THE Ise Grand Shrine (a series of over 100 shrines) is the most sacred shrine in Japan. It is devoted to Amaterasu-omikami (the sun goddess) and has been in existence since 4BC, officially known as Jingû.

The Ise Jingu Shrine is a huge shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centred on two main shrines, Naikû and Gekû.

Naiku is the inner shrine also officially known as ‘Kotai Jingu’, Geku is the outer shrine, also officially known as ‘Toyouke Daijingu’.

Every 20 years the two main buildings inside the Jingu shrine are rebuilt. The most valuable part that readers must know is that the next rebuilding year is 2013. The rebuilding tradition is the idea of the Shinto belief of the death and renewal of nature and the impermanence of all things.

The shrines are rebuilt on land that is adjacent to the existing shrines, and each rebuilding alternates between these two sites. No other shrines outside the Ise complex are allowed to use these construction designs.

I think nobody knows about the Ise Grand Shrine. People should read about it to know the existence of secret places in our world, absorb knowledge that belongs to exclusive places that we either do not know about, or simply could not visit if we wanted to. The world is full of secrets.

SAAD UDDIN KHAN Karachi