Shintoism

Shinto is an indigenous religion of Japan. It originated as animism in ancient times and has uniquely developed with influences from Buddhism and other foreign religions. Therefore, it has no founder and no systematic teachings. However, it has strict rituals and mannerisms. Japanese ways of living are greatly influenced by them.

It has many gods. Their number is called Yaoyorozu, meaning ‘eight million.’ Amaterasu, one of the greatest deities, is considered an ancestor of the imperial family, the Tenno. This is why the Tenno is respected in Japan.

Oharai, or ‘purification,’ is a ritual in Shinto. Shinto priests perform purification rituals in front of altars or to purify objects, by offering prayers and shaking an Onusa, a wooden stick with pieces of paper attached to the top.

Torii Shinto Gate

This means Shinto Shrine Gate. It literally means “where a chicken is,” but the reason for this name is not certain. It is made of stone or wood with two large pillars and two large crossbars at the top. It is considered to be the border marker between the sacred place and the mundane world. So, many people bow their heads before going through the gate on their way to the shrine, and after passing under it on their way back, they turn around and bow again. It is often painted red. The color red was thought to keep away evil because it was associated with the sun and fire, and it came to represent life.

It is a rope marking the boundary between the sacred place and the secular world. In shrines, it is hung over the visitors’ praying spot at the Main Hall. It is made by twisting straw. The Shimenawa at Miyajidake Shrine is said to be the largest in Japan.

Ema, Praying Board

It is a wooden board for prayers. People write their prayers and names on the board and hang it in a designated place. The contents of the prayers vary according to the shrine. At a shrine for academic success, most prayers are requests like “please help me pass the entrance examination” or “help me get better grades.”

A paper slip that tells your fortune. Almost every Shinto shrine and Buddhist temple has its own omikuji. They usually cost around 100 yen. You pick one paper from the box and read it. First, you will see a large Kanji character indicating your overall luck, followed by other writings about various aspects such as money, health, love, and career. If you get the 大吉 (Daikichi) character, it means “Great Blessing,” so you should keep it with you. Otherwise, you should tie it around one of the designated strings or branches near the omikuji box.

The order of the Chinese characters on Omikuji