also: おおやしろ
grand shrine; famous shrine
Only with reading たいしゃ
Refers to a large, important Shinto shrine, often one of high rank or historical significance. The reading is たいしゃ.
Izumo Taisha is one of the most famous grand shrines in Japan.
この地域には古い大社がいくつか残っている。
Several old grand shrines remain in this region.
Izumo Grand Shrine
Abbreviation for 出雲大社 (Izumo Taisha). Used in contexts where the full name is understood.
大社は縁結びの神様で有名だ。
Izumo Grand Shrine is famous for its deity of matchmaking.
毎年、大社には多くの参拝者が訪れる。
Many worshippers visit Izumo Grand Shrine every year.
大社 marks a shrine as especially grand or important, like Izumo Taisha, but unlike 神宮 it carries no requirement of an imperial link.
shrine of the highest rank in the Engi-Shiki
taisha-zukuri style; oldest Shinto shrine architectural style
national shrine of major grade
Standard kanji spelling for both senses. The reading おおやしろ is less common and typically used in proper names.
Kana spelling for the rare reading おおやしろ, mostly encountered in shrine names.
Compound of 大 (tai, 'great') and 社 (sha, 'shrine'). The reading おおやしろ is a native Japanese reading of the same kanji, but it is rare and mostly appears in proper names.