Izumo Taisha Shrine Honden
Izumo Taisha Shrine, Japan
The honden is the main hall, which is the largest shrine building in Japan. Visitors are not allowed into that building. On the roof of the honden and surrounding buildings are these x-shaped ornaments that also act to support the roof in windstorms. The direction of the ends of the ornaments, whether horizontal or vertical, tells whether the main deity is a male or a female.
©Bill Yeaton