| Dr. Brumberg, B.S. (Nobel
Laureate in Medical Physiology) "As we sat, a group of musicians, priests, and women assistants entered in symmetrical fashion, and took their place on the raised platform. The music and singing began, and we were all entranced. The young women flowed from place to place, in a ballet-like, ordered, routine, accompanied by the dignified, and, to us, strange sounds, which were both exciting and beautiful and set the scene for the solemn event. They wore beautifully coloured, long sleeved and long legged garments, which, when they moved, gave the effect of a natural event, of wind through trees or of water flowing in a river and over its plant-covered bed. The culmination was an address by the priest, translated for us by Dr. Nishioka which described our scientific discoveries and the helpful effect they have had on the public health of Japan." |
| The Daidai-Kagura Ceremony |
 Drawing the Daidai-Kagura Ceremony in the Edo Period copyright2001 Jingu Administration Office(c)jingu-bunko (Enlarged photo) |
| In the Edo Period (1603-1868), the pilgrimage to Ise Jingu experienced a big boom. Every year, one out of six people in the nation went to worship at the Jingu. There was a peak in the number of pilgrims in intervals of sixty years. What people desired most was to be able to ask one of the priests in Jingu, called Onshi, to perform the Daidai-Kagura-Ceremony for them. This is a special prayer to the kami accompanied by ceremonial music and dance performed in this sacred ceremony from ancient times. This is a sign of people's fervent belief in the supreme deity Amaterasu Omikami and the great deity Toyouke Omikami. The Daidai-Kagura was also performed for people who wished to pray for national peace or to offer their personal prayers. The priests offered all these prayers on behalf of the people to Amaterasu Omikami and Toyouke Omikami. The ideal form of worship was to ask the Daidai-Kagura to be conducted and then to visit the Main Sanctuary to pray. Currently, the Daidai-Kagura Ceremony is performed all day, from 8:30 A. M. through 4:00 P. M., at the Kaguraden in Naiku and Geku, whenever it is requested by worshipers. |
| Kaguraden at Naiku (Hall for special prayer) | ||||
| Kaguraden at Naiku is situated at the middle point of the main pilgrimage path from the Uji Bridge to the Main Sanctuary. At the Kaguraden in Naiku, worshipers are recommended to request a performance of the Daidai-Kagura Ceremony, and to offer their thanks and wishes to Amaterasu Omikami. Donations for the Shikinen Sengu Ceremony held every twenty years are also accepted. And here, you can purchase Jingu Taima and Omamori, talismans, charms, and hanging scrolls of Amaterasu Omikami.
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 copyright2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-shicho (Enlarged photo) |
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| Kaguraden at Geku (Hall for special prayer) | ||||
| Kaguraden at Geku is located on the side of the main pilgrimage path to the Main Sanctuary. At the Kaguraden in Geku, worshipers are recommended to request a performance of the Daidai-Kagura Ceremony, to offer their thanks and wishes to Toyouke Omikami. Donations for the Shikinen Sengu Ceremony held every twenty years are also accepted. And here, you can purchase Jingu Taima and Omamori, talismans, charms, and hanging scrolls of Toyouke Omikami.
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 copyright2001 Jingu Administration Office (c)Jingu-shicho (Enlarged photo) |
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