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This is the eastern gate to the Imperial Buildings area.
13.Shinmikurumayose.Gosechinomai * In front of the Shinkikurumayose entrance, there is a representation of the Gosechinomai courtly dance. It used to be performed in the shinjosai (an annual rite in which the Emperor makes an offering of the newly harvested rice to the deities to thank them for the blessing), but now it is only performed in the Daijosai (the first Shinjosai performed for the newly enthroned Emperor).
There are 4 or 5 female court dancers who dance to the accompainment of the traditional music and a song.
 * 1800 x 1245 * (729KB)

14.Gekkamon.gate * 2856 x 1904 * (1.34MB)

15.Flowers.by.Nikkamon.gate * 1923 x 1282 * (546KB)

 
15.Kenshunmon.gate.jpg
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11/2/07 12:30 PM
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15.Shunkoden * On the east side of the imperial palace (we just walked around it from west to east so far) there is the Shunkoden, which was built to place the sacred mirror used during the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Taisho in 1915.
(they build such a building only for that!) * 1944 x 1296 * (900KB)

16.Shishinden.and.Cherry.Tree * This is the Shishinden, the main building. It was used for important ceremonies such as enthronements. The roof is made of layers of cypress bark. The garden of white gravel played an equally important role in the ceremonies as the building itself.
To the east side, there is a cherry tree, and to the west a mandarin tree.
I have to apologize (Sumimasen) for the weird angle, but I could not frame the building perfectly due to restrictions in walkable areas. * 2792 x 1777 * (1.3MB)

17.Takamimura.throne * The throne inside the Shishinden, called Takamimura.
It has been used as the Imperial throne on the occasion of enthronement ceremonies commencing in 707 in the reign of Emperor Genmei.
The present throne was modeled on the original design constructed in 1913 before the emperoTaisho's enthronement took place here in the Kyoto Imperial Palace.  * 2385 x 1967 * (915KB)

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