What is the "Shin no Mihashira" that is quietly enshrined and carefully protected?

The entire area is filled with tranquil, clear air, like a calm lake deep in a forest.
The 6,804m² (54m wide x 126m long) space called Mishikichi, located to the east of the Inner Shrine's Main Shrine, was where the Main Shrine was located until the previous Shikinen Sengu ceremony, and where the deity will be moved again at the next Sengu ceremony. In the center, slightly to the rear, stands a lone hut.

This building, called the Ooiya, was formerly the location of the main shrine where the deity Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined, and at the next Sengu ceremony, a new main shrine will be built in this location. Inside the Ooiya is a cypress pillar called the "Shin no Mihashira" that was installed in the center of the floor of the old main shrine, and it is said that it will remain in the same place even after the old shrine is removed. The Ooiya is a hut to protect the pillar.

The meaning of the "pillar" that connects the world of gods and the world of humans

In Shinto, when counting gods, the word "pillar" is used, such as "one pillar" and "two pillars." Is there any connection between this and the "Kokoro no Mibashira," a special being that has been regarded as sacred since ancient times? We spoke to Satoru Otoha, deputy director of the public relations department at the Grand Shrine of Ise.

"There are several theories, but if we consider the meaning of the word, the character for "hashi" (pillar) is made up of the characters "hashi" and "ra." "Hashi" has the role of connecting something, for example, as in the "bashi" in Uji Bridge, and "ra" means "space." "Nakama" is pronounced "nakama" in kunyomi readings, but in norito (words recited to the gods during rituals), it is read as "nakara."

So, by adding "ra" to "hashi" (bridge), it takes on the meaning of coming together into one, or being connected. In other words, I think that the Shinmohashira has the important role of connecting Takamagahara, where the gods reside, with Mizuho no Kuni, the land of abundant reed plains where we humans live, in other words, the earthly world. The existence of the gods also has a great significance as such a pillar."

How many gods are enshrined at this shrine, which is made up of a total of 125 shrines?

So how many gods reside at Ise Shrine?

As I wrote last time, Ise Grand Shrine is made up of two main shrines, the Inner Shrine, which enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, and the Outer Shrine, which enshrines Toyouke Omikami, who is in charge of Amaterasu Omikami's meals, as well as 14 auxiliary shrines, 43 auxiliary shrines, 24 subordinate shrines, and 42 subordinate shrines, for a total of 125 shrines.

Among these, the auxiliary shrines, which are next in rank to the two main shrines, include shrines such as Aramatsuri-no-miya at the Inner Shrine and Takano-miya at the Outer Shrine, which enshrine the Aramitama of the deities enshrined at each shrine, in other words, shrines that enshrine the active and proactive spirits rather than the Nigimitama, which is the gentle side of the deities, as well as shrines that enshrine the parent and younger brother of Amaterasu Omikami, and shrines that enshrine natural deities such as earth and wind.

The following auxiliary shrines are shrines mentioned in the "Shinmei-cho" (register of divine names) which is part of the "Engishiki," an ancient legal code which was completed in the mid-Heian period, while the subordinate shrines are shrines mentioned in the "Koutai Jingu Ritual Records Book" and "Toyukegu Ritual Records Book," official documents written by the shrine's priests in the early Heian period before the "Engishiki" was compiled and submitted to the imperial court.

The shrines under its jurisdiction are those that are associated with the two main shrines and branch shrines, including shrines dedicated to the guardian deities of the fields where rice and vegetables are grown for offering to the gods.

However, just because there are 125 shrines does not necessarily mean that there are 125 gods. For example, there are cases where two gods are enshrined in one shrine, such as Kazahinomiya, a branch shrine of the Inner Shrine.

151 gods enshrined throughout the shrine

"The deities enshrined at Kazehinomiya, the Inner Shrine, and Kazenomiya, a branch shrine of the Outer Shrine, are a male and female deity named Shinatsuhiko no Mikoto and Shinatobe no Mikoto. We do not know whether they are a married couple, but it is highly likely that the names of the deities were established during the Nara period, when the Ritsuryo system was established. In ancient times, the wind god, one of the so-called eight million gods, was probably enshrined here."

By the way, if we limit the area to just the two shrines, there are 14 deities enshrined at the Inner Shrine and 16 at the Outer Shrine, making a total of 151 deities enshrined at the entire shrine. However, the form in which they are enshrined varies. Some shrines have a main building, while others do not and are enshrined on the stone pavement.

If you walk around the grounds of both shrines with a renewed sense of purpose, you will notice that gods are present in places you have passed by without thinking about it before.

The god of wind, the god of barriers, the god of bridges...
A sacred area protected by various gods

For example, Miyanomeguri no Kami, one of the shrines under the jurisdiction of both shrines, is the deity that protects the four boundaries of the sacred grounds of each shrine. The Inner Shrine is enshrined on two tiers of stone paving, while the Outer Shrine is enshrined on stone paving with a sakaki tree standing on it.

Ujibashi Bridge, where many worshippers pass by, also has a guardian deity. Although not within the shrine grounds, Aedohashihime Shrine can be found with your back to the Ujibashi Torii gate and the bridge in front of you. The deity there, known as the Ujibashi tutelary deity, is said to protect the Naiku shrine from anything evil that might enter.

Some of the gods are rooted in the land and are thought to have been enshrined there since before the shrine was founded.

Gods worshipped since ancient times before the Inner Shrine and Outer Shrine were established
There is also a god who protects the land.

"The deity enshrined at Tsuchinomiya, a branch shrine of the Geku, is Ootsuchi no Mioya no Kami, and it is possible that he has been the guardian deity of this area since ancient times," says Otowa.

By the way, a guardian deity is a deity that protects a certain area or place.

In other words, originally, each god was responsible for a specific region. Currently, they are worshipped as ujigami, meaning ancestral gods of people of the same clan, and over time they have come to be synonymous with gods who became guardian deities of local communities, or ubusunagami, or guardians of the land where one was born, but the deity enshrined at Tsuchimiya is thought to have originally been a guardian deity protecting the fertile land called Yamadahara, where the Geku Shrine is currently located.

On the other hand, there are gods in the Naiku Shrine that are thought to have been enshrined there even before Amaterasu Omikami was enshrined. For example, Okitama no Kami, who is enshrined as a stone god on the northwest stone pavement of the Mikakiuchi, which is within the sacred grounds of the Naiku Main Shrine, is said to be highly likely to have been the local deity (Tochigami-sama) since ancient times.

Amaterasu Omikami, who was invited by the local gods to Ise, a place of peace

"There is a theory that the 'oki' in 'Okitama' can be interpreted as 'oku', or the deepest place, and is therefore connected to the Shinmikobashira, but I think it was originally a god who protected this land and who 'invited' Amaterasu Omikami, in other words, was invited to this place. It was in the Middle Ages that it came to be likened to Sarutahiko, the god of opening roads."

In other words, there was originally a god rooted in this land, and the people who worshiped that god welcomed Amaterasu Omikami, who is connected to the Imperial family. Otoha says that they would have chosen the best place to welcome her, that is, the place where the main shrine is currently located, from the beginning.

"The Main Shrine is located at the highest point within the shrine grounds, so there is no need to worry about flooding, and the bedrock seems to be solid. It probably wouldn't be shaken even in an earthquake of magnitude 6 or so. I think the ancient people were able to intuitively tell the best spot, using their many years of experience and intuition, and then erect the shrine there."

Reverence for nature and respect for the local gods are at the root of it all

Incidentally, at the three major festivals known as the Kanname Festival held in October and the Tsukinami Festivals held in June and December, offerings are made to Okitama-no-Kami, the local deity, and the Okitama-no-Kami Festival is held in which the priests who serve him pray for their sincere service in front of the sacred stone.

"I think it's a sign of respect for the gods that have been rooted in the land since ancient times."

Since ancient times, Japanese people have had respect and awe for nature, and have believed that divine spirits reside in rocks, giant trees, etc. One theory behind the reason for counting gods as "pillars" is that before shrines were built, rituals were held by inviting gods to wooden pillars.

The ancient local deities, the deities that were enshrined later, and the 8 million deities themselves - all of these deities are revered with great respect for one another, centered around the great deity Amaterasu Omikami, and over the years, rituals have been held for each of them, creating a harmonious world - this is Ise Shrine, and it can be said that the deities enshrined there convey the history of prayer that has been accumulated in this land.

You can only enter limited areas
Is it because of its divine aura that humans cannot approach?

Currently, the main hall where Amaterasu Omikami is enshrined is protected by four layers of fences: an outer fence made of itagaki, an outer fence made of tonotamagaki, an inner fence made of uchigaki, and a sacred fence made of mizugaki. Worshippers can only enter a small area between the southern fence and the outer fence. They cannot even see the exterior of the main hall. For many years I have wondered why they cannot see or get close to it. However, being on the grounds, I feel that the question has been answered a little.

Amaterasu Omikami's official name at the shrine is "Amaterasu-za-Omikami." She is also likened to the sun and is considered the chief deity that protects all of Japan. Even now, after the deity moved to a neighboring site in 25, the purity and sublimity of the shrine grounds are still maintained.
If that is so, how much divine energy must be permeating the area around the main hall, which currently serves as the link between Takamagahara and the earthly world? It is beyond imagination.

Perhaps for ordinary people like us, an appropriate distance is necessary. If you think about it, even the sun hurts your eyes if you look directly at it. But you can feel its light and warmth even with your eyes closed. Isn't Amaterasu Omikami also like that? Gods are truly profound beings.

Text by Misa Horiuchi

Writer

When I went to Europe to cover classical music, I was asked a lot of questions about Japan.This experience of being unable to answer most of the questions prompted him to begin researching Japanese music, culture, and prayer.This year marks his 16th year. His books include "Adult Nara: A journey to clear your mind" and "Adult Nara: A journey through breathtaking views" (both published by Tankosha), and "The World of Kamuy" (published by Shinchosha).

Photo by Akihiko Horiuchi

Photographers
He currently photographs mainly shrines and Japanese prayers. His photo books include "Ainu Prayers" (Kyuryudo) and "To the Forest of Brahms' Music" (Sekai Bunka Publishing). He is also a photographer who loves Bach, Evans, and sacred mountains.