Changes

While tradition would have it that the techniques, materials, and tools are unchanged going all the way back to the 7th century (if not earlier), scholarship suggests that they have, indeed, changed, as all traditions change over time. Yet, nevertheless, the belief or perception that the shrine remains the same, the tradition unbroken, is of importance.

While tradition would have it that the techniques, materials, and tools are unchanged going all the way back to the 7th century (if not earlier), scholarship suggests that they have, indeed, changed, as all traditions change over time. Yet, nevertheless, the belief or perception that the shrine remains the same, the tradition unbroken, is of importance.

The shrine structures are rebuilt using virgin cypress (J: ''hinoki'') wood from old-growth forests, and in concert with a variety of rituals, festivals, and ceremonies known as ''shikinen sengû'' ("relocation of the shrine in festival years"), including festivals associated with the felling and transportation of the logs to the shrine site. The innermost structures are not simply demolished and rebuilt on the same site, but are instead newly constructed on an adjacent site, to form a duplicate of the 'old' structures, which are then demolished. The 'old' site is covered over with gravel, and only one pillar of the old structure, a so-called "heart pillar" (''shin-no-mihashira''), is retained, and sheltered under a small shed built for that purpose. In this way, the shrine buildings actually alternate between two plots of land as they are rebuilt every twenty years. The construction itself is done using traditional methods, known and passed down by a specific group of Ise ''miya-daiku'' (shrine carpenters). Recently, concerns have grown that these traditional craft skills, as particular to Ise, may be in serious danger of dying out before the shrine is rebuilt once again, in 2033.

The shrine structures are rebuilt using some 800 cubic meters of virgin cypress (J: ''hinoki'') wood from old-growth forests, and in concert with a variety of rituals, festivals, and ceremonies known as ''shikinen sengû'' ("relocation of the shrine in festival years"), including festivals associated with the felling and transportation of the logs to the shrine site. A grove of cypress trees was planted in the 20th century with the intention that it help ensure sufficient lumber for the next 200 years of shrine reconstructions. The innermost structures are not simply demolished and rebuilt on the same site, but are instead newly constructed on an adjacent site, to form a duplicate of the 'old' structures, which are then demolished. The 'old' site is covered over with gravel, and only one pillar of the old structure, a so-called "heart pillar" (''shin-no-mihashira''), is retained, and sheltered under a small shed built for that purpose. In this way, the shrine buildings actually alternate between two plots of land as they are rebuilt every twenty years. Wood from the old shrine is then used to rebuild or repair shrines all across the country.

 

Special purification rituals are performed on the site of the new reconstruction before any other activities are done there; the scheduling of this ritual is decided by the Emperor himself. The construction itself is done using traditional methods, known and passed down by a specific group of Ise ''miya-daiku'' (shrine carpenters). Recently, concerns have grown that these traditional craft skills, as particular to Ise, may be in serious danger of dying out before the shrine is rebuilt once again, in 2033.

 

 

''[[Kagura]]'' is performed in conjunction with the transfer ceremonies.

==Grounds & Layout==

==Grounds & Layout==

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. A bridge over the Izusu River known as the Uji Bridge (or ''Ujibashi'')<ref>Not to be confused with the [[Uji Bridge]] in [[Uji]], near Kyoto.</ref> is often said to mark the border between the mundane and sacred worlds.

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 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, dedicated to Amaterasu Ômikami, and also known as the Kôtai Jingû ("Shrine of the Imperial Great Goddess"), 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 ''shôden'' exemplifies ''[[shinmei-zukuri]]'', the most classic style of [[Shinto architecture]]. It stands three bays wide by two bays deep,<ref>"Bays," or ''ma'' 間 in Japanese, is a unit equal to the space between pillars in a structure; in Japanese architecture, this is generally a standard distance.</ref> or roughly 15 x 10 meters. It is supported on pillars set directly into the ground, without a foundation. The thatched roof bears perhaps the most distinctive feature of this style: a pair of ''chigi'', wooden beams which stick up out of the roof at a sharp angle, forming essentially an X-shape with the triangle of the roof itself. These are quite commonly seen on Shinto shrines throughout Japan, and rarely if ever on Buddhist structures. The ''shôden'' is arranged lengthwise within the precinct, and is approached and entered via a covered staircase. The Inner Precinct consists solely of this central ''shôden'', and two small treasure houses, located to either side, behind it.

The ''shôden'' exemplifies ''[[shinmei-zukuri]]'', the most classic style of [[Shinto architecture]]. It stands three bays wide by two bays deep,<ref>"Bays," or ''ma'' 間 in Japanese, is a unit equal to the space between pillars in a structure; in Japanese architecture, this is generally a standard distance.</ref> or roughly 15 x 10 meters. It is supported on pillars set directly into the ground, without a foundation. The thatched roof bears perhaps the most distinctive feature of this style: a pair of ''chigi'', wooden beams which stick up out of the roof at a sharp angle, forming essentially an X-shape with the triangle of the roof itself. These are quite commonly seen on Shinto shrines throughout Japan, and rarely if ever on Buddhist structures. The ''shôden'' is arranged lengthwise within the precinct, and is approached and entered via a covered staircase. The Inner Precinct consists solely of this central ''shôden'', and two small treasure houses, located to either side, behind it.