The
best example of overt Chinese influence is to be found in these glittering
metal rail ornaments, housing brightly colored glass balls, which adorn
the main sanctuary. These gaudy objects, rarely seen in popular photographs,
belie the common misconception that Ise Shrine is a pure and simple structure.
This misconception stems partly from the weathered look of the buildings
as they age, but even more from the calculated primitivism of the actual
architecture.