Shikinenzotai - Reconstruction by a New Year

Japanese: 式年造替 - しきねんぞうたい

In shrine architecture, this is a system whereby a part or the whole of a shrine building is rebuilt at regular intervals. It is thought to have started as a practice in agricultural societies, where temporary shrines were built for autumn festivals and removed after the festival. The most famous shrine that continues to be practiced to this day is Ise Jingu, where everything, including the annexes, is rebuilt every 20 years. This system is said to have been established during the reign of Emperor Tenmu, but was suspended for about a century. The ceremony in which the deity is moved to a new building during this rebuild is called the Shikinen Sengu Sai. The period varies from a few years to 20 years, with Sumiyoshi Taisha, Katori Jingu, and Kashima Jingu rebuilt every 20 years, and Kamo Mioya Shrine and Kamo Wakeikazuchi Shrine rebuilt every 21 years. Izumo Taisha also used to rebuild irregularly.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

神社建築において，社殿の一部または全部を一定年限ごとに建て替える制度。農耕社会で秋の祭りに臨時の神殿をつくり，祭りがすむと取り払ったことに始まる慣行と考えられる。今日まで引き続き行なわれ有名なのは伊勢神宮で，20年ごとに附属舎も含め一切が造替されている。この制度は天武天皇の時代に定まったと伝えられるが，約 1世紀間中断した時代もあった。この造替に伴い神体が新しい建物に移る儀式を式年遷宮祭という。年限は数年から 20年まで諸例あり，住吉大社，香取神宮，鹿島神宮では 20年，賀茂御祖神社，賀茂別雷神社では 21年ごとに行なわれ，出雲大社でもかつては不定期ではあるが造替が行なわれていた。

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