As elsewhere, Buryat shamans not only have a strong connection to the land, but they serve as guardians of the cultural identity. Under Communism, however, the ethnic distinctiveness was seen as threatening to the party’s official line of universalism. In … Read the rest
Category: Shrine items (Page 3 of 13)
The circular mirror of Shinto is a potent symbol. One often sees it when visiting shrines, for it stands on the altar as representative of the kami, and in particular of Amaterasu the sun goddess. It can play a more … Read the rest
The mirror is Shinto’s most precious object, because in times past it was held to contain a person’s soul. It is why Amaterasu handed over a mirror to her descendants as the most prestigious object of reverence, for within its
Kokugakuin University, which specialises in Shinto studies, produces articles in association with the Japan News. This one, updated on Dec 3, 2017, features the role of horses and horse-riding skills in Shinto. (For a description of horse archery … Read the rest
On his shrine outings around the Izumo province near Matsue, Hearn took note of the local folklore, often describing in great detail the history and customs of the area. It’s what made him, in some people’s opinion, one of the
Joshua Bewig has written in below about the following video of a Shinto ritual he has posted on youtube….
This ceremony is for Hatsumode, meaning the first visit of the year to a Shinto Shrine. The shrine is named … Read the rest
Mie gov’t rejects cannabis cultivation request for Shinto rituals
The Mie prefectural government said Friday it has rejected a request from a group of shrines to cultivate cannabis for hemp “shimenawa” rope used for