Why do the Japanese rebuild Ise temples every 20 years (6 photos)
The shrines have been regularly remodeled for over a thousand years. 
In the city of Ise there is a special Shinto sanctuary - a shrine Ise-jingu complex. Ise-jingu first appeared in the 3rd century, and since then since then it has been one of the most important places for believers, and its walls have become depository of national treasures and imperial regalia. Despite that these temples are so ancient, they look very young. 
Temples in the 1960s
How did it happen? The point is that the shrines rebuilt more than 60 times, and the last construction ended in just a few years ago.
Why the shrines are being rebuilt
The Sengu ceremony, or the rebuilding of shrines, is an ancient a tradition that is about 1300 years old. However, her appearance may It had nothing to do with anything sacred at all. So, in ancient times It was normal for Japan to rebuild grain storage facilities every 20-30 years. The buildings were placed on piles, thereby protecting them from water and insects, and the roof covered with straw. 
Ise-jingu immediately after construction in the 1960s
During the rains, dry grass absorbed moisture, making it heavier. ceiling and walls, and thus providing good sealing. Certainly, such buildings could not stand for a long time, they quickly collapsed from humidity, so the grain houses were regularly rebuilt. Probably, it was this practice that formed the basis of Ise-jingu, but acquired a special meaning.
Shinto Shrines
Nature is constantly renewing itself, just as life is renewing itself, and death is always logical and inevitable. It is this philosophy that underlies rebuilding the shrine, because everything that exists is impermanent, and destruction and the new construction of the most important shrines reflect this idea best. 
Sengu ceremony in an 1849 illustration
In general, Ise-jingu is a huge complex, in which there are more hundreds of shrines. Of course, not all of them are being rebuilt, but only two main Shrines: Outer Shrine of Geku and Inner Shrine of Nike. Last thing - the most sacred place in Ise, it was built in honor of the goddess Amaterasu, who is considered the ancestor of the imperial family. These two temples are surrounded fences, and only thatched roofs are visible to the average person. Temples may visit only high-ranking priests and the Japanese family monarch.
Multimillion-dollar construction in which everyone participates
However, the rebuilding of shrines has another meaning: it a great way to pass on building skills to posterity. The construction site is very strict requirements: buildings must look original, but with all This way they stay forever young. 
View from a height of the temple: on an empty site nearby stood an old shrine.
The construction of Nike and Geku takes an average of eight years. Behind a couple of years before the update, a festival dedicated to new temples begins. Japanese people from all over the country come to it, and residents of nearby cities they bring cypress logs with them: it is from them that the temples are built. On one shrine needs about 10 thousand trees, and many cypresses on building for about 200 years. 
Festival in 2007.
The construction itself is not a cheap pleasure, it costs it is about 500 million US dollars. Money goes to construction taxpayers, as well as donations from businessmen, entrepreneurs and imperial family. Always leave empty next to Nike and Geku plots: it is on them that new, absolutely the same buildings grow. Sengu Ceremony was last held in 2013, next update shrines will be held in 2033.
