Mikami Jinja

Mikami Shrine enshrines Mt. Mikami which is a 1400 ft mountain in Shiga Prefecture in Japan, and Ame no mikage no Kami, the guardian deity of the old Omi province and the deity of blacksmiths and blade smiths.

The main hall was constructed in the Kamakura period (1192-1333), and is a very unique building in the style called Mikami-zukuri, in which the architectural styles for shrines, temples and residences are combined together. The Buddhism architectural style can be seen in its 3-bay structure, the Irimoya-zukuri roof, white walls and lattice windows.

As one of the oldest shrines of the Irimoya-zukuri style, it was designated as a national Treasure by Japan in 1952.

This was an interesting piece to draw, as the view is exactly straight on requiring an almost perfect symetry in line and balance.

Archival Fine Art Giclee Prints Available:
All prints signed and numbered by the artist