Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Izumo Taisha
Izumo Taisha (出雲大社; also Izumo no Ōyashiro) is one of the most ancient and important of the Shinto shrines in Japan. Its name means "The Grand Shrine of Izumo." No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Taisha, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god Ōkuninushi-no-mikoto .
A style of architecture, Taisha-zukuri, takes its name from the main hall of Izumo Taisha. That hall, and the attached buildings, are National Treasures of Japan. According to tradition, the hall was previously much taller than it presently is. The recent discovery of the remains of enormous pillars has lent credence to this.
Several other buildings in the shrine compound are on the list of Important Cultural Assets of Japan.
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