2025.06.09
Blog
Shikinen Sengu (yearly rebuilding of the shrine)
Hello~
Meet again with me Imazu.
Finally, the Shikinen Sengu ceremony at the Ise Grand Shrine started this June.
My younger brother, the head priest of a shrine in my hometown of Gifu,
invited me to join in one of the Shikinen Sengu events.
I took part in the 63rd Grand Shrine of Ise Shikinen Sengu Mihishirogi Houeisou Ceremony,
and would like to share my experience here with you.
Meet again with me Imazu.
Finally, the Shikinen Sengu ceremony at the Ise Grand Shrine started this June.
My younger brother, the head priest of a shrine in my hometown of Gifu,
invited me to join in one of the Shikinen Sengu events.
I took part in the 63rd Grand Shrine of Ise Shikinen Sengu Mihishirogi Houeisou Ceremony,
and would like to share my experience here with you.
- A welcoming ceremony dance was performed in front of the sacred tree.
- Approximately 1,000 people pull the four Tazuna poles, all wearing happi coats with the character "Taichi" on them, which is the symbol of Ise Shrine.
- A poster announcing the festival was posted at Koganejinja Shrine, the venue of the festival.
Shikinen Sengu is...
First, I want to speak about the Shikine Sengu.
"Shikinen Sengu" is a grand ceremony where the shrine is rebuilt and the deity relocated within a year that the temple specifies.
Sengu is held at Ise Grand Shrine once every 20 years, keeping the centuries-old tradition.
"Since old times" The first celebration took place in the fourth year of Empress Jito's (690) rule,
and it has been going on for more than 1,300 years. It was founded under the rule of Emperor Tenmu.
The purpose is to maintain historical processes, worship the gods in a new, pure environment, and maintain the shrine's continual purity.
From this year until the relocation of the shrine in October 2033, events will take place in a public style.
For example, in May, there will be a Yamaguchi Festival.
Use the material to cut it out and replace it carefully.
Then, pray that the mountain will be safe.
The national forest in Kamematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture,
has been used for the wood and wood grain.
The specific schedule and schedule are as follows.
In the Chinchisai festival, trees were cut down and moved, and prayers were said for the construction's safety.
Building holy pillars and offering prayers to Yafune no Okami for peace are part of the Ritchusai celebration.
The Jotosai, or "Topping-Out Ceremony," is one of the most amazing of the several events related to the shrine's construction.
During the Oshiroishimochi Ceremony, a white stone is offered to the new shrine, and the construction is completed with the installation of the sacred doorway during the Mitosai Festival.
A purification ritual was done to clean the palace's facade and inside in celebration of the New Palace's completion.
With the Chinjisai ritual, which offers prayers for peace in the Omiya area under the floor,
the Gochinsai event is held in October to mark the completion of the new shrine.
The main celebration of the Shikinen Sengu, Sengyo, comes next,
during which the Omikami god moves from the main hall to the Shinto shrine.
https://www.isejingu.or.jp/sengu/the63rd/schedule.html
"Shikinen Sengu" is a grand ceremony where the shrine is rebuilt and the deity relocated within a year that the temple specifies.
Sengu is held at Ise Grand Shrine once every 20 years, keeping the centuries-old tradition.
"Since old times" The first celebration took place in the fourth year of Empress Jito's (690) rule,
and it has been going on for more than 1,300 years. It was founded under the rule of Emperor Tenmu.
The purpose is to maintain historical processes, worship the gods in a new, pure environment, and maintain the shrine's continual purity.
From this year until the relocation of the shrine in October 2033, events will take place in a public style.
For example, in May, there will be a Yamaguchi Festival.
Use the material to cut it out and replace it carefully.
Then, pray that the mountain will be safe.
The national forest in Kamematsu Town, Nagano Prefecture,
has been used for the wood and wood grain.
The specific schedule and schedule are as follows.
In the Chinchisai festival, trees were cut down and moved, and prayers were said for the construction's safety.
Building holy pillars and offering prayers to Yafune no Okami for peace are part of the Ritchusai celebration.
The Jotosai, or "Topping-Out Ceremony," is one of the most amazing of the several events related to the shrine's construction.
During the Oshiroishimochi Ceremony, a white stone is offered to the new shrine, and the construction is completed with the installation of the sacred doorway during the Mitosai Festival.
A purification ritual was done to clean the palace's facade and inside in celebration of the New Palace's completion.
With the Chinjisai ritual, which offers prayers for peace in the Omiya area under the floor,
the Gochinsai event is held in October to mark the completion of the new shrine.
The main celebration of the Shikinen Sengu, Sengyo, comes next,
during which the Omikami god moves from the main hall to the Shinto shrine.
https://www.isejingu.or.jp/sengu/the63rd/schedule.html
Shikinen Sengu (yearly rebuilding of the shrine) in Kyoto City
Kamigamo Shrine's Shikinen Sengu Ceremony.
A Shikinen Sengu ritual is held every 21 years at Kamo Wakeikazuchi Shrine, sometimes called Kamigamo Shrine, in Kyoto.
It is said to have started in the 7th year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (678).
The most recent was the 42nd Shikinen Sengu, which took place in the fall of 2015.
Shimogamo Shrine's Shikinen Sengu Ceremony.
It's unclear when Shimogamo Shrine was built. Records of its construction go back to the seventh year of Emperor Sujin's reign (90 BC), but legends of its enshrined god date back to the second year of Emperor Jimmu's reign (658 BC).
Shimogamo Shrine, officially known as Kamomioya Shrine, is a shrine that has managed to preserve the spirit of the past through its Tadasu forest, which still has old-age vegetation.
When the system developed and an imperial order was issued in 1036, the Shikinen Sengu ritual was first performed. The ritual was reportedly held every 30 or 50 years in certain conditions because of natural disasters.
In 2036, the Sengu ceremony will take place for the 35th time since 1036, which is precisely 1000 years after the imperial order was issued.
It will be the 60th Sengu ceremony completely and 2126 years total, counting from the seventh year of Emperor Sujin's rule.
From now on, the journey towards the Shikinen Sengu will continue, with various events being held at Ise Shrine for eight years and at Shimogamo Shrine for ten years.
During the Shikinen Sengu ceremony, the riches kept in the shrine are also changed out. In the 20 years since the last celebration, many craftsmen have died, and the Organization for Cultural Affairs has been telling them to film the production process since it feels like a crisis.
Every process involved in the production of thread, weaving, dyeing, and silkworm rearing must be documented for textiles. Culture is hard to pass on.
Interest in the Japanese culture and spirit of MLB players like Shohei Ohtani is growing from foreigners from all over the world. Many also claim that more Japanese people are starting to look within themselves for their Japanese identity, possibly as a result of this focus.
This gave me the chance to be reminded once more of my wish to provide them with the chance to see Kyoto's authentic culture.
A Shikinen Sengu ritual is held every 21 years at Kamo Wakeikazuchi Shrine, sometimes called Kamigamo Shrine, in Kyoto.
It is said to have started in the 7th year of Emperor Tenmu's reign (678).
The most recent was the 42nd Shikinen Sengu, which took place in the fall of 2015.
Shimogamo Shrine's Shikinen Sengu Ceremony.
It's unclear when Shimogamo Shrine was built. Records of its construction go back to the seventh year of Emperor Sujin's reign (90 BC), but legends of its enshrined god date back to the second year of Emperor Jimmu's reign (658 BC).
Shimogamo Shrine, officially known as Kamomioya Shrine, is a shrine that has managed to preserve the spirit of the past through its Tadasu forest, which still has old-age vegetation.
When the system developed and an imperial order was issued in 1036, the Shikinen Sengu ritual was first performed. The ritual was reportedly held every 30 or 50 years in certain conditions because of natural disasters.
In 2036, the Sengu ceremony will take place for the 35th time since 1036, which is precisely 1000 years after the imperial order was issued.
It will be the 60th Sengu ceremony completely and 2126 years total, counting from the seventh year of Emperor Sujin's rule.
From now on, the journey towards the Shikinen Sengu will continue, with various events being held at Ise Shrine for eight years and at Shimogamo Shrine for ten years.
During the Shikinen Sengu ceremony, the riches kept in the shrine are also changed out. In the 20 years since the last celebration, many craftsmen have died, and the Organization for Cultural Affairs has been telling them to film the production process since it feels like a crisis.
Every process involved in the production of thread, weaving, dyeing, and silkworm rearing must be documented for textiles. Culture is hard to pass on.
Interest in the Japanese culture and spirit of MLB players like Shohei Ohtani is growing from foreigners from all over the world. Many also claim that more Japanese people are starting to look within themselves for their Japanese identity, possibly as a result of this focus.
This gave me the chance to be reminded once more of my wish to provide them with the chance to see Kyoto's authentic culture.
The outfits for the day. At the park south of Kanejinja Shrine.
