Terms:
Ise Shrine 伊勢神官 Mie (fig. 60)• Shinto 神道 : way of the gods or kami 神 , native pantheistic religion of Japan
• kami : essence of nature, nature spirits
• ema 絵馬
• makoto 誠 sincerity
• internal and external purification rites
• torii 鳥居 symbolic gateways demarcating the boundary of a sacred site
• Amaterasu Sun Goddess and myths of Japan's origins as recorded in the Nihon Shoki 日本書紀
• omikuji おみくじ a written oracle
Have your own fortune told at http://www.kiku.com/electric_samurai/cyber_shrine/index.html (scroll to the bottom after taking a moment to view pictures of various Shinto shrines)
dedicated to Amaterasu, associated with the imperial family
contains three sacred objects: mirror, curved jewel (fig. 58), sword
divided into two precincts:
- inner naiku 内区
- outer geku 外区
example of shinsei style architecture
Every year, more than one thousand five hundred ceremonial observances and events take place in Naiku, Geku, and their respective auxiliary and lesser sanctuaries. Among these are some major ceremonial observances as mentioned below.
Major Ceremonies
Jan. 1 Saitansai Celebration of the New Year. |
Jan. 3 Genshisai Celebration of the beginning of the Imperial Family line. |
Feb. 11 Kenkoku Kinensai Celebration of the foundation day of Japan. |
Feb. 17 Kinensai Prayer for a success of agricultural harvest receiving the special envoy from the Emperor. |
May 14 & Aug. 4 Kazahi no Misai Prayer for prevention of disaster by winds. |
May 14 & Oct. 14 Kanmisosai Ceremony to present two divine garments to Naiku and Auxiliary Sanctuary Aramatsuri no miya: Summer garments in May, Winter garments in October. |
June 15-25 & Dec. 15-17 Tsukinamisai Ceremony to present Imperial Offerings to Naiku, Geku and other auxiliary sanctuaries. |
Oct. 15-17 Kannamesai Ceremony to thank the deities for an abundant harvest. The first fruits are offered to Amaterasu Sume Ohmikami on October 15, and 16 at the Geku. On this occasion the imperial envoy is sent to offer the imperial offerings. |
Nov. 23 Niinamesai The Emperor makes an offering of the first fruits of the years grain harvest in the Imperial Court. On this occasion, ceremonies are held in Naiku and Geku as well as auxiliary sanctuaries receiving the imperial special envoy. |
Dec. 23 Tenchosai Celebration of the Birthday of the Emperor. |
Izumo Shrine 出雲大社 Shimane (fig. 61)
dedicated to the god of medicine and farming
example of taisha style architecture
dates to 1744
compare with structures at Yoshinogari and on Kofun-era bronze mirror