Watarai

Watarai (度会) is a Japanese term with multiple meanings, primarily related to the Ise Grand Shrine (Ise Jingu) and its surrounding area in Mie Prefecture, Japan. It can refer to:

• Watarai District (度会郡, Watarai-gun): A rural district located in Mie Prefecture, surrounding the inner shrine (Naiku) of Ise Jingu. It is largely agricultural and known for its natural beauty.

• Watarai Clan (度会氏, Watarai-shi): A lineage of Shinto priests traditionally associated with the inner shrine (Naiku) of Ise Jingu. They held significant influence within the shrine's administration for centuries, particularly through the hereditary office of daiguji (high priest). The Watarai clan developed a unique form of Shinto theology known as Watarai Shinto, emphasizing the divinity of Amaterasu-ōmikami and the importance of reverence towards nature.

• Watarai Shinto (度会神道, Watarai Shintō): A school of Shinto thought that emerged within the Watarai clan during the Kamakura period. It sought to purify Shinto from Buddhist influences and emphasized the inherent divinity of Amaterasu-ōmikami, the sun goddess enshrined at Ise. Watarai Shinto played a role in shaping broader understandings of Shinto in later centuries.

• Watarai River (度会川, Watarai-gawa): A river that flows through Watarai District and is considered sacred to Ise Jingu. Its waters are used in purification rituals.

The term "Watarai" is therefore deeply connected to the history, religious significance, and geography of the Ise Jingu area. Its meanings encompass both a specific geographical location and a lineage of individuals instrumental in shaping the religious traditions associated with Japan's most important Shinto shrine.