- Atsuta Shrine
Infobox Shinto shrine
name = Atsuta Shrine
熱田神宮
caption = The "haiden", or prayer hall
width =
type =
dedication = Atsuta no ŌkamiAmaterasu Susanoo
Yamatotakeru
Miyasuhime
Takeinadane
founded =
closed =
founder =
priest =
address = 1-1-1, Jingu, Atsuta-kuNagoya , Aichi 456-8585
phone = (052) 671-4151
website = http://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/eng/index.htmnihongo|Atsuta Shrine|熱田神宮|Atsuta-jingū is a 200,000 m2
Shinto shrine complex located in Atsuta-ku,Nagoya ,Aichi Prefecture inJapan . Drawing over 9 million visitors annually, Atsuta is known as the second-most venerable shrine in Japan (the first being theIse Shrine ).cite web|url=http://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/eng/intro/index.htm |title=Introduction |accessdate=2008-05-13 |work=Atsuta Jingu] It reportedly houses the sword "Kusanagi no Tsurugi", one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan, though it is never shown to the public. [cite web|url=http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3301.html |title=Atsuta Shrine|accessdate=2008-05-13 |work=japan-guide.com] The shrine's "Bunkaden", or treasure hall, houses over 4,000 relics, which include 174 Important Cultural Properties and adagger that is a designated National Treasure of Japan. [cite web|url=http://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/eng/tre/index.htm |title=Treasure |accessdate=2008-05-13 |work=Atsuta Jingu] Over 70 ceremonies and festivals are held annually at the shrine.cite web|url=http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/aichi/atsutajingu.html |title=Atsuta-jingu Shrine |accessdate=2008-05-13 |work=Japan National Tourist Organization ]History
According to the "
Kojiki " (Japan's oldest surviving book), Atsuta Shrine was originally founded around 100 AD after the site inNagoya was chosen for the shrine to house the "Kusanagi no Tsurugi". Throughout its history, the shrine's buildings were maintained through the efforts ofshogun s such asOda Nobunaga ,Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the Tokugawas. 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 being granted a victory at theBattle of Okehazama . [cite web|url=http://www.atsutajingu.or.jp/eng/pre/index.htm |title=Nobunaga-Bei Wall |accessdate=2008-05-14 |work=Atsuta Jingu]In 1893, it was remodeled 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 importance 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, and in 1966 the Treasure Hall was completed in order to house over 4,000 of the shrine's treasures.ee also
*
List of Shinto shrines
*Yaizu Shrine References
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