View through the circular chinowa wreath of the midsummer misogi at the Meoto rocks near Ise
At the end of June, many shrines hold an ancient Japanese purification rite called Nagoshi no Harae. In this ceremony started in the Nara period, people atone for their sins in the first half of the year and then pray for their health for the remainder of the year by walking through a tall chinowa wreath (a large sacred ring made of miscanthus reeds). It’s said some people take pieces of the wreath home with them to purify their house, though I’m not sure if that’s encouraged by the shrines.
At some shrines people receive a white hitogata (paper scapegoat). It’s a piece of paper shaped as a person, which serves as a form of purification by rubbing it over the body to absorb pollution (kegare). The pollution is then disposed of by floating it along a river, or ritual burning.
For those of us in Kyoto, there are many opportunities to participate in the Nagoshi no Harae. Here’s a selection (courtesy of Kyoto Visitor Guide)….
Kitano Tenman-gu Shrine
June 25 (Tues.) A giant chinowa wreath (the largest chinowa wreath in Kyoto) is set up at the shrine gate. A large scale market will be open in the same day.
Kenkun Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) The chinowa ritual will start from 17:30. Participants will receive a paper amulet (not free of charge).
Kamigamo Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) A ceremony will be held in the precinct and people flows amulet (hitogata) to the stream in the forest.
Queues at the Nonomiya Shrine
Yoshida Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) People will offer amulet (hitogata) to the deity and receive a wreath. The chinowa ritual will start from 16:00.
Jishu Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) The chinowa ritual will start from 15:00 in front of the main hall.
Jonan-gu Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) Chinowa ritual and amulet offering will be open from June 25 to 30.
Shiramine Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) The Nagoshi Harae purification ritual will start from 17:00.
Kurumazaki Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) This shrine enshrines the deity of entertainment and performance. The chinowa ritual will be open from June 1 to 30.
Kifune Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) Chinowa ritual will be open from June 25.
Nonomiya Shrine
June 30 (Sun.) A large chinowa wreath will be hung on the shrine’s black torii gate from late June.
A young family prepares to pass through the chinowa for their half-year purification: in some shrines it's a case of passing through the circle and stepping into a new life, in others there's more of a ritual in following a figure of eight and passing through twice
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