One
of the most remarkable features of Ise Shrine is its historical continuity,
achieved through the unusual practice of the complete rebuilding every
twenty years, never changing more than minor details. This rare photograph
from the air shows the Inner Shrine in the late summer of 1973, shortly
before the the nighttime ceremony which with great solemnity moved the
resident goddess from the old shrine at the top of the newly constructed
one at the bottom. Soon after the ceremony, the old, weathered buildings
were torn down, leaving an empty space ready for the next re-building,
in 1993. But before looking more closely at the practice of rebuilding,
first let's locate Ise Shrine and review its history.