Izumo-taisha, Ancient Shinto shrine in Izumo, Japan.
Izumo-taisha is a Shinto shrine in Izumo known for its tall wooden main hall, which rises about 24 meters (79 feet). The entire grounds include multiple buildings, among them treasury halls and smaller auxiliary shrines built in traditional style.
Written records of the shrine date back to the year 700, and the building has been regularly renewed over the centuries. Each reconstruction followed the original methods to preserve its characteristic form and structure.
Izumo-taisha is known in Shinto tradition as the place where deities from across Japan gather during the tenth month of the lunar calendar. Visitors see worshippers clapping twice, then four times, which is an exception to the usual custom at most shrines.
The grounds are open to walk through freely, and exploring on foot is the best way to see the different buildings connected by paths. A treasury hall displays artifacts and is open during typical daytime hours most days.
The central path to the main hall has a dedicated lane reserved for the passage of deities, kept separate from human traffic. This division shows the practical expression of spiritual separation between divine and worldly realms in the daily life of the shrine.
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