Detail
| Cultural Resources Category | Structures |
|---|---|
| Cultural Properties Category | National Designation (National Treasures) Tangible Cultural Properties (Structures) |
| Title | Toshogu Shrine's Main Hall, Stone Chamber, and Worship Hall |
| Designation Date | 1951/06/09 |
| Cities / Towns | Nikko |
| Owner / Manager | Nikko Toshogu Shrine |
| Description | Nikko Toshogu Shrine was founded in the third year of the Genna era (1617) as a mausoleum honoring Tokugawa Ieyasu. Historically, Nikko has been a spiritual site where Shintoism and Buddhism merge.Temples and shrines like Rinno-ji and Futarasan Shrine were already established there, but the existing structures were relocated and reconstructed. Later, in the 13th year of Kan'ei (1636), the so-called "Great Kan'ei Renovation" was carried out by the third Shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, resulting in its present appearance. Toshogu Shrine is emblematic of the diverse cultures of its time, epitomizing the pinnacle of art and craft of early Edo period. It's a landmark that has gained international acclaim. In 1998 (Heisei 10th year), together with Rinno-ji and Futarasan Shrine, it was registered as a World Heritage site under the title “Shrines and Temples of Nikko”. Worship Hall (Haiden): 9 "ken" by 4 "ken" (with "ken" being an old measurement unit, roughly equivalent to 1.82 meters), boasts an intricately designed decorative triangular ornament known as "hafu" on its front facade, a three "ken" wide front worship area, and copper roof tiles. Stone Chamber (Ishi-no-ma): 3 "ken" by 1 "ken", dual-layer structure, copper roof tiles. Main Hall (Honden): 5 "ken" by 5 "ken", gable-roofed with a single "ken" wide rear worship area, copper roof tiles. The structure connects the Worship Hall and the Main Hall with the stone-paved chamber, known as Ishi-no-ma. Given that Toshogu is recognized as the earliest (though there are a few earlier examples) fully realized example of this structure, it's dubbed "Gongen-zukuri" in honor of Ieyasu's deified title. The design also incorporates carpentry tools and so on. |
| Copyright | 著作権あり |