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small in area, nature has wrought it out with numerous mountains, 

 cascades, and valleys, which are thickly wooded. The hig'hest 

 mountain is about 1800 feet. In the reign of Empress Suiko 

 (A.D. 593-628) this island was dedicated to the Shinto (ioddess 

 Ichiki-shima-hime, and from this the alternative name of Its2{ku- 

 sJiinia, or Island of Magnificence, is derived. 



In the 1 2th Century, Kiyomori, who was the most powerful 

 of the Taira Clan, and jn-actically ruled Japan during this era, 

 greatly glorified this temple in such a manner that it soon won 

 the reputation of one of the Three Chief Sights (San-kci) of 

 Japan. The other two sights were the Pine Island {Matsu- 

 sliiiiia) in the Provirice Rikuzen, and Ai)ui-)w-hasUi-date in the 

 Province Tango. 



The beautiful valley's of Miya-jima trend down to the sea and, 

 among groves of ma])le trees, there nestles a little village with 

 iims and tea houses for the ])ilgrims. An ancient religious rule 

 forl)ade all births or deaths on this island. No dogs were allowed 

 to he ]iresent and every effort was made to keep it entirely free 

 troni all contamination. 



The temple itself, being j^artly built out over the sea on piles, ap- 

 pears at high tide to float upon the surface of the water. Not far 

 from the main landing veranda of the shrine, the huge camphor- 

 wood Torii stands in the water. If a ])ilgrim asks the temple 

 priest, oiTering a few dollars, for the entire illumination for the 

 night {Sotouiyo) , a temple attendant early in the evening would 

 call for the pilgrim and his party in his rowboat and convey them 

 to the temi)le. rowing them beneath the great Torii to the temple 

 veranda. 1lie waiting priest would then lead them to the inner shrine 

 and offer a ])rayer, with the Shinto music. The Floating Temple 

 is situated in the recess of an inlet. The myriad of faintly flicker- 

 ing- lights from the stone lanterns standing on extensive shores on 

 both sides, narrowing gradually into the temple shrine or vanish- 

 ing point, and also the lights from the bronze lanterns hanging 

 down from the long row of galleries, all casting^ their reflections 

 u])on the water in the dusky evening, give a gossamer-like as])ect 

 of peculiar charm as gorgeous and free and colossal as one's 

 grandest dreams. 



