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Category Archives: Shrine items
Horses
Anyone familiar with Shinto will know about the significance of horses. They are thought to be intermediaries between this world and that of the kami. Votive tablets (ema, literally ‘horse pictures’) originated in the practice of offering horses to … Continue reading
Posted in International, Shrine items
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Torii origins
The origins of the torii are something this blog has explored before, noting the Korean connections and the possibility that tori-i (bird’s roost) may have served as a perch for chickens and roosters at the gateway to villages. … Continue reading
Posted in Insularity, International, Shrine items
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Year of Renewal (Sengu)
2013 is going to be the year of the Shikinen Sengu (rebuilding) at the country’s premier shrines of Ise and Izumo. By coincidence, both major shrines are due to complete their rebuilding this year amidst rites and celebrations. My … Continue reading
Posted in Ise, Izumo, Shrine items
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Sacred arrows
Today is auspicious arrow day… A symbolic shooting of arrows in the air in the direction of the four quarters to ward off evil. There’s a sacred archery festival (busha sai) at Fushimi Inari, which has a close connection with … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals, Folklore, Kyoto shrines, Shrine items
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Miko fascination
That the roots of the modern miko (now a simple shrine attendant) lie in the shamaness of ancient times is well-known. It’s generally accepted that her leading role was taken away by a Confucian emphasis on the primacy of male … Continue reading
Posted in Shrine items
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Why sakaki?
I’ve written before of the sacred nature of the sakaki tree, but what’s so special about it? It’s Shinto’s holy tree, but I’ve never found a satisfactory answer as to why. Sure, it’s an evergreen, and therefore a symbol … Continue reading
Posted in Shrine items
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Yakudoshi (Years of misfortune)
One thing you’ll often find at shrines are amulets and services to protect against ‘yakudoshi‘, years when one is susceptible to misfortune. I used to think it was pure superstition, but when I got to the age of 42, a … Continue reading
Posted in Rites and celebrations, Shrine items
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Eto (Chinese zodiac)
Over the past fortnight I happen to have come across the Chinese zodiac in various guises. A set of 12 small shrines (hokora) for each zodiac year at Hakusan Jinja in Hiraizumi. A full set of 12 zodiac ema (votive … Continue reading
Posted in General, Kyoto shrines, Shrine items
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Sacred trees
A.J. Dickinson has kindly drawn attention to the inspiring thoughts below from Shepherd Bliss of the Dominican University of California. They are extracted from a longer article on the nature of trees, which can be found here…. … Continue reading
Posted in Animism, Green issues, Shrine items
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Mikoshi chance in Nishinomiya
Kansai Scene this month reports a rare opportunity for foreigners to take part in a Shinto festival…. “Nishinomiya International Association is looking for volunteers to help carry omikoshi, portable shrines, in the city’s annual festival on Sunday September 23rd. … Continue reading
Posted in Festivals, International, Shrine items
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