Every 20 years, Japan's Ise Jingu undergoes Shikinen Sengu—a ritual where its sanctuaries are rebuilt from scratch on an adjacent plot. Using no nails, carpenters rely solely on interlocking joinery and Hinoki cypress, maintaining a tradition passed down for over 1,300 years.
This rebuilding is not about wear and tear; it is about preserving the knowledge itself. By reconstructing the structures over an eight-year cycle, veteran artisans pass their skills directly to the next generation, keeping the craftsmanship unbroken. This embodies "tokowaka"—the concept of staying eternally youthful and original by changing to remain unchanged.
The 62nd rebuild was completed in 2013, and the 63rd cycle began in 2025, aiming for a 2033 completion. The old timber is never wasted; it is repurposed as torii gates or sent to other shrines. At Ise, preservation is not about freezing the past, but keeping it alive through repetition and discipline.