The shrine is located near a very old
Kofun. This one is in
Naruto Itano Kofun Cluster and has some traits resembling
Zenpokoenfun which raises speculation about their origins being nearby. Hemp cloth has been used in
Shinto for a long time. It is known for its association with purity. The Inbe clan traditionally served the role of providing hemp to the Imperial family. According to the
Kogo Shūi the Inbe clan were given
Awa Province in
Shikoku so they could cultivate hemp there. The Engishiki is an ancient Japanese text. It lists specific offerings for Shinto rituals. These include hemp and other bast fibers. Textiles made from these fibers were commonly given as offerings. There are two types of offering cloth. Aratae is a rough cloth. Nigitae is a smooth, finely woven fabric. In the year 927 CE, members of the clan lost their long-standing right to present
asa cloth for use in the imperial rituals. and Emperor
Naruhito in 2019. The taima ritual is held at Ise Shrine. It is performed five times a year. It honors
Amaterasu, the goddess of hemp and rice. Taima amulets are distributed at this shrine. They are tied with hemp bark strips. == Architecture ==