This is Part 3 of a series extracted from the Introduction to Shinto Shrines by Joseph Cali and John Dougill. The following is a list of the main physical items that are found at a shrine and its environs.… Read the rest
Category: Shrine items (Page 8 of 13)
The word jinja is usually translated as “shrine,” and the Buddhist “tera” is translated as “temple.” The shrine is a place of worship where a particular kami or group of kami are said to reside or make … Read the rest
One thing I’ve noticed on my visits to shrines and temples is the number of times one comes across the phoenix (ho-o). It’s a popular item on mikoshi (portable shrine), and it stands famously on the top … Read the rest
Mirrors play a central part in Shinto, for they are thought to contain the body of the kami. This blog has carried several articles ‘reflecting’ on the special properties of the mirror, and why it would have had a … Read the rest
An item in the Yomiuri Shimbun identifies another Olympic participant to keep an eye on in the coming days… will the kami shine on her fortunes? This time the article focusses on Sara Takanashi, a ski jumper. Being only … Read the rest
Shrine flooded with prayers for Takahashi
The Yomiuri Shimbun KYOTO February 9, 2014
Many people have written their hopes that figure skater Daisuke Takahashi will recover completely from his leg injury on ema wooden tablets at Go Shrine, as the … Read the rest
Squeezing through tight holes for good luck is very much a Japanese tradition that seems to cross the board in Buddhism, Shugendo and Shinto. No doubt it’s related to the act of being (re-)born. One of the fun things … Read the rest