The Kagura-den and its giant shimenawa rope at Izumo Taisha

Izumo Taisha

出雲大社 · Izumo, Shimane

Foto: Kanesue · CC BY 4.0

The shrine of Ōkuninushi, god of good relationships: a giant shimenawa rope and the myth of 'handing over the land'.

Antes de ir · Know before you go

  • Don't touch or tug the shimenawa
  • the centre of the approach is for the gods, so walk to the side
  • keep quiet around the main hall

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Stories & people

Historias y personajes

Leyenda

The White Hare of Inaba

The Kojiki records that Ōkuninushi (then called Ōnamuji) and his eighty elder brothers set off to Inaba to court Princess Yakami. On the way they met a white hare that had been skinned: it had tricked crocodile-sharks into lining up as a bridge across the sea and was flayed when found out. The brothers played a cruel trick on it, telling it to bathe in seawater and dry itself in the wind; only Ōkuninushi told it to wash in the fresh water of the river mouth and roll in cattail pollen. Healed, the hare prophesied that Princess Yakami would choose Ōkuninushi.

Fuente: Wikipedia: Hare of Inaba

Leyenda

The myth of 'handing over the land'

According to the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, when Ninigi, grandson of Amaterasu, descended from heaven, Ōkuninushi handed over to him the land he had created. Amaterasu was so pleased that she granted Izumo Taisha to Ōkuninushi. The present main hall was rebuilt in 1744 and is 24 m tall.

Fuente: Wikipedia: Izumo Taisha

Culture

Cultura y costumbres

Contexto cultural

Izumo Taisha enshrines Ōkuninushi no Ōkami, the god of matchmaking in Japanese mythology, also regarded as the god who created the land. According to the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, Ōkuninushi handed the land over to Ninigi, grandson of Amaterasu, and in return Amaterasu granted him Izumo Taisha. The present main hall was rebuilt in 1744 and is 24 m tall.

Costumbres locales

  • At Izumo Taisha you pray with 'two bows, four claps, one bow' — two more claps than at most shrines
  • the huge shimenawa rope in front of the Kagura-den is its emblem

Religión y creencias

A Shinto shrine famous for matchmaking and good relationships.

Etiquette

Normas y tabúes

No lo haga DON'T

  • Don't touch or tug the shimenawa
  • the centre of the approach is for the gods, so walk to the side
  • keep quiet around the main hall

Lo que aprecian los locales DO

Locals appreciate visitors who pray the Izumo way and go on to see the sea at Inasa Beach.

Plan your visit

Información práctica

Tiempo recomendado2 hours

Consejos de viaje

  • From Izumo-shi Station take the Ichibata railway or a bus
  • combine with Inasa Beach and Hinomisaki on the same day
  • Izumo soba nearby is the local speciality

Photos

Fotos

Fuentes y notas de verificación

Wikipedia: Izumo Taisha

Wikipedia: Hare of Inaba