Aoi Aso Shrine, in Hitoyosi, Kumamoto-prefecture

Aoi Aso Shrine, located in Kami-Aoi-cho, Hitoyoshi-city, was designated as the first national treasure

in Kumamoto-prefecture by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2008,

as “an extremely outstanding Important Cultural Property and one with particularly deep cultural and

historical significance.”

The shine is the oldest extant shrine in the Hitoyoshi-city. It dates from 806 and bears similarities in

layout to the imperial palace of that time in Heiankyo (now Kyoto), which was built in 794.

Most of the current shrine buildings date from 1610 and are a blend of several architectural styles with

some unusual decorative details.

An iconic symbol of the shrine

The approach to the worship hall passes through the two-story romon gate. The gate is 12 meters high,

with a steeply angled thatch roof. The transoms are decorated with dynamic carvings, including

episodes from a series of Confucian teachings (the Twenty-Four Exemplars of Filial Piety) and a pair

of carved white faces at each of the four corners. The carved faces are the only known carvings of their

kind in Japan and represent the emotions of pleasure, anger, sorrow, and joy.