The Oldest New Shrine

The shrine at Ise, both the inner shrine for the imperial family and the outer shrine dedicated to agriculture, has been in a state of constant renewal since its establishment in the 7th century. Every 20 years, the shrines and all accompanying structures including fences and bridges, are rebuilt. In fact, in the plan of the design, two sites are located for several of the temples. The main shoden as well as minor shrines. These are indicated by the map. The map shows that for each shrine structure, there are two pieces of land set aside for it. There are two adjoining rectangles. One is for the current temple, the other is the alternate site of the temple, where it will be in twenty years. These alternate sites are indicated in pink. During such a reconstruction, everything is rebuilt: new wood, thatch, stone, and other materials are sourced for the new shrine.


The result is an impressive and magnificent feat of wealth and power. The reconstructions testify to the authority of the tenno or emperor and of the country itself. The constant reconstruction also has one important effect, that of preservation. Because the shrines have been continuosly reconstructed with little change, the shrine at Ise still preserves the original architectural styles as it was first built. The frequency of the reconstructions really amplify the effect of this process as the skills and tools with which to reconstruct the temples will never be lost. There will be 3 to 4 reconstruction for every person's life, and the constancy of such a cycle ensures the shrines architectural integrity and survival. However, even as the tectonic techniques survive, the tectonic materials are always new and never aged (in terms of centuries of time). Such a process calls in the very question of the old new and the new old. The Ise Shrine has been called the oldest new building in existence. When reconstruction is necessarily built into the life cycle of the building, does the new reconstruction a new building, or is it merely a reincarnation, true to its core despite the change of the skin?