sacred shrine grove; grove of the tutelary shrine
Refers to the forested area surrounding a Shinto shrine, considered sacred and protected. Often evokes a sense of tradition and spiritual presence.
The sacred grove of this shrine has been carefully preserved since ancient times.
Walking through the shrine grove calms my mind.
Standard kanji spelling; 森 is the common character for forest.
Alternative kanji spelling using 杜, which specifically means a grove or wooded area around a shrine.
Compound of 鎮守 (chinju, 'tutelary deity' or 'local Shinto deity') + の (no, possessive particle) + 森/杜 (mori, 'forest' or 'grove'). The term refers to the sacred forest surrounding a shrine dedicated to the local guardian deity.