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Ise Shrine, located on the Kii peninsula in central [[Honshu|Honshû]],<ref>[[Ise]], [[Mie prefecture]].</ref> is the most sacred shrine in [[Shinto|Shintô]]. Associated with the sun goddess [[Amaterasu]], and holding the sacred mirror ''Yata no kagami'', one of the [[Three Imperial Regalia]], the shrine is also strongly associated with the Imperial line.

Ise Shrine, located on the Kii peninsula in central [[Honshu|Honshû]],<ref>[[Ise]], [[Mie prefecture]].</ref> is the most sacred shrine in [[Shinto|Shintô]]. Associated with the sun goddess [[Amaterasu]], and holding the sacred mirror ''Yata no kagami'', one of the [[Three Imperial Regalia]], the shrine is also strongly associated with the Imperial line.

While the Shrine has retained a strong Imperial association throughout its history, much surrounding that association today is a product of [[State Shinto]] as constructed in the [[Meiji period]] or even as late as the 1930s. While certain portions of the shrine are accessible only by the highest priests and by the [[Emperor]] himself, the [[Meiji Emperor]] (r. [[1867]]-[[1912]]) was the first Emperor to visit the shrine in person since [[Empress Jito|Empress Jitô]] (r. [[686]]-[[697]]), over one thousand years earlier. During the intervening time, emperors worshipped Ise only "from afar" (''yôhai'').<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', UC Press (1998), 84.</ref>

While the Shrine has retained a strong Imperial association throughout its history, much surrounding that association today is a product of [[State Shinto]] as constructed in the [[Meiji period]] or even as late as the 1930s. In the [[Edo period]] too, Ise was a shrine dedicated to Amaterasu and [[Toyouke|Toyouke Ômikami]], but as gods of plentiful harvests and of prosperity, but Amaterasu's connection to the Imperial lineage was not emphasized. While certain portions of the shrine are accessible only by the highest priests and by the [[Emperor]] himself, the [[Meiji Emperor]] (r. [[1867]]-[[1912]]) was the first Emperor to visit the shrine in person since [[Empress Jito|Empress Jitô]] (r. [[686]]-[[697]]), over one thousand years earlier. During the intervening time, emperors worshipped Ise only "from afar" (''yôhai'').<ref>Takashi Fujitani, ''Splendid Monarchy'', UC Press (1998), 84, 88.</ref>

 

Traveling Ise priests known as ''onshi'' or ''oshi'' journeyed around the archipelago selling or giving out amulets, giving sermons, and performing prayers and rites for those who asked them to do so. These ''onshi'', and various folk practices and beliefs associated with them, were abolished in the Meiji period, and Ise's association with the Imperial lineage became emphasized, with Imperial visits to the Shrine, and with the establishment of numerous Amaterasu shrines and Ise ''yôhaisho'' (worship-from-afar sites) across the country.<ref>Fujitani, 88.</ref>

==Reconstruction==

==Reconstruction==

The Ise Shrine complex can be roughly divided into two parts: the Naiku (Inner Shrine) and Geku (Outer Shrine). Each of these two parts consists of numerous shrine buildings and sacred spaces. Many other related small sacred spaces and structures are also scattered throughout the surrounding area.  

The Ise Shrine complex can be roughly divided into two parts: the Naiku (Inner Shrine) and Geku (Outer Shrine). Each of these two parts consists of numerous shrine buildings and sacred spaces. Many other related small sacred spaces and structures are also scattered throughout the surrounding area.  

The Geku, dedicated to [[Toyouke|Toyouke Ômikami]], god of abundant food, was originally not associated with the Amaterasu shrine, but the two were combined in the 9th century.

The Geku, dedicated to Toyouke Ômikami, god of abundant food, was originally not associated with the Amaterasu shrine, but the two were combined in the 9th century.

The Naiku consists of roughly 120 separate shrines, with the most sacred, and most restricted, at their center. A lengthy prescribed path leads to the Inner Precinct, along a series of bridges and roads or paths which lead one through a series of ''[[torii]]''. The entrance to the most restricted area is blocked off simply by a silk curtain; only high-ranking shrine priests and members of the Imperial family are permitted to enter beyond this curtain. Even beyond that point, however, access remains proscribed according to hierarchical status. Only the reigning emperor is permitted to enter the innermost shrine building, the ''shôden'', while other members of the Imperial family keep a distance in accordance with their familial distance from the Emperor.

The Naiku consists of roughly 120 separate shrines, with the most sacred, and most restricted, at their center. A lengthy prescribed path leads to the Inner Precinct, along a series of bridges and roads or paths which lead one through a series of ''[[torii]]''. The entrance to the most restricted area is blocked off simply by a silk curtain; only high-ranking shrine priests and members of the Imperial family are permitted to enter beyond this curtain. Even beyond that point, however, access remains proscribed according to hierarchical status. Only the reigning emperor is permitted to enter the innermost shrine building, the ''shôden'', while other members of the Imperial family keep a distance in accordance with their familial distance from the Emperor.