{"id":34199,"date":"2015-12-08T06:20:46","date_gmt":"2015-12-08T05:20:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/miyajima-et-sanctuaire-itsukushima\/"},"modified":"2020-07-06T10:20:57","modified_gmt":"2020-07-06T08:20:57","slug":"miyajima-and-itsukushima-shrine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peregrinusmundi.com\/en\/miyajima-and-itsukushima-shrine\/","title":{"rendered":"Miyajima and Itsukushima shrine"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Friday 4 December, I get up early to visit Miyajima Island. Doris also wants to visit the island and we decide to spend the day together. Forty minutes by tram and ten minutes by ferry and here we are on the sacred island of Miyajima. It is forbidden to be born here, to die here and to cut down trees. The island is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and that is understandable. The vegetation is lush and the various temples and shrines that house the island are magnificent. Rain and sun mix when we dock. A magnificent rainbow seems to draw a bridge between Miyajima and Hiroshima. The small village and the beach immediately confirm the beauty of the island. Miyajima is also home to a large population of free-roaming wild deer that wander through tourists, not afraid \u00a0and permanently trying to pilfer a little bit of food. It is quite strange to see tourists being photographed with a small group of deer in the foreground.<\/p>

What makes Miyajima famous is the Itsukushima Shrine and its floating torii<\/em> (because it seems to float on water at high tide) located on the shore. The sanctuary dates from the 6th century. (The current sanctuary dates from 1168). Due to the sacred status of the island, visitors at the time were not allowed to set foot on land. The sanctuary was therefore built on stilts with numerous pontoons. Visitors had to pass under the floating torii<\/em> and dock on the pontoons. The torii<\/em> and the sanctuary are magnificent and very impressive. The architecture is remarkable and the omnipresent red color contrasts with the blue of the sky and the green of the mountain. Doris and I walk through the sanctuary feeling like we are in the past. The sacred aspect of the island seems to be physically present alongside us.<\/p>

A very rounded traditional bridge (it must have been difficult to climb over it!) Appears around one of the temple buildings and I have the impression of being in the movie Spirited Away<\/strong> (by master Hayao Miyazaki). One of the objectives of my trip to Japan is to try to find in reality the famous bathing establishment of Yubaba, the film’s matron. At least I have already found the bridge. All that is missing is the building and youkai<\/em> everywhere and that will be good.<\/p>

We also come across a traditional wedding which is held within the sanctuary and open to the public. The bride wears an all-white kimono and a very large headdress. Three musicians play traditional tunes using a small flute and a mouth organ (the deepest man in the picture). An officiating monk and young maids take care of bringing things or serving drinks. The ceremony is very formal and not so joyful.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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