Visiting ISE-Jingu shrine is called Oise-mairi in Japanese language.
Grand shrine of ISE is Japanese top shrine that was founded about 2,000 years ago.
ISE-Jingu is special ritual place.
If we lose the top shrine,Japan will ruin in no time.It means end of the world.
ISE-Jingu was the place only for the Emperor,his deputy person,priests in ISE or the Emperor's daughter.
But in the EDO period(1603-1868),Japanese common people started visiting ISE-Jingu.
It was a big boom and the boom was called Okage-mairi.
People were able to visit ISE-Jingu from all over Japan.
.There were some reasons for this.
Before the EDO period,Japan was in the long battle period.
So,ISE-Jingu sometimes couldn't do important rebuilding ceremony because of a chaos
and they had no money for it.
(The rebuilding ceremony have been held every 20 years since about 1,300 years ago)
After the battle period,ISE's priests and government made efforts for a shrine revival.
It was the ISE-Jingu advertisement as a special sightseeing spot.
At the same time,the peasantry were becoming richer owing to plant breeding and increase rice crop.
Around that time,the movement of commoners,especially of peasants, was strictly regulated,
but in most cases they were allowed to make a pilgrimage to the ISE-Jingu.
Visiting ISE-JIngu was a good reason to make a journey even if it wasn't for the ISE-Jingu.
Especially,merchants were generous to their children or employee's journey.
Because it was said that ISE has special power of thriving business.
Actually,the idea was not appropriate.
Because Japanese shrines are nature worship place originally.
Current some Japanese people are still misunderstanding about shrine.
We dedicate thankful heart in shrine and local nature gods get the power
that is made from human heart.
Then nature gods protect the area with the power.
The protection makes us happy.We can live in the area with less disaster.
This eternal cycle is Japanese Shinto.
Shrines are not for human's private wishes.
Shrines are protection place for sustainable peace of nation,region, and local area.
Our private happiness are established only on the tranquil situation of nation,region and local area.
So,wishing private things in shrine is wrong and rude.
Private wishes and happiness are create by self efforts and self ancestors.
Misunderstood Buddhism culture destroyed Japanese Shinto.
Buddhism is a quite new culture in Japanese long Shinto history.
At the first time,Buddhism was known as relief religion from severe things.
Suffering people relied on Buddhism's mercy atmosphere.
But actual Buddha's teaching was importance in practical efforts/works in society and home.
And practical mercy hearts to others (Even if we are in sad situation)
These ideas are perfect self-saving method not a religion.
Buddha didn't say about ambiguous spiritual things.
His words and teachings were always clear.
His teachings were great textbook in human's long life.
But many people wanted to feel exotic atmosphere in Buddhism.
Of course he didn't recommend meditation too.
Because he couldn't achieve spiritual enlightenment with that.
Buddha's head ornaments and statues are not important at all.
Buddha didn't say about these importance.Never.
In the battle period or before the period,
people wished their heart relief,happiness, and peaceful next rebirth.
The habit made Japanese people bad.
People began to wish private things in Shinto shrine.
But visiting ISE-JIngu experience was good for common people.
Common people enjoyed trip experience and visited other prefecture after ISE.
Travel expenses was expensive but people helped each other.
Some people even worked for money on their way.
Accompanied group or person in the trip were called best forever friends.
Departure to ISE-Jingu and return home ceremony was held in each village.
Rest of people waited travelers safe returning.
Travelers brought back some rare things for village people.
New seeds of plants,the latest pattern of cloth,local specialty foods and so on.
There were smart dog travelers too.
These dogs were substitute for human.
Dog owners made them go to ISE-JIngu with doggy food and money.
These dogs were called Okage-inu.
Other region's people helped these dogs travel in order.
I think many dogs were not able to come back to home,
but some lucky dogs did.
This is my favorite story.
Now,many souvenir shops around ISE-Jingu deal with cute Okage-inu goods (photos)
I want to eat Okage-inu cookies.