Shrines and Temples of Nikkō facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shrines and Temples of Nikkō * |
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Yomeimon gate of Toshogu shrine
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| Country | Japan |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, iv, vi |
| Reference | 913 |
| Region ** | Asia-Pacific |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) |
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Shrines and Temples of Nikkō (日光の社寺) is the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nikkō in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.
The site covers 103 buildings or structures and the natural area around them. Two Shinto shrines and one Buddhist temple are included in the site.
Contents
History
The area of Nikko has been a Shinto forest since pre-historic times. It has had Buddhist temples since the 9th century. Thousands of Japanese cedars were planted in the early 17th century
The shrines and temples of Nikkō are closely related to the history of the Tokugawa Shoguns.
In 1871, the Shinto areas and Buddhist areas were separated. Three sites were identified -- two Shinto shrine complexes and one Buddhist temple complex.
After the "Law on the Preservation of Shrines and Temples" in 1897, Nikkō was protected by the Japanese government.
Nikkō's shrines and temples were named a World Heritage Site in 1999.
- At the Futarasan Shrine (二荒山神社, Futarasan jinja), 23 structures are included in the World Heritage site. All are registered "Important Cultural Properties".
- At the Tōshōgū Shrine (東照宮, Tōshō-gū), many buildings are named as part of the World Heritage site. Some are registered "National Treasures of Japan" and 37 are "Important Cultural Properties"
- At the Rinnō Temple (輪王寺, Rinnō-ji), many buildings were mentioned in the World Heritage Site nomination process. There are 37 "Important Cultural Properties". One sub-temple complex made up of the Honden and Haiden of the Taiyuin Mausoleum is a registered "National Treasure of Japan".
In 2012, the World Heritage Site covers nine National Treasures of Japan and many "Important Cultural Properties".
Gallery
Many gates and buildings at Nikkō have very detailed carvings. The use of color is based on records dating back to 1753. The very precise descriptions of the architectural structures and the decorative works are used by experts who want to preserve history at Nikkō.
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Arched Bridge
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Tōshō-gū Outer Torii
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Three Monkeys Carving
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Tōshō-gū Shimojinko
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Tōshō-gū Kyozo
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View of Yomeimon
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Brightly painted carvings at Yomeimon
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Close-up of carvings above Karamon Gate
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Sleeping Cat
Nominated properties
Futarasan Shrine
23 structures of the Futarasan Shrine are included in the nomination. All are registered Important Cultural Properties. They are:
| Name | Remarks | Age | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honden | Main building enshrining the three deities of the Futarasan shrine. | 1619 |  |
| Karamon | Gate in front of the Honden. | early Edo period | |
| Wakimon | Gate of the Sukibe. | early Edo period | |
| Sukibe | Roofed wall enclosing the Honden. | early Edo period | |
| Haiden | Worship hall. | 1645 |  |
| Torii | Copper torii marking the entrance to the shrine. | 1799 |  |
| Shinkyō | Wooden arched bridge. | 1904 |  |
| Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Honden | Building enshrining Tagorihime no Mikoto. | 1713 | |
| Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Karamon | Gate of the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Honden. | 1740 | |
| Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Haiden | Worship hall. | c. 1713 | |
| Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Rōmon | Gate to the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja. | 1697 | |
| Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja Torii (3 structures) | Stone torii at the approach to the Betsugū Taki-no-o-jinja marking the sacred area. | 1696, 1779 | |
| Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden | Building enshrining Ajisukitakahikone no Mikoto. | 1685 |  |
| Betsugū Hongū-jinja Karamon | Gate in front of the Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden. | c. 1685 | |
| Betsugū Hongū-jinja Sukibe | Roofed wall enclosing the Betsugū Hongū-jinja Honden. | c. 1685 |  |
| Betsugū Hongū-jinja Haiden | Worship hall. | 1685 | |
| Betsugū Hongū-jinja Torii | Stone torii at the approach to the Betsugū Hongū-jinja marking the sacred area. | 1800 | |
| Shin-yosha | Storehouse for mikoshi, portable shrines. | 1641 |  |
| Daikokuden | Building enshrining Ōkuninushi no Mikoto. | 1745 |  |
| Massha Mitomo-jinja Honden | Building enshrining Sukunabikona no Mikoto. | c. 1751–1761 |  |
| Massha Hie-jinja Honden | Building enshrining Ōyamakui no Mikoto. | c. 1648–1651 |  |
Tōshō-gū 東照宮
42 buildings of the Tōshō-gū shrine are included in the nomination. Eight structures are registered National Treasures of Japan and 34 are Important Cultural Properties.
| Name | Remarks | Age | Picture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honden, Ishinoma, Haiden | Honden: Building enshrining the deified image of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tōshō Daigongen. Ishinoma: Chamber connecting Honden and Haiden. Haiden: Worship hall. |
1636 |  |
| Shōmen Karamon | Gate in front of Haiden. Third gate. | 1636 | |
| Haimen Karamon | Gate behind Honden. | 1636 | |
| Tōzai Sukibe | Roofed wall enclosing Honden, Ishinoma and Haiden. | 1636 | |
| Yōmeimon | Two-storied gate. Second gate. | 1636 |  |
| Tōzai Kairō and Kugurimon | Roofed cloisters enclosing shrine buildings. | 1636 |  |
| Kamishamusho | Building for Shinto services. | 1636 | |
| Kaguraden | Building for the Kagura ritual. | early Edo period |  |
| Shin-yosha | Storehouse for mikoshi, portable shrines. | 1636 |  |
| Shōrō | Belfry | 1636 | |
| Korō | Storehouse for drums. | 1636 | |
| Honjidō | Building enshrining Yakushi, the healing Buddha. | 1636 | |
| Kyōzō | Storehouse for sutras. | 1636 |  |
| Kamijinko | Storehouse. | early Edo period |  |
| Nakajinko | Storehouse. | early Edo period |  |
| Shimojinko | Storehouse. | early Edo period |  |
| Mizuya | Stone building sheltering the water basin. | 1636 |  |
| Shinkyū | Stable for sacred horses. | 1636 |  |
| Omotemon | First gate. | 1636 |  |
| Gojūnotō | Five-storied pagoda. | 1818 |  |
| Ishidorii | Stone torii at front approach. | 1618 |  |
| Sakashitamon | Gate at the entrance to the Okusha. | 1636 | |
| Okusha Hōtō | Building enshrining the remains of Tokugawa Ieyasu. | 1683 |  |
| Okusha Karamon | Gate in front of the Hōtō. | 1650 | |
| Okusha Ishitamagaki | Stonewall enclosing the Okusha. | early Edo period | |
| Okusha Haiden | Worship hall. | 1636 | |
| Okusha Dōjinko | Treasure storehouse. | 1654 | |
| Okusha Torii | Copper torii at the front approach to the Okusha. | c. 1683 | |
| Okusha Sekisaku | Stone fence along the front approach. | early Edo period | |
| Kariden Honden, Ainoma, Haiden | Honden: Building enshrining the deified image of Tokugawa Ieyasu, Tōshō Daigongen in case of repair works on the main Honden. Ainoma: Building connecting the Honden and Haiden. Haiden: Worship hall. |
1639 | |
| Kariden Karamon | Gate in front of the Kariden Honden. | early Edo period | |
| Kariden Sukibe | Roofed wall enclosing the Kariden Honden. | early Edo period | |
| Kariden Wakimon | Gate of the Kariden Sukibe. | early Edo period | |
| Kariden Torii | Copper torii at the front approach to the Kariden Honden. | early Edo period | |
| Kariden Shōrō | Belfry. | early Edo period | |
| Otabisho Honden | Building used in the Togyosai festival. | 1685 | |
| Otabisho Haiden | Worship hall used in the Togyosai festival. | c. 1685 | |
| Otabisho Shinsenjo | Building where sacred food is prepared during the Togyosai festival. | c. 1685 | |
| Kyūokusha Karamon | Stone gate of the Kyūokusha. Reconstructed in a new location after destruction in an earthquake. | 1641 | |
| Kyūokusha Torii | Torii of the Kyūokusha. Reconstructed in a new location after destruction in an earthquake. | 1641 |
Rinnō-ji
38 buildings of Rinnō-ji temple are included in the nomination. One structure, comprising the Honden, Ainoma and Haiden of the Taiyuin Mausoleum, is a registered National Treasure of Japan and 37 are Important Cultural Properties.
| Name | Remarks | Age | Picture |
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| Hon-dō (Sanbutsudō) | Buddha hall. | 1647 |  |
| Sōrintō | Copper sutra repository tower. | 1643 | |
| Hombō Omotemon | Front gate of the Hombō. | mid Edo period | |
| Kaizandō | Founder's hall dedicated to the priest Shōdō. | c. 1720 | |
| Jōgyōdō | Buddha hall enshrining Amida Nyorai. | 1649 | |
| Hokkedō | Buddha hall enshrining Shaka Nyorai. | 1649 | |
| Jōgyōdō Hokkedō Watarirō | Roofed corridor between Hokkedō and Watarirō. | 1649 | |
| Jigendō Byōdō | Building enshrining the remains of the priest Tenkai. | early Edo period | |
| Jigendō Haiden | Building for worshipping Jigendō. | 1649 | |
| Jigendō Kyōzō | Storehouse for documents collected by the priest Tenkai. | early Edo period | |
| Jigendō Shōrō | Belfry. | early Edo period | |
| Jigendō Amidadō | Buddha hall enshrining Amida Nyorai. | early Edo period | |
| Kodamadō | Buddha hall enshrining Kodama. | early Edo period | |
| Gohōtendō | Buddha hall enshrining Bishamonten, Benzaiten and Daikokuten. | c. 1615–1623 | |
| Kannondō | Buddha hall enshrining Kanzeon Bosatsu (Avalokiteśvara Kṣitigarbha). | 1685 | |
| Sanjūnotō | Three-storied pagoda. | 1685 | |
| Taiyuin Mausoleum (Taiyū-in Reibyō): Honden, Ainoma and Haiden | Honden: Building enshrining Taiyū-in, the deified image of Tokugawa Iemitsu. Ainoma: Chamber connecting the Honden and Haiden. Haiden: Worship hall. |
1653 |   |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Karamon | Gate in front of the Taiyū-in Reibyō. | 1653 |  |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Mizugaki | Roofed wall enclosing the Taiyū-in Reibyō Honden and other structures. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Wakamon | Gate of the Taiyū-in Reibyō Mizugaki. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Gokūsho | Building used for preparing sacred food. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Gokūsho Watarirō | Roofed corridor between the Honden and Gokūsho. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Yashamon | Third gate. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Yashamon Sayū Kairō | Roofed corridors on both sides of the Yashamon. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Shōrō | Belfry. | 1653 |  |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Korō | Storehouse for drums. | 1653 |  |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Nitemmon | Second gate. | 1653 |  |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Saijō | Lavatory for ritual use. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Mizuya | Stone column building sheltering the water basin. | 1653 |  |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Hōko | Storehouse. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Niōmon | First gate. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Kōkamon | Gate at the entrance to the Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in. | 1653 |  |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Dōzutsumi Hōzō | Copper-plated storehouse. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in Hōtō | Building enshrining the remains of Tokugawa Iemitsu. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in Inukimon | Copper gate in front of the Hōtō. | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Oku-in Haiden | Worship hall | 1653 | |
| Taiyū-in Reibyō Bettōsho Ryūkō-in | Management building for Taiyū-in. | mid Edo period |
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Santuarios y templos de Nikkō para niños
