Sengu Senza - Relocation of a Shrine

Japanese: 遷宮･遷座 - せんぐうせんざ

The transfer of the divine spirit when a shrine is renovated or rebuilt. In this case, Sengu is used only at Ise Shrine, while at other shrines it is called Senza, and the associated rites are called Sengusai or Senzasai. At Ise Shrine, Shikinen Sengu has been held once every 20 years since the reign of Emperor Tenmu in the late 7th century, and although it was temporarily delayed during the wars of the Middle Ages, it has continued to be held to this day. In the past, the ceremony was set for September 15th at the Outer Shrine and September 16th at the Inner Shrine, and as this falls on the annual Kannamesai, it has the character of a great Kannamesai ceremony held at a new shrine.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

神殿の改修造営に際して，神霊を移すこと。この場合，遷宮は伊勢神宮にのみ用い，一般神社では遷座といい，その祭儀を遷宮祭，遷座祭という。伊勢神宮では，7世紀後半の天武朝以来20年に1度〈式年遷宮〉が行われ，中世戦乱期に一時遅延したが，現在まで続いて行われている。古くは式日を外宮は9月15日，内宮は9月16日と定められ，これが例年の神嘗祭（かんなめさい）に当たることから，神殿を新たにして行われる大神嘗祭としての性格を有している。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

<<: The Former Nine Years' War

>>: Record of the relocation of a shrine