Kagura-den

Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū's kagura-den

The kagura-den or kagura-dono (神楽殿 lit. kagura palace), also called maidono (舞殿 dance palace) or buden (舞殿) with reference to the bugaku traditional dance, is the building within a Shinto shrine where the sacred dance (kagura) and music are offered to the kami during ceremonies.^[1] It was originally just a temporary stage, first mentioned in a 9th-century text describing a maidono built in front of Hirano Shrine. In about a century it had become a permanent shrine feature, and its use was extended until its function as a worship hall prevailed over the original.^[1] It is now used also for weddings and Noh plays. Some scholars believe the heiden, or hall of worship, has its origins in the kagura-den.

References

1. Maidono, JAANUS, accessed on July 12, 2010