| Yasukuni
Shrine (1869 onward) other
sites in Tokyo |
|
Click on the above
images for larger views of Ginkakuji.
Yasukuni shrine was established in the 2nd year of Emperor Meiji's rule (1869). Although Yasukuni means "peaceful country" it is dedicated to the souls of the approximately 2.5 million Japanese war dead from the origins of Meiji rule in the mid 1800s to the end of World War II (1945). Naturally, the shrine has invited controversy, especially since 1979 when a group of Class-A war criminals including Premier Tojo were enshrined here.
The shrine has some unusual features. First, the front tori (gate) is made of steel and the second is made of bronze. Inside, there are numerous military relics of the colonial era on display, including artillery pieces and a kamikaze torpedo guided by a suicide pilot.
Bibliography:
All images copyright 1987 Robert D. Fiala of Concordia University.
Kazuo
Nishi and Kazuo Hozumi What is Japanese Architecture?
Shokokusha Pubishing Company. Tokyo. 1983
Rowthorn,
Chris. Lonely Planet: Tokyo
Lonely
Planet Publications. Hong Kong. 1998