Seven Shrines

Hiyoshi Taisha's seven major shrines divide into two clusters on the western and eastern sides of the precinct, with the arrangement reflecting Tendai Buddhist cosmology: each shrine corresponds to one of the seven stars of the Big Dipper, believed to govern the lifespans of emperors and all sentient beings. The two highest-ranking shrines, Nishi Hongu and Higashi Hongu, are both designated National Treasures. The current configuration of deities dates from 1869, following an edict separating Shinto from Buddhism that led to the removal and destruction of Buddhist objects that had been part of the site for centuries.