Meiji jingū
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, is a
Shinto shrine A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion. Overview Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings. The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
in Shibuya, Tokyo, that is dedicated to the deified spirits of
Emperor Meiji , also called or , was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. Reigning from 13 February 1867 to his death, he was the first monarch of the Empire of Japan and presided over the Meiji era. He was the figur ...
and his wife, Empress Shōken. The shrine does not contain the emperor's grave, which is located at Fushimi-momoyama, south of Kyoto.


History

After the emperor's death in 1912, the
Japanese Diet The is the national legislature of Japan. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives (, ''Shūgiin''), and an upper house, the House of Councillors (, '' Sangiin''). Both houses are directly elected under a paralle ...
passed a resolution to commemorate his role in the Meiji Restoration. An iris garden in an area of Tokyo where Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken had been known to visit was chosen as the building's location. Beppyo shrines Construction began in 1915 under
Itō Chūta was a Japanese architect, architectural historian, and critic. He is recognized as the leading architect and architectural theorist of early 20th-century Imperial Japan. Biography Second son of a doctor in Yonezawa, present-day Yamagata Prefectu ...
, and the shrine was built in the traditional nagare-zukuri style, using primarily Japanese cypress and copper. The building of the shrine was a national project, mobilizing youth groups and other civic associations from throughout Japan, who contributed labor and funding. The main timbers came from Kiso in Nagano, and Alishan in Taiwan, then a Japanese territory, with materials being utilized from every Japanese
prefecture A prefecture (from the Latin ''Praefectura'') is an administrative jurisdiction traditionally governed by an appointed prefect. This can be a regional or local government subdivision in various countries, or a subdivision in certain international ...
, including Karafuto, Korea, Kwantung, and Taiwan. It was estimated that the cost of the construction was ¥5,219,00 in 1920 (approximately US$26 million today), about a quarter of the actual cost due to the donated materials and labor. It was formally dedicated on November 3, 1920, completed in 1921, and its grounds officially finished by 1926. The interior volume of the shrine complex when originally built was 650
tsubo A ''pyeong'' (abbreviationpy) is a Korean unit of area and floorspace, equal to a square '' kan'' or 36square Korean feet. The ''ping'' and ''tsubo'' are its equivalent Taiwanese and Japanese units, similarly based on a square '' bu'' ( ja:步) ...
. Until 1946, the Meiji Shrine was officially designated one of the ''Kanpei-taisha'' (), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. The original building was destroyed during the Tokyo air raids of World War II. The present iteration of the shrine was funded through a public fund raising effort and completed in October 1958. Meiji Shrine has been visited by numerous foreign politicians, including United States President
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and German Foreign Minister
Guido Westerwelle Guido Westerwelle (; 27 December 1961 – 18 March 2016) was a German politician who served as Foreign Minister in the second cabinet of Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vice-Chancellor of Germany from 2009 to 2011, being the first openly gay person ...
. Kanpei-taisha


Shrine complex

Meiji Shrine is located in a forest that covers an area of . This area is covered by an evergreen forest that consists of 120,000 trees of 365 different species, which were donated by people from all parts of Japan when the shrine was established. The forest is visited by many as a recreation and relaxation area in the center of Tokyo. The entrance to the shrine complex leads through the Jingu Bashi bridge. Meiji Shrine is adjacent to Yoyogi Park which together is a large forested area. The entrances open at sunrise and close at sunset. The shrine itself is composed of two major areas:


Naien

The Naien is the inner precinct, which is centered on the shrine buildings and includes a treasure museum that houses articles of the Emperor and Empress. The treasure museum is built in the Azekurazukuri style.


Gaien

The Gaien is the outer precinct, which includes the Meiji Memorial Picture Gallery that houses a collection of 80 large murals illustrative of the events in the lives of the Emperor and his consort. It also includes a variety of sports facilities, including the national stadiums ( Meiji Jingu Gaien Stadium, National Stadium, and the newer National Stadium), and the Meiji Memorial Hall (Meiji Kinenkan), which was originally used for governmental meetings, including discussions surrounding the drafting of the Meiji Constitution in the late 19th century. Today it is used for Shinto weddings as well as meeting rooms rent and restaurants services.


Festivals

Several festivals are held at the shrine per year. Some festivals are held annually. The exhibitions range from ice carving, shodoten (calligraphy winners's works), bonsai, Suiseki Masterpieces, Memory Dolls, Chrysanthemums, Dahlia and exhibitions at the Treasure Museum Annex. * A ring-entering ceremony by a Yokozuna, called , is performed at the shrine in January (usually around January 5-7) and during the Autumn Festival. Also newly promoted Yokozuna usually perform their first ring-entering ceremony here.
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* Autumn Grand Festival (From October 31 to November 3) **October 31 - Autumn Grand Festival Bugaku at the main shrine building **November 1 - Autumn Grand Festival: Enshrinement Anniversary Ceremony, Afternoon Ceremony **November 2 - Autumn Grand Festival Morning Ceremony **November 3 - Autumn Grand Festival Anniversary of Emperor Meiji's Birthday File:Kisenosato Yutaka1.jpg, Kisenosato Yutaka, Kisenosato performing his first ''yokozuna dohyō-iri'' at the Meiji Shrine File:Meiji Shrine-1.jpg, In front of Ichino Torii (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-2.jpg, Around Otorii (Ichino Torii) (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-3.jpg, Proceed along the south approach (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-4.jpg, In front of Minamijinmon (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-5.jpg, View the worship hall from the South Shrine (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-6.jpg, Dedication festival (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-7.jpg, Dedication festival (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-8.jpg, View Otorii from the south approach (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:Meiji Shrine-9.jpg, Around Otorii (photographed on October 31, 2010) File:明治神宮ー武道.JPG, Ancient Martial Arts Dedication at the Festival of Autumn (November 2, 2012) File:明治神宮ー火縄銃.JPG, Ancient Martial Arrangement Firework Gun dedication at the Festival of Autumn (November 2, 2012) File:明治神宮ー流鏑馬.JPG, Demon Flower Vacation at the Festival of Autumn (November 2, 2012)


Gallery

File:Meiji-jingu_torii.JPG, Torii at the entrance to Meiji-jingu File:Meiji_Shrine%2C_Barrels_of_sake.jpg, Barrels of sake (''nihonshu'') donated to Meiji Shrine File:Meiji Shrine Barrels of wine.jpg, Barrels of Burgundy wine from France donated to Meiji-shrine File:Torii_of_Meiji_Shrine_2018.jpg, Torii at the courtyard of Meiji-jingu File:MeijiShrinePriestsMaidens1187.jpg, Priests and maidens wear traditional dress in preparation for a wedding at Meiji Shrine File:Meiji Jingu - rainy day - 2020 1 18.ogg, Several scenes on a rainy day in Meiji Shrine File:Meiji Shrine Tokyo, Japan.jpg, Women signing prayers in main courtyard File:MeijiShrine3.jpg, Prayers left by visitors File:MeijiShrine1.jpg, In front of Meiji shrine File:MeijiShrine2.jpg, The central sanctuary File:2018_Meiji_Shrine.jpg, Full view of the shrine File:Meiji shrine.jpg, Meiji Shrine main yard panorama File:Meiji-Shrine-Innergarden-02.jpg, Meiji Shrine Gyoen (inner garden) File:Meiji_Shrine_Treasure_Museum_panorama.jpg, Meiji Shrine Treasure Museum File:Yoyogi_Park_from_Hyatt.jpg, Meiji Shrine with Yoyogi Park


See also

* List of Jingū *
List of Shinto shrines For lists of Shinto shrines, see: *List of Shinto shrines in Japan **List of Shinto shrines in Kyoto *List of Shinto shrines outside Japan **List of Shinto shrines in Taiwan **List of Shinto shrines in the United States See also *List of Jingū ...
* Meiji Jingu Stadium


Notes


References

* Ponsonby-Fane, Richard Arthur Brabazon. (1959)
''The Imperial House of Japan.''
Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society
OCLC 194887


External links


Official English siteMeiji Shrine English mapMeiji Shrine Pictures & Travel Guide
Practical guide for travelers {{Authority control 1920 establishments in Japan Buildings and structures in Japan destroyed during World War II Buildings and structures in Shibuya Emperor Meiji Jingū Religious buildings and structures completed in 1958 Shinto shrines in Tokyo