Izumo-taisha

Izumo-taisha (出雲大社; 'Izumo Grand Shrine'), officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, it hosts two major festivals. It is dedicated to the kami (god) Ōkuninushi (大国主大神, Ōkuninushi no Ōkami), famous as the Shinto deity of marriage and to Kotoamatsukami, distinguishing heavenly kami. The shrine is widely regarded as the oldest Shinto shrine in Japan, predating the Ise Shrine. A style of architecture, taisha-zukuri, takes its name from the main hall of Izumo-taisha. That hall, and the attached buildings, were designated National Treasures of Japan in 1952. According to tradition, the hall was once much taller than it is now. The discovery in 2000 of the remains of enormous pillars lends credence to this. The shrine has been rebuilt every 60 to 70 years to preserve the kami's power and traditional architectural techniques. This regular rebuilding process is called "Sengū" (遷宮) and has long been practiced at a handful of important Shinto shrines, including Ise Shrine, which is rebuilt every 20 years. Several other buildings in the shrine compound are on the list of Important Cultural Properties of Japan.