Torii at Hie Jinja Shrine, Tokyo, Japan cover photo - 123068654

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Hie Shrine was designated as a First Class Government Shrine before the Second World War. The deity enshrined is Oyamakui-no-kami, the god of Mount Hie in Shiga prefecture. This deity is more commonly known as Hie-no-kami. Hie Shrine derives its name from this deity. A man named Edo built a Hie Shrine for the guardian deity of his residence on grounds of the present Imperial Palace. In 1478, Ota Dokan constructed Edo Castle on the site of the present Imperial Palace. He also erected a Sanno-Hie Shrine in the compound for a guardian deity of the castle. In 1607, the shrine was moved outside of Edo Castle to Hayabusa-cho, near the present Kokuritsu Gekijo National Theatre. In 1657, Hie Shrine and much of Edo was destroyed by fire. However, in 1659, Shogun Ietsuna Tokugawa rebuilt the shrine at its present location. The shrine buildings were constructed in the Gongen-Zukuri style with vermilion-lacquered finishings. The Gongen Zukuri style consists of a complex roof system in which the Haiden hall of worship and Honden inner sanctuary are connected. The Heiden offering hall, Haiden hall of worship, Honden inner sanctuary and Roumon gate were so magnificent that they were authorized as National Treasures. Regrettably, the shrine buildings were burnt down in the bombing of Tokyo in 1945. The present shrine buildings were constructed in 1958.