Shrine at Ise
Avery B
Summary
Description
History
Sacredness
The Shinto religion considers the Shrine at Ise sacred. The Shrine is sacred and religiously important to those who follow the Shinto religion. It's also sacred to the Japanese, because it's in Japan.
The Shrine at Ise is very sacred to the Shinto religion for many reasons, mainly because of the two major Shinto sanctuaries, the Inner and Outer shrines. They are dedicated to gods worshipped by the Shinto religion, and other sacred things occur and reside in the two shrines. The Inner Shrine, called Naiku, is dedicated to the Shinto sun goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, who is considered the imperial family's ancestor. The Inner Shrine houses Amaterasu's Sacred Mirror, one of the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan. The mirror is a Shintai, a sacred object where a Shinto god resides. It's kept in closed box or cupboard and usually enclosed in a cloth in the Inner Shrine. Amaterasu's Mirror is a very sacred object, so the fact that it's located in the Shrine at Ise makes the place very sacred. Naiku's dedication to the sun goddess makes the Shrine very sacred, as well. The Outer Shrine, called Geku, is dedicated to the Shinto goddess of food, agriculture, industry clothing, and shelter, Toyouke Okami. Geku oversees the offering of the sacred food to Amaterasu, which occurs twice a day. The Outer Shrine's offering of sacred food and dedication to Toyouke Okami makes the Shrine at Ise very sacred. Another reason why the Shrine is sacred is because it holds religious ceremonies, like Shikinen Sengu. Shikinen Sengu is a religious ceremony where the main shrine buildings are destroyed, then reconstructed on an adjacent site, ensuring the Shrine's sacredness for the next twenty years. It dates back to the seventh century and has occurred regularly every 20 years since. The religious ceremony Shikinen Sengu makes the Shrine at Ise sacred to Shinto worshipers, along with the sacredness emitted by the Inner and Outer Shrines.
Interesting and Fun Facts
Works Cited
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