Major breakthrough

Representatives of Daoism, Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism and Sikhism pose at ise Jingu

Historic firsts were recorded at a major event held jointly by Jinja Honcho (Association of Shrines) and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, based in the UK.  The venue was the Jinja Kaikan at Ise Jingu, and part of the proceedings involved a parade representing eight different global faiths to Japan’s premier shrine to pay respects to the Sun Goddess.

Iwahashi san of the International Department of Jingu Honcho, one of the prime movers behind the event

The event formed part of the celebrations for the shikinen sengu process of renewal, which reached its climax last year in a ceremony to move the ‘spirit body’ (goshintai) of the Sun Goddess to her new shrine.

The title of the conference was Tradition for the Future: Culture, Faith and Values for a Sustainable Planet.  In addition to plenary speeches, there were discussion groups and a symposium attended by over 700 priests involving speeches by Princess Akiko, the chief priest of Ise Jingu, and the patriarch of Shingon Buddhism.

An impressive assortment of dignitaries attended during the three days of the conference including the president of Jinja Honcho, the head of Ise Jingu, the deputy Minister of the Environment, the governor of Mie Prefecture, the deputy mayor of Ise, the British Ambassador and a representative from the UN (the talks are intended to feed into its Sustainable Development Goals programme currently under consideration).

This was an exceptional gathering in every sense, and with simultaneous translation, welcoming of other faiths, and commitment to international collaboration, it marked a significant step for organisations such as Ise Jingu and Jinja Honcho. It showed quite clearly that conservation is firmly on the agenda for Shinto, and hopefully the talks here will carry over into specific action and lead in time to a change in mindset.  Over the coming days Green Shinto will be carrying more detailed reports about this exciting development.

The Main Hall of Jingu Kaikan fills up with international delegates at the front, and behind them some 500 Shinto priests who had come from all parts of the country to hear talks by Princess Akiko, the Deputy Minister of the Environment, and the head of Koyasan, the Chief Patriarch of Shingon Buddhism.

Participants descending the steps after paying respects at Naiku to the Sun Goddess. At the front is the patriarch of Shingon Buddhism, followed by others in religious garb. It's thought that such a diverse grouping of world faiths may constitute a first for a visit to pay respects in the outer compound at Naiku.