Ise Shrine Explained

Ise Shrine
Map Type:Japan
Coordinates:34.455°N 136.7258°W
Religious Affiliation:Shinto
Deity:Amaterasu
Established:4 B.C.E.
Location:Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Architecture Style:Shinmei zukuri

The, located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the solar goddess Amaterasu. Officially known simply as, Ise Shrine is a shrine complex composed of many Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and .

The Inner Shrine, Naikū (also officially known as "Kōtai Jingū"), is dedicated to the worship of Amaterasu and is located in the town of Uji-tachi, south of central Ise, where she is believed to dwell. The shrine buildings are made of solid cypress wood and use no nails but instead joined wood. The Outer Shrine, Gekū (also officially known as "Toyouke Daijingū"), is located about six kilometers from Naikū and dedicated to Toyouke-Ōmikami, the god of agriculture, rice harvest and industry.[1] Besides Naikū and Gekū, there are an additional 123 Shinto shrines in Ise City and the surrounding areas, 91 of them connected to Naikū and 32 to Gekū.[2]

Purportedly the home of the Sacred Mirror, the shrine is one of Shinto's holiest and most important sites.[3] Access to both sites is strictly limited, with the general public not allowed beyond sight of the thatched roofs of the central structures, hidden behind four tall wooden fences. However, visitors are free to roam the forest, including its ornamental walkways which date back to the Meiji period.

During the Edo period, it is estimated that one out of ten Japanese conducted an Okage Mairi pilgrimage to the shrine. Accordingly, pilgrimage to the shrine flourished in both commercial and religious frequency. According to historical documents, 3.62 million people visited the shrine in 50 days in 1625, and 1.18 million people visited the shrine in three days in 1829 when the grand festival held every 20 years was held.[4] Because the shrine is considered sanctuary, no security checkpoints were conducted, as it was considered sacrilege by the faithful. The two main shrines of Ise are joined by a pilgrimage road that passes through the old entertainment district of Furuichi.

The chief priest or priestess of Ise Shrine must be related to the Imperial House of Japan and is responsible for watching over the Shrine. The current High Priestess of the shrine is the daughter of Emperor Emeritus Akihito, former Princess Sayako Kuroda.[5]

Establishment of the Shrine

According to the Nihon Shoki, around 2000 years ago the divine Yamatohime-no-mikoto, daughter of the Emperor Suinin, set out from Mt. Miwa in modern Nara Prefecture in search of a permanent location to worship the goddess Amaterasu, wandering for 20 years through the regions of Omi and Mino. Her search eventually brought her to Ise, in modern Mie Prefecture, where she is said to have established Naikū after hearing the voice of Amaterasu saying "(Ise) is a secluded and pleasant land. In this land I wish to dwell." Before Yamatohime-no-mikoto's journey, Amaterasu had been worshiped at the imperial residence in Yamato, then briefly at Kasanui in the eastern Nara basin. When Princess Yamatohime-no-mikoto arrived at the village of Uji-tachi, she set up fifty bells to designate the area as enshrined for the goddess Amaterasu, which is why the river is called the Isuzu, or "fifty bells".

Geku was founded after Emperor Yuryaku dreamt that he saw Amaterasu. She said she was unable to get food and asked him to bring Toyouke-hime from Tanba help her with food.

Besides the traditional establishment date of 4 BC,[6] other dates of the 3rd and 5th centuries have been put forward for the establishment of Naikū and Gekū respectively. The first shrine building at Naikū was erected by Emperor Tenmu (678–686), with the first ceremonial rebuilding being carried out by his wife, Empress Jitō, in 692.[7]

The shrine was foremost among a group of shrines which became objects of imperial patronage in the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered imperial messengers to be sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines including the Ise Shrine.[8]

Chief priestess / chief priest

From the late 7th century until the 14th century, the role of chief priestess of Ise Shrine was carried out by a female member of the Imperial House of Japan known as a Saiō. According to the Man'yōshū, the first saiō to serve at the shrine was Princess Ōku, daughter of Emperor Tenmu, during the Asuka period. Mention of Ise Shrine's saiō is also made in the Aoi, Sakaki and Yugao chapters of The Tale of Genji as well as in the 69th chapter of The Tales of Ise. The saiō system ended during the turmoil of the Nanboku-chō period.

During the Empire of Japan and the establishment of State Shinto, the position of chief priest of the Ise Shrine was fulfilled by the reigning emperor and the Meiji, Taisho and Shōwa Emperors all played the role of chief priest during their reigns.

Since the disestablishment of State Shinto during the Occupation of Japan, the offices of chief priest and most sacred priestess have been held by former members of the imperial family or their descendants. The current chief priest of the shrine is, adoptive son of Takatsukasa Kazuko. He succeeded Kitashirakawa Michihisa, a great-grandson of Emperor Meiji, in 2007. Takatsukasa Kazuko was succeeded by her younger sister, Ikeda Atsuko. In 2012, Ikeda was joined by her niece Sayako Kuroda, sole daughter of Emperor Akihito, to serve as a high priestess under her. On 19 June 2017, Sayako officially replaced her aunt as supreme priestess.

Shrine architecture

The architectural style of the Ise shrine is known as shinmei-zukuri, characterized by extreme simplicity and antiquity; its basic principles date back to the Kofun period (250–538 C.E.). The shrine buildings use a special variant of this style called, which may not be used in the construction of any other shrine. Yuitsu-shinmei-zukuri style replicates the architectural features of early rice granaries.[9] The old shrines are dismantled and new ones built on an adjacent site to exacting specifications every 20 years at exorbitant expense, so that the buildings will be forever new and forever ancient and original. The present buildings, dating from 2013, are the 62nd iteration to date and are scheduled for rebuilding in 2033.

The shrine at Naikū is constructed of Japanese cypress. Built on pillars set directly in the ground, the shrine building measures 10.9 by 5.5 meters and includes a raised floor, verandas all the way around the building and a staircase leading to a single central doorway. The Naikū does not have any windows. The roof is made of thatched reed with ten billets (katsuogi) located on the ridge of the roof, the bargeboards of which project beyond the roof to form the distinctive forked finials (chigi) at the ends of the ridge. The chigi on the roof of the Naikū are flat on top, rather than pointed, which serves as a distinction for the gender of the deity being represented. In the case of Ise, Amaterasu, a female deity, is represented at the shrine, which is why the chigi are flat.[10] The roof ridge is supported by two free-standing columns called the munamochi-bashira. The katsuogi, chigi and munamochi-bashira are stylised forms of older storehouse building techniques that pre-date the introduction of Buddhist architecture in Japan.[11]

The empty site beside the shrine building, the site where the previous shrine once stood and where the next will be built, is called the kodenchi. This area is strewn with large white pebbles and is left totally empty apart from the oi-ya, a small wooden hut containing a wooden pole a little over 2 metres in height called the shin-no-mihashira (new sacred central pole). When a new shrine is built, it is built around the sacred central pole before the removal of the oi-ya, so that the central pole is never seen. The central pole of the old shrine will then have a new oi-ya erected so that the shin-no-mihashira also remains unseen.

Rebuilding the Shrine

The shrine buildings at Naikū and Gekū, as well as the Uji Bridge, are rebuilt every 20 years as a part of the Shinto belief in tokowaka (常若), which means renewing objects to maintain a strong sense of divine prestige in pursuit of eternity, and as a way of passing building techniques from one generation to the next.[12] [13] The twenty-year renewal process is called the Shikinen Sengū. Although the goal of Sengū is to get the shrine built within the 20-year period, there have been some instances, especially because of war, where the shrine building process is postponed or delayed.[14] The original physical purpose of the Sengu process is unknown. However, it is believed that it serves to maintain the longevity of the shrine, or possibly as a gesture to the deity enclosed within the shrine. Historically, this cyclical reconstruction has been practiced for many years in various shrines throughout Japan, meaning that it is not a process exclusive to Ise. The entire reconstruction process takes more or less 17 years, with the initial years focusing on project organization and general planning, and the last 8 years focusing on the physical construction of the shrine.

The shrine has evolved throughout the years in its reconstruction, while maintaining some of its key features. The shrine was not originally constructed with gold copper adornments; however, because of advancements in technology as well as Buddhist influence, it gained them over the years.[15] Another example of Buddhist influence on the shrine is the use of Suedama, which are Buddhist orbs seen on various religious structures. It symbolizes a sacred jewel, and is comparable to nyoi-shu, orbs which many Buddhist figures are displayed holding. Initially, the shrine was constructed of locally sourced Hinoki wood, which served as an ideal building material due to its physical properties. The abundance of local Hinoki wood was short lived, and the shrine currently obtains the wood through other domestic producers, who ensure that only the best wood is being used for the construction. Before the wood is usable in building the shrine, it must be put through a lengthy seasoning and drying process where it is in a pond for several years and then dried.

The team which builds the shrine is typically formed around a few factors. Since many of the building techniques haven't changed since the creation of the Ise Shrine, the workers who are hired to build the shrine must be skilled in specific techniques. Power tools are not allowed within the area of the shrine, which means that skilled artisans and carpenters known as miyadaiku are necessary in the construction process. The unit of workers is also organized around relative skill levels, and less experienced workers will work on smaller tasks than more experienced workers. The importance of hiring specifically local artisans has decreased throughout time, for the pool of available miyadaiku has thinned out. Specialized work and the specific materials come with a cost; in 2013, the shrine was built from private donations alone, totaling 57 billion Japanese Yen (US$550 million).[16]

In August, in a long-standing tradition, the people who live in Ise are allowed to enter the area around the Inner Sanctum of the Naiku as well as the Geku. Some villages drag a wooden carriage laden with white stones up the Isuzu River onto the grounds of the Naiku. Each participant gets two white stones in a white handkerchief and these allow them to place the stones in the area around the Inner Sanctum. Other villages drag a huge wooden cart or Noburi Kuruma laden with white stones to the Uji bridge at the entrance of the grounds of the Naiku. Participants receive two white stones which are also placed in the sacred space around the Inner Sanctum. The entire tradition is called Shiraisshiki and it is very colourful with every participant wearing a happi coat representing a particular village. The rebuilding of the main shrine takes place on a site adjacent to the old, and each rebuilding alternates between the two sites. The next scheduled rebuilding of Naikū is due in 2033 on the lower, northern site. Various other religious ceremonies are held with the completion of the shrine, each serving different purposes.

In the lead-up to the rebuilding of the shrines, a number of festivals are held to mark special events. The Okihiki Festival is held in the spring over two consecutive years and involves people from surrounding towns dragging huge wooden logs through the streets of Ise to Naikū and Gekū. In the lead-up to the 2013 rebuilding, the Okihiki festival was held in 2006 and 2007. A year after the completion of the Okihiki festival, carpenters begin preparing the wood for its eventual use in the Shrine.

Annual festivals

From the late seventh century, when the festivals and offerings of Ise Shrine became more formalised, a number of annual events have been performed at both Naikū and Gekū. The Tsukinamisai, which was held in June and December, as well as the Kannamesai Festival in September, were the only three offerings performed by the Saiō, an imperial princess who served as high priestess of the shrine until the 14th century.[17] These offerings are based on the cycle of the agricultural year and are still performed today.

The first important ceremony of the modern calendar year is the Kinen-sai, where prayers are offered for a bountiful harvest. Kazahinomisai, where prayers for fair weather and sufficient rains are made, is held twice a year in May and August at both Naikū and Gekū.The most important annual festival held at Ise Shrine is the . Held in October each year, this ritual makes offerings of the first harvest of crops for the season to Amaterasu. An imperial envoy carries the offering of rice harvested by the Emperor himself to Ise, as well as five-coloured silk cloth and other materials, called heihaku.[18]

Besides the agricultural ceremonies already mentioned, ceremonies and festivals are held throughout the year at both Naikū and Gekū to celebrate things such as the new year, the foundation of Japan, the past emperors, purification rituals for priests and court musicians, good sake fermentation and the Emperor's birthday. There are also daily food offerings to the shrine kami held both in the mornings and evenings.[19]

Gekū – the outer shrine

Toyouke Daijingu
Religious Affiliation:Shinto
Map Type:Japan
Coordinates:34.455°N 136.7258°W
Location:Ise, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Deity:Toyoukebime
Established:4 BCE

is a shrine to Toyoukebime, the food goddess, located in Ise Grand Shrine. it is also colloquially known as .[20] In pilgrimage customs people traditionally visit this shrine first and then Kotai jingu which is located 4 km to the south

The shrine was founded after Emperor Yuryaku dreamt that he saw Amaterasu. She said she was unable to get food and asked him to bring Toyouke-hime from Tanba help her with food.[21]

Daiichi-torii-guchi Sando

Daiichi-torii-guchi Sando is the primary route into the shrine. It is a Sandō that starts at the Hiyokebashi bridge entrance, and beyond this bridge, the Temizusha (ablution font) is visible on the left side.

Temizusha

A Temizusha is present at the shrine for worshippers to purify .

Kitamikado-guchi Sando

An alternative entrance path for the shrine.

Saikan and Anzaisho

Saikan and Anzaisho are the Purification Hall and Hall for Imperial Household Visitors respectively. They are on the right side of the pilgrimage path. The Saikan, which is surrounded by fences, is used by Shinto priests to purify themselves. They stay here for one or two nights to cleanse their minds from worldly concerns before performing rituals, as they bathe and eat meals prepared with sacred fire to achieve spiritual serenity; adjacent to Saikan, there is a building called Anzaisho, which serves as the Hall for the Emperor and Empress.

Kaguraden

There is a large Kaguraden at Geku.

Honden

Toyouke Omikami is enshrined at the Honden. It lies in the most sacred area enclosed by four rows of fences, and the structure remains unchanged from 1500 years ago. Worshippers can only approach the first gate.

History

In Japanese mythology Toyouke-hime was either killed by Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto[22] or by Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Amaterasu mourned the death of her and in the Nihon Shoki the reason the sun and the moon are on opposite sides of the sky is that Amaterasu was unwilling to go near Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto the moon god after he committed the murder. Amaterasu is linked with Toyouke-hime as the sun is necessary for food to grow. This was prior to the Tenson Korin and the establishment of Ise Jingu. Emperor Suinin is said to have established the shrine to worship Amaterasu at a permanent location after many temporary locations. In contrast with, this shrine is not explicitly mentioned in the Kojiki or the Nihon Shoki.

Besides the traditional establishment date of 4 BC,[6] it has also been proposed as having been made in the 5th century.[7] The shrine officially states it was created 1500 years ago in response to a revelation from Amaterasu that the shrine was needed.[23]

The shrine has been traditionally rebuilt every 20 years.[24]

There is a separate shrine dedicated to Toyouke's Ara-mitama, or called (Takamiya) inside this shrine.

Naikū – the inner shrine

The official name of the main shrine of Naikū is Kotaijingu and is the place of worship of the goddess Amaterasu. The grounds of Naikū contain a number of structures, including the following:[25]

The Uji Bridge

This 100 meter wooden bridge, built in a traditional Japanese style, stretches across the Isuzu River at the entrance of Naikū. Like the shrine buildings of Naikū, it is rebuilt every 20 years as a part of the Shikinen Sengū ceremony. The bridge is typically built by carpenters with less experience to gain more skills before moving on to take on the task of working on the main shrine. On crossing the bridge, the path turns to the right along the banks of the Isuzu river and passes through large landscaped gardens.

Temizusha

After crossing a short, wide bridge, pilgrims to the shrine encounter the Temizusha, a small, roofed structure containing a pool of water for use in ritual purification. Visitors are encouraged to wash their hands and rinse their mouths at Temizusha as a symbolic act to clean the mind and body of impurity. The first of two large torii gates stands just beyond the Temizusha.

Saikan and Anzaisho

After passing the first large torii gate, the Purification Hall (Saikan), and the hall for visitors from the imperial household (Anzaisho) is located to the left. The Saikan is used by shrine priests to purify themselves before performing ceremonies at the shrine. They are required to spend one or two nights to free their minds of worldly issues, partaking in baths and eating meals cooked with the sacred fire.

Kaguraden

This hall for special prayer, located just after the second large torii gate, is open to the public for the offering of individual prayers to the kami, the giving of donations and the purchase of special talisman of protection, amulets and hanging scrolls of Amaterasu Omikami.

Imibiyaden

This hall contains the sacred fire used to cook all of the food offerings to the kami of Ise Shrine. Rice and other offerings cooked on the sacred fire are stored in a box made of Japanese cypress, then purified at the Haraedo immediately in front of the Imibiyaden before being offered to the kami.

Kōtai Jingū – the main shrine

The pilgrimage path then approaches the fence of the inner sanctum (昇殿, shōden) of Naikū by a set of large stone steps. Within another set of fencing inside the gate is the main shrine (正宮, seigū) itself. Visitors are supposed to keep to the sides of the path as the middle is set aside for the goddess Amaterasu. Etiquette is the same as for most Shinto shrines. Though the actual shrine is hidden behind a large fence, pilgrims can approach the gate to offer their prayers. Photographs in this area are prohibited and this restriction is strictly policed.

Kotai Jingū is said to hold the Sacred Mirror, one of three Imperial Regalia of Japan said to have been given to the first Emperor by the gods. From a path that follows the line of the outer wall, the distinctive roof of the shrine building can be seen through the trees. In front of the walled shrine compound can be seen an open area which was the location of the rebuilding of the shrine in 2013.

Pilgrimage at Ise

The pilgrimage to the Ise shrine, also known as Sangū,[26] gained immense popularity during the Edo Period, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims would travel there every year. The growth was exponential, 5 million pilgrims visiting the shrine in the year 1830 alone. By the late 19th century, tourists from abroad began to visit and document Ise. The popularity of making a trip to Ise resulted in vast networks and groups of travelers, which ultimately led to businesses working to benefit from this influx of interest for the shrine. Travel guidebooks were made to aid travelers in their navigation, as well to let them know of specific important places to visit while at Ise. They also included woodblock prints of the shrine that were very appealing to those who had made the long trek to the shrine. Additionally, people wanted souvenirs, which resulted in a variety of vendors at Ise selling general goods and specialty items. There were also various post stations which had specific gifts, many of which were woodblock prints.[27] The pilgrimage had multiple purposes and appeals. It was seen as a purification process, and by visiting Ise, pilgrims were purified and aided in receiving a good afterlife. It also was seen as a vacation, the journey to the shrine itself being almost as important as actually getting there. In the 21st century, Ise is still an important destination both to foreign tourists and especially to the Japanese community; 9 million Japanese tourists visited the shrine in 2013.

Shrines and facilities

Shrines

There are 125 shrines within Ise Shrine:[28]

Shōgū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
Kōtai Jingū (Naikū)皇大神宮Amaterasu Ōmikami
Ameno Tajikarao no kami
Yorozuhata-Toyoakitsuhime no mikoto
天照大御神
天手力男神
万幡豊秋津姫命[29]
Ujitachi, Ise city
Toyouke Daijingū (Gekū)豊受大神宮Toyouke no Ōmikami
3 Mitomo no kami
豊受大御神
御伴神3座[30]
Toyokawa, Ise city
Betsugū of Kōtai Jingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Aramatsuri no miya荒祭宮Amaterasu Ōmikami no Aramitama天照大御神荒御魂in Naikū
2Tsukiyomi no miya月讀宮Tsukiyomi no mikoto月讀尊Nakamura, Ise city
3Tsukiyomi no Aramitama no miya月讀荒御魂宮Tsukiyomi no mikoto no Aramitama月讀尊荒御魂in Tsukiyomi no miya
4Izanagi no miya伊佐奈岐宮Izanagi no mikoto伊佐奈岐尊in Tsukiyomi no miya
5Izanami no miya伊佐奈弥宮Izanami no mikoto伊佐奈弥尊in Tsukiyomi no miya
6Takihara no miya瀧原宮Amaterasu Ōmikami no Mitama天照大御神御魂Takihara, Taiki town,
Watarai district
7Takihara no narabi no miya瀧原竝宮Amaterasu Ōmikami no Mitama天照大御神御魂in Takihara no miya
8Izawa no miya伊雑宮Amaterasu Ōmikami no Mitama天照大御神御魂Isobe-chō-Kaminogō,
Shima city
9Yamatohime no miya倭姫宮Yamatohime no mikoto倭姫命Kusube, Ise city
10Kazahinomi no miya風日祈宮Shinatsuhiko no mikoto
Shinatobe no mikoto
級長津彦命
級長戸辺命
in Naikū
Betsugū of Toyouke Daijingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Taka no miya多賀宮Toyouke no Ōmikami no Aramitama豊受大御神荒御魂in Gekū
2Tsuchi no miya土宮Ōtsuchi no mioya no kami大土御祖神in Gekū
3Tsukiyomi no miya月夜見宮Tsukiyomi no mikoto
Tsukiyomi no mikoto no Aramitama
月夜見尊
月夜見尊荒御魂
Miyajiri, Ise city
4Kaze no miya風宮Shinatsuhiko no mikoto
Shinatobe no mikoto
級長津彦命
級長戸辺命
in Gekū
Sessha of Kōtai Jingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Asakuma jinja朝熊神社Ōtoshi no kami
Kokemushi no kami
Asakuma no mizu no kami
大歳神
苔虫神
朝熊水神
Asama, Ise city
2Asakuma mimae jinja朝熊御前神社Asakuma no mimae no kami朝熊御前神in Asakuma jinja
3Sonai (Sonō[31]) jinja園相神社Sonahihiko no mikoto
Mimae no kami
曾奈比比古命
御前神
Tsumura, Ise city
4Kamo jinja鴨神社Ishikorowake no mikoto
Mimae no kami
石己呂和居命
御前神
Yamagammi, Tamaki,
Watarai district
5Tanoe jinja田乃家神社Ōkami no Misamukawa no kami大神御滄川神Yano, Tamaki,
Watarai district
6Tanoe mimae jinja田乃家御前神社Mimae no kami御前神same as Tanoe jinja
7Kano jinja蚊野神社Ōkami no mikage no-
kawa no kami
大神御蔭川神Kano, Tamaki,
Watarai district
8Kano mimae jinja蚊野御前神社Mimae no kami御前神same as Kano jinja
9Yuta jinja湯田神社Ōtoshi no mioya no mikoto
Mimae no kami
大歳御祖命
御前神
Obata-chō-Yuta,
Ise city
10Ōtsuchi mioya jinja大土御祖神社Ōkunitama no mikoto
Mizusasarahiko no mikoto
Mizusasarahime no mikoto
大国玉命
水佐佐良比古命
水佐佐良比賣命
Kusube, Ise city
11Kunitsu mioya jinja国津御祖神社Ujihime no mikoto
Tamurahime no mikoto
宇治比賣命
田村比賣命
in Ōtoshi mioya jinja
12Kuchira jinja朽羅神社Chiyorihime no mikoto
Chiyorihiko no mikoto
千依比賣命
千依比古命
Hara, Tamaki,
Watarai district
13Ujiyōda jinja宇治山田神社Yamatahime no mikoto[32] 山田姫命Nakamura, Ise city
14Tsunaga jinja津長神社Sunagahime no mikoto栖長比賣命Uji-Imazaike, Ise city
(in front of Kōtai Jingū)
15Katada jinja堅田神社Samitsuhime no mikoto佐見都比女命Futami-chō-Chaya,
Ise city[33]
16Ōmizu jinja大水神社Ōyamazumi no mioya no mikoto大山祇御祖命Uji-imazaike, Ise city
(in front of Kōtai Jingū)
17E jinja江神社Nagakuchime no mikoto
Ōtoshi no mioya no mikoto
Ukano mitama no mikoto
長口女命
大歳御祖命
宇加乃御玉命
Futami-chō-E, Ise city
18Kōzaki jinja神前神社Arasakihime no mikoto荒崎比賣命Futami-chō-Matsushita,
Ise city
19Awamiko jinja粟皇子神社Susanō no mikoto no Mitama no-
michinushi no mikoto
須佐乃乎命御玉道主命Futami-chō-Matsushita,
Ise city
20Kawara jinja川原神社Tsukiyomi no mikoto no Mitama月讀尊御魂Sōchi, Ise city
21Kugutsuhime jinja久具都比賣神社kugutsuhime no mikoto
kugutsuhiko no mikoto
MImae no kami
久具都比賣命
久具都比古命
御前神
Kamikugu, Watarai town,
Watarai district
22Narahara jinja奈良波良神社Naraharahime no mikoto那良原比女命Miyako, Tamaki town,
Watarai district
23Sugihara jinja棒原神社Ama no subarume no mikoto-
no Mitama
Mimae no kami
天須婆留女命御魂
御前神
Kami-Tanui, Tamaki town,
Watarai district
24Mifune jinja御船神社Ōkami no mikage no-
kawa no mikoto
大神御蔭川神Toba, Taki town,
Taki district
25Sakatekunari jinja坂手国生神社Takaminakami no mikoto
(Takaminakami no kami[34])
高水上命 (高水上神)Kami-Tanui, Tamaki town,
Watarai district
26Satakunari jinja狭田國生神社Hayakawahiko no mikoto
Hayakawahime no mikoto
Yamazue no Mitama
速川比古命
速川比女命
山末御魂
Sata, Tamaki town,
Watarai district
27Takihara jinja多岐原神社Manako no Kami真奈胡の神Misegawa, Taiki town,
Watarai district
Sessha of Toyouke Daijingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Kusanagi jinja草奈伎神社Mishirushi no tsurugi no kami御剣仗神 (標劔仗神[35])Tokiwa, Ise city
2Ōmakunari jinja大間国生神社Ōwakako no mikoto
Otowakako no mikoto
大若子命
乙若子命
Tokiwa, Ise city
3Watarai kuimii jinja度会国御神社Hikokunimigakitakeyotsuka no mikoto彦国見賀岐建與束命in Gekū
4Watarai ōkunitamahime jinja度会大国玉比賣神社Ōkunitama no mikoto
Mizusasarahime no mikoto
大国玉姫命
弥豆佐佐良比賣命
in Gekū
5Tanoe ōmizu jinja田上大水神社Ogoto kan-nushi小事神主Fujisato, Ise city
6Tanoe ōmizu mimae jinja田上大水御前神社Miyako宮子in Tanoe ōmizu jinja
7Shitomi jinja志等美神社Kukunochi no kami久久能智神Tsujikuru, Ise city
8Ōkōchi jinja大河内神社Ōyamazumi no kami大山祇神in Shitomi jinja
9Kiyonoiba jinja清野井庭神社Kayanohime no mikoto草野姫命Tokiwa, Ise city
10Takagawara jinja高河原神社Tsukiyomi no mikoto no Mitama月夜見尊御魂in Tsukiyomi no miya
(Gekū, 月夜見宮)
11Kawara jinja河原神社Kawa no kami[36] 川神Misono-chō-Shingai,
Ise city
12Kawarabuchi jinja河原淵神社Sawahime no mikoto澤姫命Funae, Ise city
13Yamazue jinja山末神社Ōyamatsuhime no mikoto大山津姫命in Gekū
14Usunono jinja宇須乃野神社Usunome no mikoto宇須乃女命Misono-chō-Takabuku,
Ise city
15Mike jinja御食神社Minato no miketsu kami水戸御饗都Kamiyashiro, Ise city
16Obata jinja小俣神社Uka no Mitama no kami宇賀御魂神Obata-chō-motomachi,
Ise city
Massha of Kōtai Jingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Kamoshimo jinja鴨下神社Ishikorowake no mikoto
Kamohiko no mikoto
Kamohime no mikoto
石己呂和居命
鴨比古命
鴨比賣命
Katsuta, Tamaki,
Watarai district
2Tsubura jinja津布良神社Tsuburahiko no mikoto
Tsuburahime no mikoto
津布良比古命
津布良比賣命
Tsubura, Tamaki,
Watarai district
3Ashihara jinja葦原神社Sasatsuhiko no mikoto
Ukano Mitama no mioya no mikoto
Ikarihime no mikoto
佐佐津比古命
宇加乃御魂御祖命
伊加利比売命
in Tsukiyomi no miya
(Naikū, 月讀宮)
4Ogoso jinja小社神社Takaminakami no mikoto[37]
(
Takaminakami mikoto[38])高水上命Ogoso-Sone, Tamaki,
Watarai district
5Komori jinja許母利神社Awashima no kami no mitama粟嶋神御魂same as Kōzaki jinja
6Niikawa jinja新川神社Niikawahime no mikoto新川比賣命same as Tsunaga jinja
7Iwai jinja石井神社Takaminakami no mikoto[39] 高水上命same as Tsunaga jinja
8Uji no nuki jinja宇治乃奴鬼Takaminakami no mikoto[40] 高水上命Ōtoshi mioya jinja
9Kanumi jinja加努弥神社Inayorihime no mikoto稲依比女命Kanome (Kanomi), Ise city
without building
10Kawaai jinja川相神社Hosokawa no mizu no kami細川水神same as Ōmizu jinja
11Kumabuchi jinja熊淵神社Takiōtoji no kami多支大刀自神same as Ōmizu jinja
12Arasaki jinja荒前神社Arasakihime no mikoto荒前比賣命same as Kōzaki jinja
13Najime jinja那自売神社Ōminakami no mioya no mikoto
Mimonosusohime no mikoto
大水上御祖命
御裳乃須蘇比賣命
same as Ujiyōda jinja
14Ashidate jinja葦立弖神社Tamayarahime no mikoto玉移良比女命same as Kunitsu mioya jinja
15Mumino jinja牟弥乃神社Samukawahiko no mikoto
Samukawahime no mikoto
寒川比古命
寒川比女命
same as Mifune jinja
16Kagaminomiya jinja鏡宮神社Iwanoue no futatsu no mikagami no mitama岩上二面神鏡霊Asama, Ise city
Massha of Toyouke Daijingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Igari jinja伊我理神社Igarihime no mikoto伊我理比女命in Gekū
2Agata jinja縣神社Agata no kami[41] 縣神same as Usuno no jinja
3Inaka jinja井中神社Inaka no kami井中神same as Ikari jinja
4Uchikake jinja打縣神社Uchikake myōjin[42] 打縣名神in Shitomi jinja
5Akasaki jinja赤崎神社Arasakihime no mikoto荒崎姫命Toba, Toba city
6Mori jinja毛理神社Ki no kami[43] 木神same as Kawara jinja
(河原神社)
7Ōtsu jinja大津神社Ashihara kami
(Ashihara no kami[44])
葦原神in Gekū
8Shioya jinja志宝屋神社Shiotsuchi no oji塩土老翁Ōminato, Ise city
Shokansha of Kōtai Jingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Takimatsuri no kami滝祭神Takimatsuri no Ōkami[45] 瀧祭大神in Naikū
without building
2Okitama no Kami興玉神Okitama no Kami興玉神in Naikū Shogū
without building
3Miyabi no kami宮比神Miyabi no kami宮比神in Naikū Shogū
without building
4Yanohahiki no kami屋乃波比伎神Yanohahiki no kami屋乃波比伎神in Naikū Shogū
without building
5Misakadono御酒殿Misakadono no kami[46] 御酒殿神in Naikū
6Mishine no mikura御稲御倉Mishine no mikura no kami御稲御倉神in Naikū
7Yuki no mikura由貴御倉Yuki no mikura no kami由貴御倉神in Naikū
8Miya no meguri no kami四至神Miya no meguri no kami四至神in Naikū
without building
9Kan-Hatori hatadono jinja神服織機殿神社Kan-hatori hatadono no-
mamori no kami[47]
神服織機殿神社鎮守神Ōgaito, Matsusaka city
10Massha of Kan-Hatori hatadono jinja; 8 shrines神服織機殿神社末社8所Kan-hatori hatadono no-
mamori no mimae no kami
神服織機殿神社鎮守御前神in Kan-Hatori hatadono jinja
11Kan-Omi hatadono jinja神麻績機殿神社Kan-Omi hatadono no-
mamori no kami[48]
神麻績機殿神社鎮守神Iguchinaka, Matsusaka city
12Massha of Kan-Omi hatadono jinja; 8 shrines神麻績機殿神社末社8所Kan-Omi hatadono no mamori no-
mimae no kami
神麻績機殿神社鎮守御前神in Kan-Omi hatadono jinja
13Mishiodono jinja御塩殿神社Mishiodono no mamori no kami御塩殿神社鎮守神[49] Futami-chō-Shō, Ise city
14Aedohashihime jinja饗土橋姫神社Ujibashi no mamori no kami宇治橋鎮守神Uji-Imazaike, Ise city
(in front of Kōtai Jingū)
15Ōyamatsumi jinja大山祇神社Ōyamazumi no kami大山祇神in Naikū
16Koyasu jinja子安神社Konohanasakuyahime no mikoto木華開耶姫命in Naikū
(side of Ōyamatsumi jinja)
Shokansha of Toyouke Daijingū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Misakadono御酒殿Misakadono no kami御酒殿神in Gekū
2Miya no meguri no kami四至神Miya no meguri no kami四至神in Gekū
without building
3Kami no mii no jinja上御井神社Kami no mii no mamori no kami上御井鎮守神in Gekū
4Shimo no mii no jinja下御井神社Shimo no mii no mamori no kami下御井鎮守神in Gekū
Shokansha of Betsugū
namekanjienshrinedkanjilocation
1Wakamiya jinja若宮神社Wakamiya no kami[50] 若宮神in Takihara no miya
2Nagayuke jinja長由介神社Nagayuke no kami長由介神in Takihara no miya
3Kawashima jinja川島神社Kawashima no kami川島神same as Nagayuke jinja
4Saminaga jinja佐美長神社Shimonomii no mamori no kami[51] 大歳神Isobe-chō-Erihara, Shima city
5Saminaga mimae jinja; 4 shrines佐美長御前神社Saminaga mimae no kami佐美長御前神in Saminaga jinja

Facilities

Facilities of Ise Shrine (not shrine)[52]
namekanjiarticleskanjilocation
1Yahiroden of Kan-Hatori hatadono jinja神服織機殿神社八尋殿Nigitae (silk)和妙in Kan-Hatori hatadono jinja
2Yahiroden of Kan-Omi hatadono jinja神麻績機殿神社八尋殿Aratae (hemp)荒妙in Kan-Omi hatadono jinja
3Jingu shinden
(30,000 m2)
神宮神田Goryō-mai (rice)御料米Kusube-chō, Ise city
4Izawa no miya no omita
(1,646 m2)
伊雑宮の御神田Goryō-mai (rice)御料米Isobe-chō-Erihara, Shima city
(side of Izawa no miya)
5Mishiohama
(6,609 m2)
御塩浜brine御塩Futami-chō-Nishi, Ise city
6Mishiodono
Mishio kumiiresho
Mishio yakisho
(27,785 m2)
御塩殿
御塩汲入所
御塩焼所
Mishio (salt)御塩in Mishiodono jinja
7Jingū misono
(19,751 m2)
神宮御園vegetables and fruits野菜・果物Futami-chō-Mizoguchi, Ise city
8Awabi chōseisho
(5,946 m2)
鰒調製所noshi awabi (dried abalone)熨斗鰒Kuzaki-chō, Toba city
9Hidai chōseisho
(11,242 m2)
干鯛調製所Hidai (dried sea bream)干鯛Shinojima, Minamichita town,
Chita District, Aichi Prefecture
10Doki chōseisho
(2,878 m2)
土器調製所earthenwares土器Minomura, Meiwa town,
Taki District

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Ise Jingu official homepage, Web site: Isejingu . 2012-05-30 . dead . https://archive.today/20120530195803/http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/gegu/gegu.htm . 2012-05-30 .
  2. Web site: Ise Jingu official homepage. https://archive.today/20120530195803/http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/isemairi/isemairi.htm. dead. May 30, 2012.
  3. Book: Ellwood . Robert S. . Japanese Religion: A Cultural Perspective . 1985 . Prentice-Hall . 978-0-13-509282-8 . 18 April 2019 . en.
  4. https://web.archive.org/web/20161013220353/http://cleanup.jp/life/edo/86.shtml お伊勢さま、一度は行きたい庶民の夢
  5. News: . Emperor's daughter becomes supreme priestess at Ise Shrine . June 21, 2017 . June 22, 2017 . Sayako Kuroda, the daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, assumed the post of supreme priestess at Ise Shrine this week, the ancient Shinto shrine said. .
  6. Encyclopædia Britannica Ise Shrine https://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9368233
  7. Sacred Places Ise Shrine http://witcombe.sbc.edu/sacredplaces/ise.html
  8. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines, pp. 116–117.
  9. Book: Cali, Joseph. Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion. University of Hawai'i Press. 2013. 214–222.
  10. Mayer. Adrian. March 1992. On the Gender of Shrines and the Daijōsai. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. 19. 73. JSTOR. 10.18874/jjrs.19.1.1992.69-80. free.
  11. Sir Banister Fletcher, A History of Architecture (p724), Architectural Press (1996),
  12. Web site: https://www.dir.co.jp/report/column/20160406_010798.html. https://web.archive.org/web/20210507162638/https://www.dir.co.jp/report/column/20160406_010798.html. ja:常若(とこわか)=伊勢神宮・式年遷宮にみる和のサステナビリティ. ja. Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd.. 6 April 2016. 7 May 2021. 5 November 2022.
  13. Shinnyo Kawai (2013) 常若の思想 伊勢神宮と日本人. Shodensha.
  14. Reynolds . Jonathan. June 2001. Ise Shrine and a Modernist Construction of Japanese Tradition . The Art Bulletin. 83. 2. 316–341 . 10.2307/3177211. 3177211.
  15. Adams. Cassandra. Sep 1998. Japan's Ise Shrine and Its Thirteen-Hundred-Year-Old Reconstruction Tradition. Journal of Architectural Education. 52. 49–60. JSTOR. 10.1111/j.1531-314X.1998.tb00255.x.
  16. Book: Breen, John . Carmen Blacker: Scholar of Japanese Religion, Myth and Folklore . Renaissance Books . 978-1-898823-56-8 . 2017 . 396–412.
  17. Saikū Historical Museum information booklet, "A Town of Bamboo Illumined Once Again".
  18. Web site: Isejingu . 2007-10-10 . dead . https://archive.today/20120803191411/http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/maturi/maturi5.htm . 2012-08-03 . Annual Cycle of Ceremonies and Rice, Official Ise Jingu homepage.
  19. Web site: Isejingu . 2007-10-10 . dead . https://archive.today/20120804182958/http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/maturi/maturi2.htm . 2012-08-04 . Annual Cycle of Ceremonies, Official Ise Jingu homepage.
  20. Web site: Outer Shrine (Geku) . 2023-05-05 . www.japan-guide.com . en.
  21. Web site: Outline of Geku . isejingu.or.jp . 19 May 2023 . https://archive.today/20120530195803/http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/gegu/gegu.htm . 30 May 2012.
  22. Book: Roberts, Jeremy . Japanese Mythology A To Z . Chelsea House Publishers . 2010 . 978-1-60413-435-3 . 2nd . New York.
  23. Web site: About Ise Jingu|Ise Jingu . 2023-05-05 . Ise Jingu . en.
  24. Web site: Ise Jingu – Geku (Toyouke Daijingu) Sightseeing Spots MIE(Ise-Shima) Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd. . 2023-05-05 . www.kintetsu.co.jp.
  25. The official Ise Jingu homepage: Naiku, Web site: Isejingu . 2008-01-09 . dead . https://archive.today/20120629183132/http://www.isejingu.or.jp/english/naigu/naigu.htm . 2012-06-29 .
  26. Book: Kaempfer, Engelbert. Kaempfer's Japan: Tokugawa Culture Observed. University of Hawai'i Press. 1999. 117–121.
  27. Book: Vaporis, Constantine. Breaking Barriers: Travel and the State in Early Modern Japan. Harvard University. 1994. 217–254.
  28. "Oise mairi" (『お伊勢まいり』, Jingū-shichō, Ise-Jingū-sūkei-kai, July 1, 2006) p.105-118
  29. "Oise mairi" p.72
  30. "Oise mairi" p.9
  31. "Jingū sessha massha junhai" (『神宮摂社末社順拝』, Sarutahiko jinja, March 31, 1989) The second volume (下巻) p.87
  32. "Jingū sessha massha junhai", The second volume (下巻) p.31, No Hiragana in "Oise mairi" .
  33. Katada jinja is written at "伊勢市二見町江 (Futami-chō-E, Ise city)" in "Oise mairi", but this shrine is in Futami-chō-Chaya. Futami-chō-Chaya was independent of Futami-chō-E on November 1st 2005, and Futami-chō-Chaya is often written Futami-chō-E by a mistake. Katada jinja is mapped "二見町茶屋 (Futami-chō-Chaya)" in these maps, not Futami-chō-E.
  34. "Jingū sessha massha junhai", The second volume (下巻) p.69
  35. "Jingū sessha massha junhai", The first volume (上巻) p.65
  36. "Oisesan wo arukō (『お伊勢さんを歩こう』, Ise-Jingū-sūkei-kai, April 1, 2005) p.15, No Hiragana in "Oise mairi" and "Jingū sessha massha junhai".
  37. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.21
  38. "Jingū sessha massha junhai", The second volume (下巻) p.15
  39. "Jingū sessha massha junhai", The second volume (下巻) p.4
  40. "Jingū sessha massha junhai", The second volume (下巻) p.37
  41. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.16
  42. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.17
  43. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.15
  44. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.8
  45. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.4
  46. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.5
  47. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.24
  48. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.24
  49. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.27
  50. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.31
  51. "Oisesan wo arukō" p.29
  52. "Oise mairi" p.98-103