This shikishi card features a beautifully reproduced print of 伊勢神宮 御遷宮之図 (Ise Jingū Goshengū no Zu), a depiction of the grand Shikinen Sengū procession at Japan’s most sacred shrine, Ise Jingū. Rendered in a classic ukiyo-e–inspired style, the scene illustrates the solemn and majestic moment when sacred treasures are ceremonially moved to the newly rebuilt shrine.
The artwork captures a sweeping view of the shrine complex: a thatched-roof torii gate at the center, surrounded by white fences and towering pines. Long lines of priests and attendants dressed in vibrant ceremonial garments—reds, blacks, and whites—form an elegant and rhythmic procession that winds across the composition. Above and below, stylized clouds frame the scene, adding a sense of elevation and spiritual significance.
The original packaging written 神宮大宮司 徳川宗敬 題書 — An inscription of Tokugawa Munetaka, the Grand Chief Priest (Dai-gūji) of Ise Jingū. Additional printed notation referencing a commemorative edition.
A culturally rich and visually striking shikishi print, this card embodies the deep tradition of the Shikinen Sengū, the 1,300-year-old ritual of rebuilding Ise Jingū every 20 years—a symbol of renewal, purity, and continuity in Japanese spirituality.
