amaterasu, ise grand shrine, ise jingu, japan, kami, sacred mirror, shinto, shrines

Why Is the Japanese Shrine Ise Jingu Torn Down and Rebuilt Every 20 Years?

Shrines play a crucial role in shaping and defining the cultural and spiritual landscape of Japan. As you step foot on the sacred ground of a shrine, you leave behind the mundane world. Shrines hold a significant role since they are believed to provide homes for sacred presences that interact with people in the secular ...

March 14, 2023

Viena Abdon

Torri gate at Ise Jingu shrine in Japan.

Japanese Shrines Vandalized by Pro-China Forces

In many Shinto and Buddhist shrines, you’ll find racks of emas — small wooden boards that are decorated with beautiful illustrations. When people visit these shrines, they write down their wishes on them, hoping that the gods will fulfill their desires. Of late, several pro-Hong Kong people had hung emas on various shrines. But many ...

December 8, 2019

Max Lu