Itsukushima Shrine

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/itsukushima-shrine

1. What is the location?
2. What is the primary construction period?
3. Why does the torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine look like it is floating on the water?
4. Who built the shrine and why?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the location?Miyajima Island, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
2. What is the primary construction period?Late Heian period (12th century), with origins dating to the 6th century
3. Why does the torii gate at Itsukushima Shrine look like it is floating on the water?The gate is built on stilts over tidal flats, so when the tide rises it appears to float. It shows how life can change and reminds visitors of the gods in nature.
4. Who built the shrine and why?Taira no Kiyomori, a powerful military leader, built the shrine in the 12th century. He wanted to show his family’s prestige and please the sea and storm gods.

Shinto: Japan's indigenous religion, characterized by the worship of kami (spirits) and a deep reverence for nature.
Taira no Kiyomori: A dominant military figure of the late Heian period who significantly patronized and rebuilt Itsukushima Shrine.
Heian Period: A period in Japanese history (794-1185) known for its flourishing court culture, literature, and art.
National Treasure (Japan): An item of exceptional historical, artistic, or scholarly value officially designated by the Japanese government for preservation.