Ise Grand Shrine and Secrecy

11/29/10
I chose the Ise Grand Shrine as a sacred place for our first essay of the semester because it is so interesting. The shrine is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess in Japan. However, the thing that sets it apart from the hundreds of other sacred shrines in the country is that in its 1500 year history, only a very small amount of people have entered through its gates. The shrine is considered so sacred that only the high priest/priestess are allowed inside. The general public is able to see the roof of the main shrine barely peaking over tall wooden fences, but otherwise the appearance of the shrine is shrouded in mystery. These facts began to make me question the secrecy of sacred place: Why is it a secret? Why does secrecy make it holy? What would happen if the public entered? To me, it is simply fascinating. I appreciate and respect the Shinto decision to make it secret, that they take “distinguish hallowed fro unhallowed ground, lest one intrude upon the sphere of malevolent”, perhaps purely out of curiosity (pg 22). I like not knowing. I think the mysterious innards of the Ise Grand Shrine cement the sacredness of this place regardless of ones religious preference. In the same way that the Holy Grail and Ark of the Covenant are famous for their mystery and secrecy, I believe the Ise Grand Shrine displays a similar sense of sacredness and deserve to be respected.