Meiji shrine
Meiji-jingū ( Japanese 明治 神宮 Meiji-jingū ), located in the Tokyo district of Shibuya in Japan near Harajuku Station , is the Shintō shrine , which is dedicated to the souls of Meiji -tennō and his wife Shōken -kōtaigo. The Meiji-tennō, however, is buried on the Fushimi-momoyama in the south of Kyoto. The shrine belongs to the Chokusaisha .
The Meiji-tennō died in 1912, his wife in 1914. After her death, the shrine was built for her worship in the popular architectural style nagare-zukuri ( 流 造 ) on a plot of land that was first transferred to General Katō Kiyomasa (1562-1611) and finally one Second residence was Ii Naosuke who served as Chancellor of the Tokugawa. Construction began in 1912 and was completed in 1920. The shrine was inaugurated on November 1, 1920. This day is considered the anniversary of the shrine, on which the great autumn festival is also held.
The shrine was destroyed by American bombs on April 1, 1945, but was rebuilt after the end of the war, for which around 110,000 volunteers came for the work. The current buildings date from 1958.
Meiji-tennō and Shōken-kōtaigo share the honors and are both venerated with special ceremonies on the days of their deaths: Shōken-kōtaigo on April 11th ( Shōken-kotaigō-sai ), Meiji-tennō on July 30th ( Meiji-tennō-sai ). The shrine's most important festival takes place on the birthday of Meiji-tennō on November 3rd and lasts for five days. Millions of visitors take part in the hosted games and competitions, including traditional dances, song and music, poetry, no , sumo , yabusame , films, art exhibitions, chrysanthemums and flower arrangements, samurai arts, fairy tales, tea ceremonies , torch processions, cakes, Firecrackers and fireworks.
During the first two or three days of the new year ( hatsumōde ), the shrine has about five million visitors.
The area of the shrine consists of three areas: the inner district (Naien) with the shrine buildings, the outer district (Gaien) with the Meiji Memorial Gallery and sports facilities, and the Meiji Memorial Hall. These areas are covered by an evergreen forest of 120,000 trees of 365 different species that were donated by people from all over Japan when the shrine was built. This 0.7 km² forest is visited by many people, both for religious reasons and as a recreational area in central Tokyo. The Gaien also serves as a ceremonial venue for Shinto weddings.
Sake barrels donated to the shrine.
This torii is at the entrance to the shrine.
Priest and miko in traditional dress preparing for a marriage at Meiji Shrine.
The treasure museum in the inner district.
Web links
- Official website of the shrine (Japanese, English)
- nagare-zukuri 流 造 in the Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System (English)
Coordinates: 35 ° 40 ′ 34.3 " N , 139 ° 41 ′ 57.5" E