Product Code Database
are lengths of laid [[rice]] [[straw]] or [[hemp]] [[rope]] used for ritual purification in the [[Shinto]] religion.
vary in diameter from a few centimetres to several metres, and are often seen festooned with —traditional paper streamers. A space bound by typically indicates a [[sacred]] or ritually pure space, such as that of a Shinto shrine.Cf. Kasulis (2004:17-23). are believed to act as a ward against [[evil]] spirits, and are often set up at a [[ground-breaking ceremony|groundbreaking]] before construction begins on a new building. They are often found at Shinto shrines, gates, and sacred landmarks.
are also placed on , objects considered to attract spirits or be inhabited by them. These notably include being placed on certain trees, the spirits considered to inhabit them being known as . Cutting down these trees is thought to bring misfortune. In the case of stones considered to be inhabited by spirits, the stones are known as iwakura."[http://ojisanjake.blogspot.jp/2010/03/shimenawa-rock.html Shimenawa & Rock]", ''[http://ojisanjake.blogspot.jp/ More glimpses of unfamiliar Japan],'' Thursday, March 18, 2010
A variation of the are worn in sumo wrestling by (grand champions), during the entrance ceremony to debut as grand champion rank. In this instance, used by are seen as being living (a vessel capable of housing a spirit, known as when inhabited by a spirit), and are therefore visually distinguished as "sacred".
originate in Shinto mythology as a hallowed sacrifice related to the Japanese gods called , and are used in various Shinto ceremonies. Aboriginal people in Japan have respected and revered since ancient times.
and nature have been a hallmark of Shinto shrines since in early times. The shrine in Shinto is a place for . Local people held rituals in shrines. Early shrines were not composed of classical buildings, with rocks, plants and instead marking their boundaries, as part of the Shinto respect for nature. In [[Shinto]], all the sacred objects and nature were personified. Even a sword from a deceased Japanese warrior could be seen as the god because of its internal spirit and sense of awe. In modern-day society, there are still some sites that use to demarcate boundaries, such as the [[Nachi Falls]] in Kumano. A rock in [[Ise Bay]] is still connected by as well.
usually appear in a shape similar to a twisted narrow rope with various decorations on it. Zig-zag paper and colorful streamers called commonly decorate . The size of differs from simple to complicated. In shrines, they are usually tapered and thick with a diameter of .
are decorated differently depending on the intended blessing and meaning.
are used in Japan's Mountain Opening Ceremony, which is held every May 1. There are over 100 Shinto believers who participate in this ceremony. It is a 2-hour journey that they climb from Akakura Mountain Shrine to Fudō Waterfall. The overall purpose is to carry the and fix it between two towering trees. When the ceremony is finished, people get together and celebrate.
are used in , Japan's Naked Festival. This festival has been held during the New Year period for more than 500 years. The festival's participants, who are all young men, wear nothing but a [[fundoshi]] in cold weather in order to show their strength and manliness. It also includes various activities such as 'jostling, climbing fighting with a wooden ball' as well as being sprayed with water. Sometimes these festivals are held in Shinto shrines. The participants put on the roof to wish them good luck for the upcoming year. are presented to the as a sacrifice in the shrine on New Year's day.
(also called or ), a vertical wooden stick decorated with , cloth or metal called , usually in red or white, which is used priests in Shinto. People put in front of doors. In a procession called , are seen as a sacrifice for the gods or a symbol of the existence of the gods. In ancient times, people offered cloth to the Shinto shrines, similarly to today's processions. are also sometimes used in the way are. The stripes can also hang on the .
are the sacred spaces delimited by , which sometimes feature a [[cherry blossom]] tree surrounded by green plants appears, symbolising the seat of the gods.
are a reduced version of used in daily life, and are thought to control rice, salt, and water which could bring people good luck. Therefore, it always appears in the business area such as restaurants as well as conventional industries. Places like the police stations and board ships will also feature .
are an archway composed of two round posts and two upper cross-beams. The ends of the cross-beams are typically curved, which is a symbol of a style called . There is an under-cross-beam just below the top individually.
first appeared in Japan at the time Chinese culture and [[Buddhism]] were introduced, though their exact origin, including the origin of their shape and name, is unknown; some researchers believe the name to have originally come from [[Sanskrit]].
With the exception of the cross-beams, people also use to decorate . The type of using only as cross-beams is known as , which consist of only two posts and a ; these are intended to be temporary instead of permanent.
In Japan, there are more than 20 different kinds of , varying from simple wood constructions to those made of concrete gates, typically used as gates to Shinto shrines. The style of is not strictly based on the style of shrine, and there could be more than one style of in one shrine.
Similar to , also have meaning in Shinto, representing a gate to the world, people, or any relationship. The purpose of and is the same, in bringing lost people to the -filled world.
The craftsmen in Taiwan harvest the straw to make , while Japanese manufacturers provide samples or finished products to the customers according to their orders.
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