October 5, 2013

“Shikinen Sengu” is a Shinto ritual held every 20 years to rebuild the Grand Shrine at Ise in Japan, and the finale of the ritual was completed today. The ritual takes 8 years to complete, and this iteration marked the 62nd score. The two identical shrine structures (“Naiku”-Inner Shrine & “Geku”- Outer Shrine) stand on two adjacent sites.

The original construction method is intended to be preserved since the beginning of this ritual in 690 AD, while it signifies the mentality that old is welcomed as new.

The shrine is built entirely of hinoki (Japanese cypress) while the roof is thatched, and grain-less ideal logs had been designated carefully from the surrounding forest approximately 2 centuries in advance. The Shinto craftsmen prepare the logs in shape and treat them with persimmon juice to bring out a golden hue. The carpenters use traditional hand tools that have been employed for centuries, and that all joineries are assembled without a nail or glue.

This timeless architecture signifies the laws of nature, as if it breathes the energy of our existence.