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*''Japanese'': 伊勢神宮 ''(Ise jinguu)''
*''Japanese'': 伊勢神宮 ''(Ise jinguu)''
Ise Shrine, located on the Kii peninsula in central [[Honshu|Honshû]],<ref>[[Ise]], [[Mie prefecture]].</ref> is the most sacred shrine in [[Shinto]]. 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.
==Reconstruction==
==Reconstruction==
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.
==Separation from Buddhism==
As the most sacred of all Shintô shrines, Ise has traditionally been believed to be a purely Shintô site, free of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] influences. The 13th century monk [[Muju Dokyo|Mujû Dôkyô]] (or Ichien Dôkyô), in his ''[[Shasekishu|Shasekishû]]'' ("Book of Sand and Pebbles"), relates that monks were not permitted to approach the shrine buildings, and that it was forbidden to speak of the [[Three Treasures of Buddhism]]<ref>[[Buddha]], [[Dharma]], and ''sangha'' (the monastic establishment)</ref> near the shrine. Instead, various euphemisms were used, such as calling Buddha "the cramped-legged one," calling [[sutra]]s "colored paper" (''somegami''), and Buddhist temples mere "incense burners."
Mujû asserts, however, that Amaterasu was in fact in profound support of Buddhism, and in fact incorporates Buddhism into his account of the origins of the Japanese islands. He writes that it was Amaterasu (and not [[Izanagi and Izanami]]) who thrust a heavenly spear into the ocean depths, and that she did so guided by a seal placed by [[Dainichi]] (Vairocana Buddha) in that spot on the ocean floor. As in the ''[[Nihon shoki]]'' creation myth, brine foam which coagulated around the spear formed the islands of Japan; Mujû adds that the demon lord [[Mara]] noticed these events, and recognized them as the formation of a land in which Buddhism would later flourish. In order to hold off Mara's wrath, Amaterasu assured him that she would not permit the Three Treasures [of Buddhism] to come near to her; thus, by continuing to keep overt Buddhist activity away from Ise, the wrath of Mara is able to be avoided.<ref>Robert Morrell, ''Sand and Pebbles (Shasekishu): The Tales of Muju Ichien, A Voice for Pluralism in Kamakura Buddhism'', SUNY Press (1985), 72-73.</ref>
==References==
==References==
