ATSUTA SHRINE

Atsuta Shrine is a particularly important Shinto shrine with over 4,000 relics and National Treasures. Atsuta Shine is located in Nagoya.

Atsuta Shrine (熱田神宮 ,Atsuta-jingū) is a Shinto shrine traditionally believed to have been established during the reign of Emperor Keikō (71-130) located in Atsuta-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture in Japan. Atsuta Shrine is familiarly known as Atsuta-Sama (Venerable Atsuta) or simply as Miya (the Shrine). Since ancient times, it has been especially revered, ranking with the Great Shrine of Ise.

The 200,000 m2 shrine complex draws over 9 million visitors annually.

Atsuta Shrine Picture by Toyoda

Atsuta Shrine - History

According to Japan's oldest surviving book, the Kojiki, Atsuta Shrine was originally founded to house the Kusanagi no Tsurugi.

Atsuta Shrine's buildings were maintained by donations from a number of benefactors, including well-known Sengaku period figures like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Tokugawas. For example, the Nobunaga-Bei, a 7.4 m high roofed mud wall, was donated to the shrine in 1560 by Nobunaga as a token of gratitude for his victory at the Battle of Okehazama.

In 1893, it was remodelled using the Shinmeizukuri architectural style, the same style used in the building of Ise Shrine. Before a celebration in 1935, the shrine's buildings as well as other facilities were completely rearranged and improved in order to better reflect the history and cultural significance of the shrine.

During the bombings of World War II, however, many of Atsuta Shrine's buildings were destroyed by fire. The shrine's main buildings, such as the honden, were reconstructed and completed in 1955. Following the completion of these buildings, construction of other buildings continued on the shrine grounds. In 1966 the Treasure Hall was completed in order to house the shrine's collection of objects, manuscripts and documents.

Atsuta Shrine - Treasures

Atsuta Shrine's Bunkaden, or treasure hall, houses over 4,000 relics, which include 174 Important Cultural Properties and a dagger that is a designated National Treasure of Japan. Atsuta Jingu Museum preserves and displays a variety of historic material, including the koshinpoh (sacred garments, furniture and utensils for use of the enshrined deities). A number of donated swords, mirrors and other objects are held by Atsuta Shrine, including Bugaku masks and other material associated with ancient court dances. The Bukaden collection ranges from ancient documents to household articles. Aichi Prefecture has designated 174 items as important cultural assets.

Atsuta Shrine is dedicated to the veneration of Atsuta-no-Ōokami. Also enshrined are the "Five Great Gods of Atsuta", all of whom are connected with the legendary narratives of the sacred sword -- Amaterasu-Ōomikami, Takehaya Susanoo-no-mikoto, Yamato Takeru-no-mikoto, Miyasu-hime no-mikoto, and Take Inadane-no-mikoto.

Atsuta Shrine is the traditional repository of Kusanagi no Tsurugi, the ancient sword which is considered one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan. Central to the Shinto significance of Atsuta Shrine is the sacred sword which understood to be a gift from Amaterasu Ōmikami. This unique object has represented the authority and stature of Japan's emperors since time immemorial. Kusanagi is imbued with Amaterasu's spirit.

During the reign of Emperor Sujin, duplicates copies of the Imperial regalia were made in order to safeguard the originals from theft. This fear of theft proved to be justified during the reign of Emperor Tenji when the sacred sword was stolen from Atsuta; and it was not to be returned until the reign of Emperor Temmu. Although not seen by the general public since that time, it is said to have remained in safekeeping at the shrine up to the present day.

(Article based on Wikipedia article and used under the GNU Free Documentation License)