Sacred wood for historical ceremony transported to Ise Jingu shrine in Japan
Sacred logs were transported to Ise Jingu in central Japan's Mie Prefecture in preparation for a centuries-old ceremony to rebuild the shrine's structures.
The timber will be used for the "Shikinen Sengu" ceremony, a tradition that dates back about 1,300 years. Once every 20 years, the shrine buildings are completely rebuilt at a site adjacent to the main sanctuary.
The current relocation is scheduled for completion in 2034.
The first sacred logs for the new structures were transported into the shrine on Monday and Tuesday.
The wood was cut from forests in Nagano and Gifu prefectures and will be used to create vessels that house the shrine's sacred objects of worship.
On Monday, about 300 people in black coats and straw hats pulled the logs destined for the Naiku, or Inner Shrine, upstream along the Isuzu River.
They hauled the large Japanese cypress logs for about 1.5 kilometers, singing traditional work songs.
A visitor from Hiroshima Prefecture said it was impressive to see the huge logs from national forests, and that it is amazing that the tradition has continued for 1,300 years.
On Tuesday, a ritual was held to carry another set of sacred logs into the Geku, or Outer Shrine.
Around 400 people pulled the logs for about 2 kilometers through the streets of central Ise City.
A local spectator said he hoped the "Shikinen Sengu" would continue for future generations, so his grandchildren could see it.
Another visitor said she was happy to see the ceremony for the third time, and that it was pleasant to hear the participants' voices in unison.
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