Every issue of Jinja Shinpō includes a short column written by someone at Jingū, and the December 12th instalment was about the gravel on the paths.
Look, they have to produce one of these every week. Cut them some slack.
Actually, it did have a very interesting part. Gravel gets caught in the tread of shoes, or even gets inside the shoe itself. That’s just the nature of the stuff. It means that people often take some of the gravel home with them, without even noticing.
The interesting part is that Jingū often gets letters from people saying that they had accidentally taken gravel home with them — and returning it, carefully wrapped in white paper.
This is not, I hasten to say, something that Jingū tells people to do. However, the idea that things found within the precincts of a jinja, especially Jingū, are sacred, and should not be removed, is one that is found in other parts of Shinto as well. It is interesting to see how strong that belief still is in some people.
/ . . . about the gravel on the paths.
Look, they have to produce one of these every week. Cut them some slack./
So, not to throw pebbles or anything . . . . !
Hmmm. After dropping terms into Google and getting rather a variety of responses, is this at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_Shrine or given https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jing%C5%AB and /Ise Grand Shrine is also known by the formal name Jingū with no further designation. /, is this Ise?
Yes, this is Ise.
Great timing on this, I’m heading to Ise Jingu tonight! I shall select my footwear with care to try and nip this problem in the bud. 😉
Glad (and surprised) it was useful.
A related question, if you don’t mind. Is there an etiquette, or is it frowned upon, to take things from a jinja? Maybe gravel would be an odd choice, but for example leaves (taken from the ground, not plucked from trees!) or fallen pine cones or some such. I had no plans to, but it was a thought reading this article.
It is generally frowned upon, and is formally prohibited in some cases. There are cases where you might be given something from the jinja to take away, including leaves, but you generally shouldn’t do it on your own initiative.
Makes a lot of sense! Thank you