Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Isejingu, Naiku

Uji bridge, Isejingu
Naiku or Inner Shrine is with Geku the most important of the Isejinku shrine complex. Naiku is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity.

Hills at Uji-tachi
Naiku as Geku is surrounded by 90 hectares of cypress forest, part of the sacred forest of Jingu.

Uji bridge
To main access to Naiku is via the Uji bridge, a wooden bridge that just has been rebuilt last year. The main shrine building, as well as the bridge, is destroyed and rebuilt every 20 years, in a tradition dating back to the 7th century; the next scheduled rebuilding of the Isejingu shrine is 2013.

Kaguraden
Koi pond at Naiku, Isejingu
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Visitors can pause before visiting the Inner shrine at Kaguraden, feed the sacred koi, or contemplate the strutting roosters strutting wandering around which are associated with Amaterasu because it crows before dawn.

Naiku, Ise Jingu
Naiku
The final approach to Kotaijingu or main sanctuary is via stone steps where worshipers can get as close as the first gate, as in Gaku, photos are not allowed in this area.

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