Ise Shrine: Architecture Plan and Wood Connection - Research Paper Example

The outer shrine located at Ise is dedicated to the goddess Toyouke Omikami (Tate, p.227). Goddess Toyouke Omikami is considerd to be the goddess for agriculture and is believed to provide food for the Amaterasu ((Tate, p.227). Ise shrine is probably the holiest and the oldest of all Shinto shrines in Japan. Establishment of the holy shrine According to the verses in classical Japanese history Nihon Shoki, about 2,000 years ago, the spiritual Yamatohime-no-mikoto who was the daughter of Emperor Suinin (Fredrik, 2005, p.1046) had started her journey from Mt.

Miwa for searching a permanent location where she could worship the goddess Amaterasu- omikami. The emperor’s daughter wandered for around 20 years in the areas of Ohmi along with Mino. Yamatohime-no-mikoto eventually reached the location of Ise situated in modern day Mie Prefecture. The divine figure was believed to have heard the voice of the goddess Amaterasu- omikami. She decided to establish the shrine of Naiku there after hearing the voice. The worship f the shrine is to be performed by a female member belonging to the Japanese imperial family only (Demerath & Beckford, p.703). Economic relevance of the shrine Ise shrine in Japan is a very popular tourist destination.

It is a well known destination for pilgrims (Suzuki). The shrine attracts pilgrims in huge number almost 2000000 to 4000000 every year (Suzuki). The number swelled to millions sometimes. A well known fact about these pilgrimages is that the cost of undertaking the journey to the shrines is managed by pilgrimage funding associations which are set by the small villages or Japanese communities (Suzuki). The shrine is also visited by foreign visitors that also help to generate revenue. Geographical features of the shrine The holy shrine of Ise in Japan is located in the Ise Peninsula of the Mie Prefecture (Shitennouji Temple).

The grand shrine of Ise is also popular for its simplicity in decor and natural location (Ise Shrine (Ise Jingu), Ise). The construction of the shrine is in the form of traditional Japanese architecture with facilities to make it withstand natural calamities like the earthquakes. The architecture used in the shrine Japanese architecture The shrine has been built in accordance with the styles of Japanese architecture. This form of architecture used lightweight materials along with porous boundaries between the interiors and the exteriors.

Unlike the American architecture that had spirals in its designs, Japanese architectures were built on horizontal designs and were smaller in size. They also contained minimalistic designs. The roof of the building is the most striking feature of the constructions that was built to balance the sways during earth quakes (JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE: WOOD, EARTHQUAKES, TEMPLES, SHRINES, THE ROOMS AND TRADITIONAL HOMES). The wooden architecture used in the shrines The architectural style used in the Ise shrine is called the   shinmei- zukuri (Inoue, p.16) and is characterized for its architectural simplicity and antiquity.

The shrine buildings uses a special type of this style known as Yuitsu-shinmei-zukuri  which is a special architecture in plain white wood and that cannot be used in the construction for any other shrine (Yamamoto & Shinkokai ). A typical feature of the architecture is the dismantling of the old shrines and building of new ones on an adjacent area after every 20 years (Kiley, p. 203). The shrine at the Naiku is made of Japanese cypress. Built on