Honden (Main Sanctuary) of Sumiyoshi Taisha

• Enshrined deities:
• Daiichi Hongu (1st Main Shrine): Sokotsutsuno’o no Mikoto
• Daini Hongu (2nd Main Shrine): Nakatsutsuno’o no Mikoto
• Daisan Hongu (3rd Main Shrine): Uwatsutsuno’o no Mikoto
• Daiyon Hongu (4th Main Shrine): Okinagatarashi-hime no Mikoto (*Empress Jingu)

The Honden, or main sanctuary, which enshrines the three deities known collectively as the Sumiyoshi no Okami plus Empress Jingu, comprises four hongu, or main shrines, (Honden, connecting watadono corridor, and heiden offertory halls) Sumiyoshi Taisha’s Honden has a unique configuration, with the first, second and third buildings standing in a vertical row and the fourth building next to the third. The four buildings give the appearance of a fleet of ships sailing the great ocean. This layout is a precious reminder of ancient styles of ritual.

The Honden, or main sanctuary, of Sumiyoshi Taisha is built in an architectural style known as Sumiyoshi-zukuri. This is believed to be the oldest style of Shinto shrine construction. All four buildings of the Honden have been designated as national treasures of Japan.

The hiwadabuki roof, made of shingles of hinoki or Japanese cypress bark, has the straight lines and gabled construction of the kiritsuma-zukuri style of architecture, with the main entrance, called the tsumairi, located on the front gable end. The interior is divided into two rooms, the gejin, or front room and the naijin, or rear room, which is raised a step higher than the gejin. The external pillars are painted in the traditional ninuri style of vermilion lacquering, while the walls are painted with a white pigment called gofun, which is made of calcium carbonate powder obtained by heating and pulverizing the shells of oysters and clams.

Another distinctive feature of note is that the horizontal structure of Sumiyoshi-zukuri architecture has similarities with a Daijokyu main shrine hall built specifically for the Daijosai grand thanksgiving rite, which is one of the Emperor’s enthronement rites (first offering of rice by a newly enthroned emperor). The current Honden was built in 1810 in the Edo Period.