Ise Shrine fraternal religious group
Historical term for a local mutual-aid and pilgrimage group formed by worshippers of Ise Shrine. Common in the Edo period.
In the Edo period, Ise-kō groups were organized in each village, and representatives made pilgrimages to Ise Shrine.
Compound of 伊勢 (Ise, referring to Ise Shrine) and 講 (kō, a religious or mutual-aid association). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is well-attested in Edo-period records.