Shinto and Buddhism are Japan's two major religions. Most of the Japanese consider themselves Buddhist, Shintoism or both. Usually there is a large red gate in front of the Shinto shrine calls "Torii"
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Butsudan (Buddhist altar) |
Most of the Japanese use both Shinto and Buddism in their daily life. They visit temples for funerals, New Years Eve, and New Years. They visit shrines for local festivals (matsuri), weddings, and also New Years.
Most Japanese houses have Butsudan(Buddhism alter) and Kamidana(shinto shrine) in their homes.
Kamidana is a miniture Shinto shrine. Sometimes they can be seen in Budo dojos, offices, and shops as well. Japanese people believe that Jinja(shrine) is the guardian deity of the area(town) and Kamidana is the guardian god for the house. It is said that Kamidana started more than 1300 years ago. The present Kamidana has a deep relationship to the Grand Shrine of Ise.
Kamidana is usually displayed on the high shelf of the house.
Sometimes Kamidana may also include a shimenawa, a sacred rope of twisted rice straw traditionally used to demarcate a sacred area. They also offer water, sake (rice beer), food, and green twigs which are placed daily at the front of the shrine. When you pray for Kamidana, first bow twice and then clap your hand twice, then you pray, and after that you bow once.
In the Kamidana, they usually put amulets(ofuda) into it. Ofuda is a talisman issued by a Shinto shrine. It is made by inscribing the name of a kami and the name of the Shinto shrine or of a representative of the kami on a strip of paper, wood, cloth, or metal.
If there is no kamidana, it can be attached to a door, pillar, or ceiling. It is believed to protect the family in residence from general harm and disease.
There is a portable form of the ofuda, it is called Omamori. It is wrapped in a small bag made of decorated cloth. This originates from Buddhism, but was subsequently adopted by Shinto. Both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines give out these omamori. While an ofuda is said to protect a whole family, an omamori offers support for personal good luck, protective power, and blessings. Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America is the traditional Jinja Shinto Shrine and the direct North American branch of Tsubaki O Kami Yashiro in Mie prefecture one of the oldest and most prestigious shrines in Japan with a history of over 2000 years.
They offer Kamidana, Omamori(amulets), Ema, Hamaya, Omamori Jewelry and bracelets.
Please visit Tsubaki Grand Shrine today!
1 comments:
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