanese cruiser Aso JCG Aso class patrol vessel ASO: Armored Scrum Object, video game ASO II: Last... Hachiman in the Guise of a Buddhist Monk, statue from Kamakura period, 1201 AD Hachiman (Japanese, 八幡神 -shin, also can be read as Yawata no kami) is the Shinto god of war, and divine protector of Japan and the Japanese people. ... Hachiman Shrine ) (or 八幡宮 Hachiman-guu) is a shinto shrine dedicated to the god Hachiman. ... Hikawa shrine Hikawa shrine (Japanese: ) in the Omiya district of Saitama is a major Shinto jinja. ... Inari (Japanese: 稲荷) is the Shinto god of fertility, rice, and foxes. ... Inari Shrine ) is a shinto shrine to worship Inari. ... Kumano (熊野市; -shi) is a city located in Mie, Japan. ... Kumano Shrine (Japanese:熊野神社) is a shinto shrine. ... Munakata Shrine (宗像大社) is a shrine in the city of Munakata, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. ... Suwa Shrine ) is a shinto shrine. ... Tenjin (天神) is the Shinto kami of scholarship, the deified Sugawara no Michizane. ... Tenman-gÅ« ) is a shinto shrine to worship Sugawara no Michizane as Tenjin. ... Yomeimon at Nikko Toshogu Toshogu (東照宮) is any Shinto shrine in which Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the last shogunate of Japan, is enshrined with the name Tosho Dai Gongen. ... The torii of Itsukushima Shrine, the sites most recognizable landmark, appears to float in the water. ... The town of Miyajima from Mount Misen, with the torii of Itsukushima Shrine at the bottom Miyajima (宮島町; -cho) is a town located on Itsukushima Island (sometimes referred to as Miyajima Island) in Saeki District, Hiroshima, Japan. ... A famous floating torii at Itsukushima Shrine Multiple torii at Osaka shrine Torii are widespread in Japan, to the extent that modern architecture sometimes emulates their form. ...

Origin

According to tradition, this is the cave at Amanoiwato where Amaterasu hid, causing darkness over the earth.

It is believed that a jinja had originally been only a temporary shrine constructed for a periodical festivals at a sacred place such as a mountain or cave. This was because it had been believed that kami would move around as much as any animal, and could not be confined. Okinawa's Utaki retains some of these beliefs. Ama-no-Iwato cave Ama-no-Uzume Amaterasu Shinto Japanese mythology Takachiho, Miyazaki Kyushu Japan I took this photo in 1995 and contribute it to the public domain. ... Ama-no-Iwato cave Ama-no-Uzume Amaterasu Shinto Japanese mythology Takachiho, Miyazaki Kyushu Japan I took this photo in 1995 and contribute it to the public domain. ... The Sun goddess emerging out of a cave, bringing sunlight back to the universe. ... Stalls selling food or toys are a familiar sight at festivals throughout Japan. ... Lyskamm, 4 527 m, Pennine Alps Blue Ridge Mountains in Shenandoah national park, Virginia A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ... Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... This article is about the prefecture. ... Utaki (御嶽) is an Okinawan term for a sacred place. ...

However, after a permanent shrine called a shaden (社殿) was built, it was reasoned that a kami would take residence inside a jinja. Some believe that the practice of constructing shaden is from Buddhism; even today, many jinja from ancient times do not have shaden, but only a place to pray while looking out to a sacred place or a specific area which must not be entered. A silhouette of Buddha at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ... Look up pray in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Facilities

Basin in a Chozusha for washing hands at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo

A jinja has several facilities within its boundaries, including a honden (本殿) and haiden (拝殿). The honden is the building that contains the goshintai (御神体); literally, "the sacred body of the kami". Of these, only the haiden is open to the laity. The honden is located behind the haiden and is much smaller and undecorated. Other notable jinja facilities are torii that serve as sacred gates for entering a jinja, chōzuya (手水舎) where one may cleanse one's hands and mouth, and shamusho (社務所) that maintain a jinja. Download high resolution version (800x689, 250 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (800x689, 250 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A Chōzuya ), also known as a Temizuya, is a Shinto structure with a water-filled basin where worshipers wash their hands and rinse their mouths to purify themselves before approaching the main shrine or shaden (Japanese: ). Basin at a Chōzuya Japanese dragon guards a Chōzuya in Fujiyoshida... The central sanctuary where the Meiji emperor is enshrined. ... Tokyo Metropolis (東京都 Tōkyō-to) is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and, unique among the prefectures, provides certain municipal services characteristic of a city. ... In Shinto shrines, the honden (本殿, main building) is the most sacred area, intended purely for the use of the kami. ... In religious organizations, the laity comprises all lay persons collectively. ... A famous floating torii at Itsukushima Shrine Multiple torii at Osaka shrine Torii are widespread in Japan, to the extent that modern architecture sometimes emulates their form. ...

Romon at Isonokami Jingu in Tenri, Nara

During the Nara period and into the early Meiji period, it was not uncommon for a Buddhist temple to be built inside or next to a jinja. When a jinja houses a Buddhist temple, it is called a jinguji (神宮寺). After separation of the Buddhist temples and jinja was ordered in the Meiji period, the connection between two was officially severed, but many continued to cooperate on matsuri and other occasions into the present. Isonokami Jingu Shinto Shrine Tenri, Nara Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ... Isonokami Jingu Shinto Shrine Tenri, Nara Japan I took this photograph and contribute it to the public domain. ... Building at Isonokami Jingu The Isonokami Jingu (石上神宮) is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Tenri, Nara Prefecture, Japan. ... For god from Turkic mythology see: Täñre. ... The Nara period ) of the history of Japan covers the years from about AD 710 to 784. ... The Meiji period ) denotes the 45-year reign of Emperor Meiji, running from 8 September 1868 (in the Gregorian calendar, 23 October 1868) to 30 July 1912. ... Stalls selling food or toys are a familiar sight at festivals throughout Japan. ...

The buildings and grounds of a jinja often include many of the following:

• kaguraden (神楽殿)
• kenzoku (眷属).
• koma-inu (狛犬; lion-dog statues)
• maiden (舞殿)
• romon (楼門)
• sessha (摂社)
• suesha (末社)
• tamagaki (玉垣)
• toro (燈籠; lanterns)

Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Distribution of Lions in Africa Synonyms Felis leo (Linnaeus, 1758) The lion (Panthera leo) is a member of the family Felidae and one of four big cats in the genus Panthera. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... Stone lantern in a Chinese Garden A chōchin invites customers into an okonomiyaki restaurant in Japan A lantern is a portable lighting device used to illuminate broad areas. ...

Sites of Jinja architectures designated National Treasures of Japan

• Tōhoku region
  • Osaki Hachiman Shrine (Sendai, Miyagi)
• Kantō region
  • Nikkō Tōshō-gū (Nikkō, Tochigi)
  • Rinnō-ji (Nikkō, Tochigi)
• Chūbu region
  • Nishina Myōjin-gū (Ōmachi, Nagano)
• Kansai region
  • Onjō-ji (Ōtsu, Shiga)
  • Hiyoshi Shrine (Ōtsu, Shiga)
  • Mikami Shrine (Yasu, Shiga)
  • Oharasasa Shrine (Yasu, Shiga)
  • Tsukubusuma Shrine (Nagahama, Shiga)
  • Namura Shrine (Ryūō, Shiga)
  • Kamo Shrine (Kyoto, Kyoto)
  • Daigo-ji (Kyoto, Kyoto)
  • Toyokuni Shrine (Kyoto, Kyoto)
  • Kitano Tenman-gū (Kyoto, Kyoto)
  • Ujigami Shrine (Uji, Kyoto)
  • Sumiyoshi Taisha (Osaka, Osaka)
  • Sakurai Shrine (Sakai, Osaka)
  • Kasuga Shrine (Nara, Nara)
  • Enjō-ji (Nara, Nara)
  • Isonokami Shrine (Tenri, Nara)
  • Udamikumari Shrine (Uda, Nara)
• Chūgoku region
  • Sanbutsu-ji (Misasa, Tottori)
  • Izumo Taisha (Taisha, Shimane)
  • Kamosu Shrine (Matsue, Shimane)
  • Kibitsu Shrine (Okayama, Okayama)
  • Itsukushima Shrine (Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima)
• Shikoku region
  • Kandani Shrine (Sakaide, Kagawa)
• Kyūshū region
  • Usa Shrine (Usa, Ōita)

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of the government of Japan designates the most famous of the nations cultural properties as National Treasures (国宝: kokuhō). Examples of the types of works that receive this designation are Buildings at castles, temples, shrines Paintings, scrolls, sutras... Tohoku region, Japan The Tōhoku region (東北地方; Tōhoku-chihō) is a geographical area of Japan. ... Sendai ) is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku (northeast) region. ... Kantō region, Japan. ... Nikkō Tōshō-gÅ« (日光東照宮) is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa line of shoguns in Japan. ... Nikkō , literally sunlight) is a city located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. ... Nikkō , literally sunlight) is a city located in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. ... Chubu region, Japan Mount Fuji is the ChÅ«bu regions most famous landmark. ... ÅŒmachi (大町市; -shi) is a city located in Nagano, Japan. ... Kansai region, Japan The Kansai region ) of Japan, also known as the Kinki region ), lies in the Southern-Central region of Japans main island, HonshÅ«. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Mie, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. ... Mii-dera ), formally called Onjō-ji ), is a Buddhist temple located at the foot of Mount Hiei, in the city of ÅŒtsu, in Shiga Prefecture. ... ÅŒtsu ) is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. ... ÅŒtsu ) is the capital city of Shiga, Japan. ... Yasu (野洲市; -shi) is a city located in Yasu District, Shiga, Japan. ... Yasu (野洲市; -shi) is a city located in Yasu District, Shiga, Japan. ... Nagahama Castle Nagahama (長浜市; -shi) is a city located in Shiga, Japan. ... Ryūō ) is a town located in Gamō District, Shiga, Japan. ... A pair of torii gates at the Shimogamo Shrine The Kamo Shrines, Kamigamo Jinja ) and Shimogamo Jinja ) are a pair of Shinto shrines in Kyoto, Japan. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... The five-story pagoda is a national treasure of Japan. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... The front shrine and main hall Toyokuni Shrine ) is a Shinto shrine located in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, Japan. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Kitano Tenman-gÅ« ) is a Shinto shrine in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, dedicated to Tenjin-san, the kami of scholarship. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ... Ujigami Shrine Ujigami Shrine ) is a Shinto shrine in Uji, Kyoto. ... Byodoin Uji (Japanese: 宇治市; -shi) is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. ... Sumiyoshi Grand Shrine ) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Osaka, Japan. ... Osaka Castle (ÅŒsaka-jō) Location in Japan Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) Osaka railway station The Osaka Tower (TsÅ«tenkaku) Osaka City   listen? (大阪市; ÅŒsaka-shi) is the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... Sakai (堺市; -shi) is a city located in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. ... Kasuga Shrine The Kasuga Shrine (Japanese: 春日大社, Kasuga-taisha) is a Shinto shrine in the city of Nara, in Nara Prefecture, Japan. ... Nara ) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. ... Nara ) is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. ... Building (National Treasure) at Isonokami Jingu The Isonokami Shrine (石上神宮, Isonokami-jingÅ«) is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Tenri, Nara Prefecture, Japan. ... For god from Turkic mythology see: Täñre. ... Uda (宇陀市; - shi) is a city located in northeastern Nara, Japan. ... Chugoku region, Japan The ChÅ«goku region (中国地方 ChÅ«goku-chihō) is the westernmost region of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. ... Misasa (三朝町; -cho) is a town located in Tōhaku District, Tottori, Japan. ... Izumo Taisha (出雲大社; also Izumo no ÅŒyashiro) is one of the most ancient and important of the Shinto shrines in Japan. ... Taisha (大社町; -machi) is a town located in Hikawa District, Shimane, Japan. ... Matsue (松江市 Matsue-shi) is the capital city of Shimane Prefecture in the ChÅ«goku region of Japan. ... Okayama airport Okayama (岡山市; -shi) is the capital city of Okayama Prefecture in the ChÅ«goku region of Japan. ... The torii of Itsukushima Shrine, the sites most recognizable landmark, appears to float in the water. ... Map showing the location of Hatsukaichi within Hiroshima Prefecture (as of 2006). ... This article is about the island. ... Sakaide ) is a city located in Kagawa, Japan. ... KyÅ«shÅ« region of Japan and the current prefectures on KyÅ«shÅ« island KyÅ«shÅ« ), literally Nine Provinces, is the third largest island of Japan and most southerly and westerly of the four main islands. ... Map showing location of Usa in Oita Prefecture (as of 2006). ...

Kannushi

Stone lantern at a neighborhood Aso shrine

Kannushi

A Kannushi (神主) is responsible for maintenance of a jinja as well as leading worship. He generally does not propagate. Traditionally, most jinja did not have a Kannushi and was maintained by a committee of local populace who are called Ujiko (氏子). In a jinguji, a Buddhist monk maintained the jinja in addition to his temple. Download high resolution version (487x850, 259 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (487x850, 259 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Kannushi in front of the haiden. ...

Kami

A kami worshipped at a jinja is generally a Shinto kami but sometimes Buddhist or Taoist deities are worshiped, as well as other kami not generally considered to belong to Shinto. Some shrines are established to worship living people or figures from myths and legends. The word mythology (from the Greek μυολογία mythología, from mythologein to relate myths, from mythos, meaning a narrative, and logos, meaning speech or argument) literally means the (oral) retelling of myths – stories that a particular culture believes to be true and that use the supernatural to interpret natural events and... For other uses, see Legendary (disambiguation). ...

Customs

This komainu guards the Asakusa Jinja in Tokyo.

Prayers left by visitors.

A jinja is a place for peace and, except for occasional festival, one should not run around or engage in activities that make great noise. Most jinja, however, welcome children playing, with some discretions. A common faux pas by a foreigner, especially during a hot summer day, is drinking from the cool water of a chozuya. A more severe offense is entering the sacred area without permission or entering a shaden uninvited. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Asakusa Jinja is a Shintō shrine located adjacent to the temple Sens&#333ji in Asakusa, Tokyo, Japan. ... Tokyo Metropolis (東京都 Tōkyō-to) is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and, unique among the prefectures, provides certain municipal services characteristic of a city. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Look up faux pas in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A Chōzuya ), also known as a Temizuya, is a Shinto structure with a water-filled basin where worshipers wash their hands and rinse their mouths to purify themselves before approaching the main shrine or shaden (Japanese: ). Basin at a Chōzuya Japanese dragon guards a Chōzuya in Fujiyoshida...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Shinto shrines

• Buddhist temples in Japan
• Nijunisha (Twenty-two shrines), A group of the most important shrines.
• Chokusaisha
• List of Shinto shrines
• Senjafuda
• Himorogi

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Buddhist temples in Japan are varied, yet there are certain generalizations that can be made, and general rules or guidelines that are followed. ... The Nijūnisha (二十二社) or twenty-two shrines of Japan are 22 Shinto jinja (shrines) considered to be of the highest importance. ... This is a comprehensive list of major Shinto shrines by country. ... Senjafuda pasted on a shrine gate in Gifu. ... Himorogi (神籬) are sacred spaces or altars in Shintō. Himorogi are usually areas demarcated with green bamboo or sakaki at the four corners supporting sacred border ropes (shimenawa). ...

External Links

• Shinto Rites & Procedures - How to perform Shinto rites.