Ise crib notes

In 2011, Ise Anchoko no Kai group created Japanese crib notes topromote tourism and awareness about Ise City’s sacred culture andhistory.
Ise is where Japan’s most revered deity has been enshrined for over2000 years and the crib notes were created to help visitors quickly
and easily learn about the history and beauty of Ise Jingu.
In light of the 2016 G7 summit in Ise Shima, the Ise City Chamberof Commerce created the Ise wo sekaie, Ise kara sekaie committee(Ise City to the world and from Ise City to the world) and worked
with our team to publish these English crib notes for foreign
visitors to Ise City.

１～１２

Relating to the deities (kami) enshrined at Jingu:Question？

Ａｎｓｗｅｒ！

０１ What is the official name of Ise Jingu?

The official name is “Jingu” but “Ise Jingu” is morecommonly used.

０２ How do you pronounce 「内宮」？

「内宮」is pronounced “Naiku”.
(In Ise, people often call it “Naikusan.”)

０３ How do you pronounce 「外宮」？

「外宮」is pronounced “Geku”.
(In Ise, people often call it “Gekusan.”)

０４ What is the official name of Naiku?

It is called Kotaijingu.

０５ What is the official name of Geku?

It is called Toyo’uke-daijingu.

What is the name of the main deity

The name of the main deity is Amaterasu-omikami.

０６ enshrined at Naiku?

What is the name of the main deity

The name of the main deity is Toyo’uke-no-omikami.

０７ enshrined at Geku?

What type of deity is Amaterasu-Amaterasu-omikami is referred to the sun and is anancestral deity of the Japanese Imperial family.

０８ omikami?
０９ omikami?

Toyo’uke-no-omikami provides sacred food toAmaterasu-omikami so therefore is known as the deityof all industry.

１０ What are the three sacred treasures?

The three sacred treasures are the holy mirror, the holy
sword and the holy jewel. These treasures have been
continually passed down by successive emperors ofJapan.

What type of deity is Toyo’uke-no-

Are Shinto maidens (mikosan) called

Yes. Mikosan are officially called “bujo” but people inIse commonly call them, “maihime.”

１１ something different at Jingu?

１２〜２２ Relating to buildings and places of Jingu:
No. Including Naiku and Geku, there are 125 jinja
associated with Jingu.

１２ Is there one jinja at Jingu?
1

１３ Jingu special in some way?

Yes. All the jinja at Jingu are created using theYuiitushinmeizukuri style which is unique among all theshrines in Japan.

What is difference between the main
１４ palace of Naiku and Geku? (Part 1)

The number of horizontal beams on the roof of the main
palace are different. At Naiku, the main palace has ten
beams and the main palace at Geku has nine.

Is the architectural style of the jinja at

１５ palace of Naiku and Geku? (Part 2)

The cut angles on the rafter ends are different. Therafter ends at Naiku are cut horizontally and the rafterends at Geku are cut vertically.

１６ What is the total area of Jingu?

Jingu is 5500 hectares wide and is about one quarter ofthe land area of Ise City.

１７ When was Naiku established in Ise?

Naiku was established approximately 2,000 years ago
in Ise.

１８ When was Geku established in Ise?

Geku was established in Ise about 1500 yeas ago after
being relocated from Tanba, Kyoto.

１９ What is Magatamaike Pond?

It is a comma-shaped pond created within the groundsof Geku in 1889.

What is difference between the mainIt’s widely believed that white and black symbolize
Why are black and white pebbles placed
heaven and earth,therefore it is considered a great
２０ around jinja?
combination for happiness.

２１ How large is Ujibashi Bridge?

It is 101.8 meters long and 8.4 meters wide. It is thelongest wooden bridge in Japan.

When was the current Ujibashi Bridge
２２ built?

It was rebuilt in 2009, four years before the sixtysecond Shikinen Sengu, an Ise Jingu ritual held every
20 years to remake all of its jinja from scratch.

２３〜３１ Relating to history and customs
During her search for a suitable enshrinement area for
Amaterasu-omikami, Yamatohime-no-mikoto, daughterof the 11th Emperor Suinin, received a divine message
from the deity itself suggesting Ise was the mostappropriate.

２３ Why is Jingu in Ise?
Why should people walk on the left side

２４ of the pathway within the area when
visiting Geku?

Are there some things that other jinja

Because the ablution font (temizusha) is located on theleft side.

２５ have that Jingu does not?

Yes. Other jinja usually have lion-shaped guardian dog
statues (komainu), jinja bells and fortune slips.

２６ Why doesn’t Jingu have fortune slips?

Because to worship at Jingu is regarded as goodfortune.

２７ Why are there roosters at Jingu?

Because roosters are considered messengers for thedeity.
One bit of folklore says that at night, the deity of themoon, Tsukiyomi-no-mikoto rides a white horse fromGeku to Tsukiyomi-no-miya along Kamijidori street.

What is the origin of the name of

２８ Kamijidori street?

2How many sacred horses are there at

There are two sacred horses at each of Naiku andGeku.

２９ Jingu?

３０ worship?

Yes. The sacred horses are brought to the main
sanctuary of Jingu on the first, eleventh and twenty-firstof each month at about 8:00 AM to worship.

３１ How are the sacred horses chosen?

The emperor personally chooses the horses.

Is it true that sacred horses also

３２〜４８ Relating to worshiping
３２ When does Jingu open?

It opens at 5:00 AM.

３３ Is Jingu open at night?

No, it is closed at night except for a few selected nights
around the new year’s holiday. Also, Jingu’s hours varyslightly depending on the season.

Is there a dress code when visiting

There isn't a dress code but respectful clothes arerecommended when greeting deities.

３４ Jingu?

Visitors should bow deeply twice and then clap twice.

３５ What is the appropriate way to worship? Then, they should make one final deep bow.
Which one should be visited first, Naiku

３６ or Geku?

The long-standing custom is to visit Geku first.

３７ Why is Geku visited first?

It follows Jingu’s custom since Jingu always conducts
their main rituals at Geku first.

What is the recommended route at
３８ Naiku?

The recommended order is to visit the main sanctuary
first, then Aramatsuri-no-miya, followed by Kazahinomino-miya and finally Takimatsuri-no-kami.
The recommended order is to visit the main sanctuary
first, then Taka-no-miya, followed by Tsuchi-no-miyaand finally Kaze-no-miya.

What is the recommended route in

３９ Geku?

Are there any merits to worshiping at

By giving thanks to the deity, you might come to realize
how lucky you are.

Does Ise Jingu conduct wedding

No, it doesn’t. However, some people visit Jingu todeclare their marriage to the deity.

４２ Jingu?

Is there anything that we shouldn't do atYes. Visitors shouldn’t unnecessarily touch the trees orrocks or take any pebbles home with them.

４３ Can pets be brought to Jingu?

No, they can’t. However, visitors can leave their pets at
the guardhouse in front of Ujibashi Bridge while theyvisit Jingu.

４０ Jingu?

４１ ceremonies?

Are eating and drinking allowed at Ise

In order to show respect for the deity and fellow visitors,
Jingu hopes guests will refrain from eating or drinking.

４４ Jingu?

Is there anything to commemorate a visit Yes. Visitors can get a collective ink stamping at bothNaiku and Geku.

４５ to Jingu?

The first gate (torii) marks the entrance to a jinja,therefore, people bow to show their respect before
entering the area.

Why do some people bow in front of a
４６ Shinto gate (torii)?

3Pictures can be taken within the area except in front of
the main sanctuary. Also, visitors should be mindful of
their surroundings when taking pictures.

４７ Can pictures be taken at Ise Jingu?

On the summer solstice, the Sun appears to rise
between the Meotoiwa rocks in Futami and on thewinter solstice, the Sun appears to rise from the centerof Ujibashi Bridge torii.

Where are some good places to see a

４８ special sunrise?

４９〜６２ Relating to rituals and ceremonies.
４９

What sort of things are dedicated to thedeity (kami) at Jingu?

Rice, water, salt, seasonal vegetables and fishes areoffered daily.

５０ Where do those foods come from?

All the foods, as well as the dishes they are served on,
are produced at Jingu.

５１ What is hounou?

Hounou is an offering of food, goods and / orentertainment that might be please the deity (kami) atJingu.

５２ What is okagura?

Okagura is ceremonial music and dance that is offeredin appreciation of the deity (kami).

５３ How can okagura be arranged?

Okagura can be arranged at the Kaguraden hall in
Naiku or Geku.

５４How many annual rituals are conductedat Jingu?

Over 1500 rituals are conducted annually at Jingu.

５５What is the most frequent ritual
performed at Jingu?

Every morning and evening, Higoto-asa-yu-omike-sai is
conducted at Geku.

５６

What is the most important ritual of theyear?

The most important ritual of the year is Kanname-sai,
conducted between October 15th and 17th at the main
shrines at both Naiku and Geku.

５７ What is kanname-sai?

Kanname-sai is a Jingu ritual when the first harvested
rice of the year is offered to the deity (kami) inappreciation for the bountiful harvest.

５８ What is Shikinen Sengu?

Shikinen Sengu is a ritual held every 20 years at Jingu
to remake all of their palaces, sacred apparel andfurnishings and then transfer them along with the divine
treasures from the old to the new palaces.

５９ What is Okihiki?

It is an event where mostly Ise residents play a part inmoving (pulling) some of the logs destined for Jingu as
part of the Shikinen Sengu rebuilding ritual.

６０ When are the Okihiki events held?

Okihiki events are held six years and seven years prior
to the Shikinen Sengu rebuilding ritual.

６１ What is Oshiraishimochi?

It is an event where mostly Ise residents carry white
pebbles to the sacred grounds at Jingu and place themwhere the new main palace will be built as part of theShikinen Sengu rebuilding ritual.

６２ What is Hamasangu?

Hamasangu is a custom in which people purify theirbodies and minds in the sea in Futamigaura before
worshipping at Jingu.
4