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. … Read the rest
Category: Shrine items (Page 10 of 13)
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 … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest
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 … Read the rest