Meiji Shrine

is a Shinto shrine in Shibuya, Tokyo, that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji 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 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.
Construction began in 1915 under Itō Chūta, 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, 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. 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, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle.

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.

In February 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government approved a plan to develop 28.4 hectares of Meiji Jingu Gaien. A new sports stadium, hotel and three skyscrapers are planned for the site. In September 2023, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a UNESCO advisory body, warned of 'irreversible destruction of cultural heritage' if the project, which will result in the loss of 3,000 trees and open park space, is allowed to be completed.

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, Classical martial arts (gunnery) demonstration at the Festival of Autumn (November 3, 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
* 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 GuideJapanese-English Translation
Practical guide for travelers

{{Authority control

Beppyo shrines
Kanpei Taisha
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
Chokusaisha
Nagare-zukuri