Exorcism Exorcism

A bad year is said to be a year in which you are prone to poor health and disasters. It is an exorcism to receive an exorcism before the calamity caused by evil and pray for a more fulfilling life both physically and mentally.
Asakusa Shrine calculates the year of trouble based on what is called the Nine-Star Qi.
Those who do not fall into the Year of Evil will perform an exorcism prayer called "Elimination of Disasters."
It seems that exorcisms are often held on New Year's Day, but regardless of this, there are cases where people choose a good day such as a birthday and visit the shrine.
Originally, the Year of Evil was considered to be the age of Hare, as was the annual celebration of longevity. Reaching the Year of Trouble means that you have a certain position in the community, and you will be involved in many Shinto rituals, such as joining the palace and carrying a mikoshi. For this reason, it was necessary to keep the mind and body clean and to abstain from words and actions. It is for this reason that the "evil" of the year of evil is said to be the "role" of the god who serves God.
Nowadays, the aspect of calamity that occurs is emphasized and the sense of its taboo has become stronger, but it is still considered important as a rite of passage in life, along with Shichi-go-san, coming-of-age ceremonies, and New Year's celebrations.

Prayer for safe delivery

Praying for the safety of childbirth at a shrine is a prayer for safe birth.
On "Dog Day" when you are five months pregnant, you will visit the shrine with the hope that you will have a strong baby.
It is said that the origin of worship on the Day of the Dog is that the birth of dogs is light and prolific. Since many puppies are born one after another in a short time, dogs are considered to be a symbol of safe birth, and on the Day of the Dog, prayers for safe birth are held to pray for the birth of a new life.

Groundbreaking Festival

Also known as the "Tokoshizume Festival" or "Jimatsuri," it is the most common and important architectural festival. It is a festival to greet the god of the land before starting construction, to purify the land, and to pray for the safety and protection of the construction work that will be carried out in the future.
We set up an altar on the site, make offerings, welcome the god of the land, and pray for the safety of the construction work that will be underway.

Upper Building Festival

Also known as "muneage" or "tatemae," it is a festival held when pillars stand and ridges are raised. The god of the land is welcomed at the groundbreaking festival, but the god of buildings and craftsmen is welcomed at the upper building festival.

Plaques with these gods and gods are affixed to the central pillar, upper building money is erected, and bows and arrows are decorated as amulet.
Hikitsuna ceremony: Pulling a ridge tree to a ridge
Hammering ceremony: Hammering a ridge into a ridge
Sanpeisen ceremony: Sprinkle rice cakes and coins
It seems that there is a lot to do.

They serve coins and rice cakes to the neighbors, and at direct meetings, the owner of the building praises the daily labor of the construction workers. The Upper Building Festival is also a place for interaction between the owner, construction workers, and neighbors.

Completion Festival

It is a festival held when the building is completed and moves in. We will exorcise and cleanse the newly built building, declare it to God that it has been completed safely, and pray that the building will be strong for many years to come, and that the people who live there will prosper.

~Gods involved in building festivals~
・ Great squire god (Ōtokonushi no kami)
He is the God who protects the land. We buy and sell land and buildings, and the land is protected by the Great Squire God.

~God of Takumi~
It is the god who welcomes you at the upper building festival.
Building gods: Yafune Kukuchi no Mikoto, Yafune Toyo Takeki Princess Life (Yafune Toyoke Hime no Mikoto)
God of craftsmen: Taoki Hooi no Mikoto, Hikosa Tomoto

Hatsumiya

When a baby visits a shrine for the first time in his or her life, it is called a visit to the first shrine. Although there are regional differences, it is generally performed on the 31st day of life for boys and the 33rd day for girls. Many of them are dressed in fine clothes given to them by their mothers, held by their paternal grandmothers, and visited the shrine with their parents to thank God for the safe birth of their babies and pray for their healthy growth as members of the community.

First Birthday Festival

The first birthday festival is one of the life rituals to thank a child who was born into this world for safely reaching the milestone year and pray for healthy growth in the future.
It is a custom that has been handed down in Japan for a long time, and we ask that children carry a mochi wrapped in a furoshiki for "lifetime" health and happiness.

Shichigosan

Why do you shogi-san?

"Children are gifts from God" is said. This God is about Mr. Shrine. So when a child is born, I will report and appreciate the shogun to the shrine for about a month. And it is said that "Until the age of seven is the Son of God", souls have not yet settled yet since childhood for a while. By repeating ceremonial rituals in front of the gods there is a meaning of consolidating the soul.

Why are you celebrating three, five, seven?

Shichigosan is a custom to celebrate the milestone of child's growth in the samurai society of the Edo period,
Each

Hairstand (Kamioki) 3 years old
Hakama wear (hakama bag) 5 years old
Otomo Sanpei (Ototo) seven years old

said.

Hair setting is
A 3-year old man and a woman raise their hair. I was shaving my hair from birth until about three years old.

With hakama dresses,
A 5-year old boy is the first ritual to wear a hakama. By wearing a hakama, awareness as a man is born.

What is obi is?
It is a ceremony that girls tighten an adult band with an attachment belt. Take the attachment strip, cover the eight mouths, dress a small sleeve, and tighten the wide band. It says that the wish to put the soul in it firmly and not to bring down her body was put in it.

Anyway, 3 years old can start walking alone, 5 years old can not keep an eye on her, 7th birthday joins society (in modern elementary school entrance), put on a number that is worrisome for parents, Shichigosan 3 Watching the growth of children in the smile of their families has long been an important thing both in the past and now.

Coming of Age Festival

When we reach adulthood, we offer them to God in front of Him.
Ceremonies to celebrate coming of age have been around for a long time and were performed through princely and samurai families.
Since the Nara period, a ritual called "genpuku" performed by boys aged 12 to 16 in counting years, and in the case of girls, a ritual called "mogi" performed in the aristocratic society of the Heian dynasty were performed as a rite of passage for adults.

The current form of coming-of-age ceremonies has its roots in the "Youth Festival" held in 1946 in Warabi Town, Kitaadachi District, Saitama Prefecture (now Warabi City).
When the Japan government designated January 15 as Coming of Age Day, many regions began to celebrate coming-of-age.

Currently, Coming of Age Day has been moved to the second Monday in January.

wedding

In the myth of Japan, a male goddess named "Izanagi no Mikoto" and a goddess named "Izanami no Mikoto" who were born with a gender were united around the pillars of heaven, and many gods were born in this Japan, and the nation of Japan began. Such a wish is embodied in the wedding ceremony, which is deeply connected like two gods, the life of Izanagi and the life of Izanagi, and gives birth to a new life, nurtures it, and passes it on to the next generation.

The current form of wedding ceremonies at shrines has a great influence on the wedding ceremony held by Emperor Taisho and Princess Kujo Setsuko (Empress Sadaaki), who were crown princes, at the Imperial Court Kensho Daizen by the Imperial Household Marriage Decree on May 10, Meiji 33.

In the following 34 years, the Shinto wedding ceremony established based on this marriage ceremony was generally held at Hibiya Daijingu Shrine (now Tokyo Daijingu) and became popular throughout the country. Prior to that, it was customary to hold weddings at home, and the alcove was decorated with hanging scrolls with the names of the gods of Izanagi, the names of the gods they believed in, and the hanging scrolls of auspicious picture scrolls, and the bride and groom received the offered sake at 339 degrees, and the couple's bond was concluded. This traditional form of marriage ceremony has been inherited in today's Shinzen weddings.

Monthly festival

At the beginning of the month, we pray to God for the safety of the Imperial Family and the nation, prosperity of the people, a good harvest, prosperity of commerce and industry, and the health and safety of our family members.
Asakusa Shrine holds a monthly festival on the first day of every month (except January). Anyone is welcome to attend. If you wish to attend, please apply to the Asakusa Shrine Office.
On the first day of the month, let's pray for purification of mind and body and safety in daily life by attending with the priests.

Senior festival

New Year's Day is the morning of January 1.
The New Year's Festival is an event to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, pray for the prosperity of the Imperial Family and the safety of the nation, and pray for the prosperity of the people, a bountiful harvest, world peace, and other blessings for one year.
Strictly speaking, it is an event held at the three palaces of the Imperial Palace, namely the Wise Place, the Imperial Cemetery, and the Shinden, and is also held at shrines around the year as an annual festival at the beginning of the year.

Primitive festival

On January 3, His Majesty the Emperor celebrates the origin of the imperial throne at the Three Halls of the Imperial Palace, marking the first festival of the year. Shrines throughout Japan also hold the Motoshi Festival.

Hatsunoon Festival

Hatsunoon is the first "Horse Day" after Setsubun on February 3.
It is said that on the noon day of the beginning of February in the 4th year of Wado (711), the grain god "Inari Okami" was seated on Inariyama, and on the first day of that year, the "Hatsunoon Festival" is held at Inari shrines nationwide.
The custom of visiting Inari Shrine at the first noon, when the signs of spring are felt, continues to this day in hopes of a good harvest and prosperous business.

Prayer festival

At the beginning of spring cultivation, a festival held on February 17 prays for a good harvest of the year and prays for the well-being of the nation.
It is also called the "Toshigoi no Matsuri".
It is a festival that is paired with the Shinjo Festival in November to give thanks for the harvest of the year.

Setsubun festival

"Setsubun" refers to the day before risshun. In the first place, the word Setsubun was not limited to risshun, but also refers to the day before risshu, risshu, and risshu, and was a word that meant the milestones of the four seasons. In other words, there were four Setsubun events a year.
However, in the lunar calendar, Risshun marked the beginning of the year, so this milestone was given special importance, and Setsubun came to refer to the day before Risshun.
In Setsubun, events are held to exorcise disasters and evil spirits, and one of the most representative of them is "bean sowing". This event, in which elderly men and women chant "Fortune is inside, demons are outside" while sowing roasted soybeans to exorcise demons, is said to have incorporated the customs of the Ming dynasty in China into the Muromachi period. In the past, bean sowing was called "Tsuna" or "Oniyarai" and was one of the annual events in the Imperial Court. This ritual of exorcising disasters by driving away plagues dressed as toneri gradually spread to the people.

Tencho Festival

In celebration of the birthday of the current Emperor, this festival prays for the longevity of His Majesty the Emperor, the safety of the Imperial Family, and the peace and prosperity of the people. Celebrations are held in the imperial court and shrines throughout the country.

Divine Celebration

It is a grand festival of the Ise Jingu Shrine, and the festival that dedicates new grains to Amaterasu is the Shinjo Festival. Festivals dedicated to this festival are held at shrines all over the country.

Shin Festival

It is a festival to offer the new grain of the year to the gods and give thanks for the harvest.
It is an event that has been held for so long that it appears in the Japan Shoki, and is now held on November 23 at shrines all over Japan.
"New" means to eat new grains, and "嘗" means to be eaten by God.
It is sometimes called "Niiname Festival" or "Shinjosai" and is a festival that pairs with the "Prayer Year Festival" held in February.

Night Festival

It is the last festival of the year held on New Year's Eve. I am grateful that I was able to spend this year safely, and I want to cleanse my mind and body and welcome the new year with a new feeling.

Great exorcism (New Year's and Xia Yue)

It is a shrine to purify the sins and mistakes of the body and mind again (injured) and to return to their original clean mind and body, and to conduct their daily lives within a year or a half year.

This ritual is held twice a year, on June 30 and December 31.
The Great Exorcism of June is called "The Great Exorcism of Nagoshi",​
The Great Exorcism of December is called the "New Year's Eve Exorcism"​
Also says.

To the divine,Doll (Hitoro)Exorcism by the expo tool (Hariru)Chiwa (Chinawa) Nicely passing (June only).

Kaya is a big ring made of chrysanthemum (beige), it is said that plague and innocence will be revived by passing through it.

How to visit karya (June only)

Pass around left, right, and left turn three times to draw eight characters. In this way, both my mind and body become pure and I visit the shrine.
At Asakusa Shrine, we will set up a champion in front of the shrine from June 15 th to the end of June.

Doll

The doll is also good as a crochet (a stuff), which is a paper cut out into a human shape. I write my name and age on this, stroking my body and blowing my breath three times.
By doing so, you transfer your sins and purify them instead of ourselves.

Shoto

The annual New Year's event "Hatsubutsu" refers to visiting shrines and temples for the first time at the beginning of the year. I give thanks for the past year and pray for safety and peace in the New Year.
Originally, it was called "nengomori" (toshigomori), and it was customary for the patriarch to pray at the shrine from the night of New Year's Eve to the morning of New Year's Day.
Eventually, it was divided into two parts, the "New Year's Eve" on the night of New Year's Eve and the "New Year's Day Visit" on the morning of New Year's Day, and the New Year's Day Pilgrimage became the prototype of the current first visit.

Sakura

At Asakusa Shrine, we visit the cherry blossom shrine as a break from the new life of the new year, and pray for the safety of the new year and new life and the further prosperity of the new year, so we hold a "sakura visit" according to this cherry blossom season.
For a limited time, special Goshuin and bills will be awarded.

Sakura pilgrimage is also held at nearby shrines, so please visit us as well.

Summer vacation

The "New Year's Exorcism" cleanses the sins of the year, and the next day, New Year's Day, is the beginning of a new year and a "first visit" is held to visit shrines and temples in hopes of peace for the year.
Six months from the beginning, after the "Great Exorcism of Natsukoshi" to also exorcise and purify sin, it is customary to visit shrines and temples after July 1 as a milestone of half of the year in order to thank for the safety of the past half year and to wish for further peace in the next half of the year.
The "summer prayer" advocated by Asakusa Shrine in 2014 (Heisei 26) has spread from Asakusa to Taito Ward, and from Tokyo to shrines and temples all over the country.
Please visit the shrines and temples near you and have a "summer visit".

Beginning of writing

It is said that he started writing because he wrote with a brush for the first time at the beginning of the year.
It is one of the traditional annual events that has been held in Japan since ancient times, and because it is a congratulatory word, it is meant to celebrate the achievement of goals and the New Year.
It is common to do it on January 2nd. In the past, work was said to start on January 2nd, and there is a tradition that if you start learning from this day, you will improve.
In the Heian period, it is said to have originated from the "Yoshisho no Kana" in which documents were presented to the Emperor at the beginning of the year, and in the Edo period, it spread as an event to write poems and documents that headed for Yoshikata that year, rubbing ink with wakasui (water drawn for the first time in the early morning of New Year's Day).
Asakusa Shrine holds a "Writing Class" for elementary school students on January 3 every year.

Full night

"Fifteenth Night" is an event to admire the full moon on August 15 of the old calendar, or in the middle or late September of the new calendar. It is also called "moon viewing", "famous moon", and "mid-autumn famous moon", and has long been the subject of poetry and haiku as a good time for moon viewing.
Generally, on the 15th night, susuki is inserted into a vase and offered dumplings, taro, pears, and other seasonal items to express gratitude. From Kansai to the Chugoku region, it is also called "imo name month" because taro is offered, and it is thought that it was originally a potato harvest festival, that is, a field cultivation ritual.
This custom of moon viewing has existed in China since the Tang Dynasty, and was introduced to Japan. It developed into an event related to the harvesting of field crops, and has been handed down for a long time to the present day.

Many nights

September 13 of the lunar calendar, about one month after the 15th night, was called the "13th Night", and if you saw the moon on the 15th night, you were supposed to see the moon on the 13th night as well. Fifteen nights alone were called "katami moon" and were abhorred. On the other hand, if you forget the fifteenth night, you don't have to do the thirteenth night. The 15th night is called "imo name moon", while the thirteenth night is also called "bean name moon" and "Kurina moon". Beans are edamame, and it is customary to offer edamame and chestnuts.

Five verses

"Setsuku" refers to "a day that marks a turning point in the season." It is said to have originated from the "Yin-Yang Five-Element Theory" that was originally introduced from China around the Nara period, and although there were many types at first, they gradually decreased by mixing with the culture and lifestyle of the Japan. Then, in the Edo period, the shogunate established particularly important festivals as official holidays, which is the origin of the "Gosekuku".

・January 7: From eating the Seven Herbs Porridge on Man Day, it is also called the Seven Herbs Festival, and we wish for a good harvest and a disease-free life for a year. In ancient times, China designated January 7 as People's Day, a day when criminals were not punished. In addition, there was a custom of eating atsumono with seven kinds of vegetables to rest the weakened stomach during New Year's celebrations and sake, and this was transmitted to Japan and became seven grass porridge.

・March 3 Kamimi no Setsuku Kamimi no Setsuku is a hina festival that prays for the healthy growth of girls. They made human shapes out of plants and paper, stroked their bodies with them, transferred their own evils, and poured them into the water to exorcise them. The strokes at this time are called dolls (hitogata), and it is thought that this is the beginning of later generations of hina dolls.

・May 5 Festival, which is Children's Day and prays for the healthy growth of boys. It is also known as "Irises Festival", which is derived from the fact that the irises reach their peak around May, and that irises are used as medicinal herbs and have a strong aroma to exorcise evil spirits. There is also a custom of decorating helmets and carp streamers and soaking in the iris bath.

・July 7: It is said that if you decorate the bamboo with a wish on a strip of Tanabata festival, your wish will come true, and it is also known as "bamboo festival". In addition, since ancient Japan times, there has been a tool for weaving kimonos called "tanabata" in ancient times, and Shinto rituals were held to exorcise people's filth in the hope of improving their handicrafts and harvesting in the fall.

・September 9 – The festival of Chongyang is said to be an auspicious day because the largest number of yōyō overlaps. On the other hand, it is also thought that disasters are likely to occur when the positive numbers overlap, and it is said that the custom of exorcising evil spirits has taken root. In addition, September 9th of the lunar calendar is the time when chrysanthemum flowers bloom beautifully and are in full bloom, so it is also known as "Chrysanthemum Festival".

Seven herbs in spring

On January 7th, which is the festival of Man Day, there is a custom of eating the seven herbs of spring in the "seven grass porridge". The seven herbs of spring are rich in vitamins and have the effect of aiding digestion, and it means to rest the tired stomach at the New Year's feast and pray for good health for the year.

Seri: Because it grows as if competing against each other, it means "to win the auction". Nazuna: It is said to be "so cute that you want to stroke it", so it means "to stroke and remove impurities". Gogyō: An auspicious object representing the "body of the Buddha". Hakobera: From "prosperity is rampant", it means "prosperity of descendants". Buddha's seat: Named because the lotus flower used on the pedestal of the Buddha image resembles an open shape. Suzuna: A turnip that means "bell that calls to the gods." Suzushiro: A radish that means "white without blemitish".

Seven herbs in autumn

It began when the representative autumn grass of the Japan was sung in the song of Yamakami Kyora included in the Man'yōshū.

The seven herbs of spring are put in "seven grass porridge" to enjoy "food", but the seven herbs in autumn are for ornamental purposes and enjoy "watching" flowers.
Hagi
Susuki
Kikyo
Nadeshiko
Kuzu
Fujibakama
Onayoshi

Four Divine Beasts

In China, Korea, and Japan, it is a divine beast that has traditionally been believed to govern the four directions of the heavens.

Each of the four gods has its own direction, season, and color.
Qinglong East Spring Green (Blue)
Suzaku South Summer Red (Vermilion)
White Tiger West Autumn White (White)
Xuanwu North Winter Black (Green)

In the Sanjamatsuri, the mikoshi vault where the headquarters mikoshi is stored is decorated with the four divine flags depicting these four divine beasts.

Ebisu Wedding Day

October is also called the "Godless Month", and gods from all over the country gather in Izumo. During that time, it is said that Ebisu is the one who takes care of and protects the absence.
Ebisu-sama is a god of business prosperity, familiar from holding a sea bream and smiling softly.
We would like to thank Ebisu for protecting us during the Shinto Month, and we will set October 20 as our lucky day and pray for prosperous business and a good harvest.
In the past, merchants invited relatives and acquaintances to celebrate Ebisu-sama, offering sea bream and distributing tangerines.

Counting years

There are two ways to count age: "full age" and "counting years". In modern times, it is common to think of the time of birth as 0 years old, and then add 1 year to each birthday thereafter.
On the other hand, "counting year" is a method of counting the time of birth as one year old, and then adding one year to each New Year.
In other words, counting the "age of the soul" from the time it is in the mother's womb to the time it is thought of as a life.

New Year's Celebration (Koki Kiju Umbrella Ju Yoneju Graduation Hakuju)

At the New Year's celebration, we are grateful that we have been able to live a long life thanks to God's favor, and we hope that we will live even longer. We also look back on our long lives, pass on what we have accomplished during that time, to our descendants, and pray for the prosperity of our family.
Each kanji used has its own meaning.

・Kanreki: 60 years old
Originally, the zodiac consists of a combination of the 12 zodiac signs and the 10 zodiac signs, and it goes around every 60 years. The age of 60, which returns to the zodiac sign of one's year of birth, is called "returning to the original calendar", which is the origin of the return calendar.

・Koki 70 years old
Since ancient times, living to the age of 70 has meant "rare", and the celebration of 70 years old has come to be called koki.

・Kiju 77 years old
If you write joy in cursive script, "Since it can be read as seventy-seven, the celebration of the 77th birthday came to be called Kiju.

・Sanju 80 years old
Abbreviation for "umbrella" "Since it looks like 80, the celebration of 80 years old has come to be called umbrella jutsu.

・Beiju 88 years old
Since the word rice is made up of the character "eighty-eight", the celebration of the 88th birthday came to be called rice jutsu.

・Sotsuju 90 years old
Since the abbreviation "卆" for "graduate" looks like ninety, the celebration of 90 years old has come to be called graduation.

・Hakuju 99 years old
Subtracting "one" from "hundred" becomes "white", so the celebration of 99 years old came to be called pakuju.

※Juju means "longevity".

torii

The torii gate has become a symbol of the shrine, which is a kind of gate built at the entrance of the shrine and is said to mark the boundary between the sanctuary of the gods and the human world.
Large shrines usually have two or more torii gates, in which case they are called the first torii, the second torii, and the third torii gate from the outer torii.
There are various theories about the origin of torii, but it is said that when Amaterasu Omikami was hiding in Iwato, he perched a chicken (a long-song bird of the everlasting world) on a perch and chirped, which caused the god to come out of Iwato, or because a chicken served as a guide during the advent of Tenson.
When you pass through the torii gate, bow to each other.

Approach

Sando refers to the path to visit shrines and temples.
The road leading to the main shrine through the mountain gate and torii gate is various, such as mountain roads, cobblestones, and jade gravel.
The middle of the approach is called "Seichū" and is considered to be the path of the gods. Therefore, do not walk in the middle of the approach, but walk on either the left or right end.
The main road with a lot of traffic is called Omotesando, and there are side roads called approaches with place names and directions, and urasando roads, and there are places where this name still remains in the place name.

Hand water

In the past, before visiting a shrine, a "misogi" was performed to cleanse in the river. However, with the passage of time, it became difficult to cleanse the body in the river each time, and it changed to the current form of purifying the hands and mouth in the water shed before worshipping. After passing through the torii gate of the shrine, you will become a sanctuary for the gods from there. Since we are unknowingly exposed to sin and filth in our daily lives, we cleanse our bodies and minds in the water shed before worshipping.

1. Draw fresh water from the ladle with your right hand and purify your left hand.

2. Change the ladle in your left hand and clean your right hand in the same way.

3. Hold the ladle with your right hand again, fill your left palm with water and rinse your mouth.
* Do not put your mouth directly on the ladle.
After rinsing your mouth, cleanse your left hand again.

4. Hold the ladle with both hands and stand the ladle, clean the handle with the remaining water, and then place it face down in its original position.

Goshuin

"Goshuin" is given as proof of visiting a shrine, but it is said that the occurrence is the "receipt of sutras" received when the sutras copied to shrines and temples are dedicated in the Nara and Heian periods.
At that time, there was an influence of Shinto-Buddhist customary thought, and it seems that Buddhist scriptures were also dedicated to shrines.
It is believed that this kind of sutra gradually spread to the general public, and eventually changed to having a certificate written even if you only worship without paying the sutra.
After the Meiji era, when the railway network was established, pilgrimage tours and seal collection became popular. Along with this, books such as guide books and travel journals began to be published, and the name "Goshuin" began to be seen from around Showa 10.

Tamakushi

"Tamashige Honten" (Tamagoshi Honten) is correctly called "Tusukushi served and worshiped". When we enter revised visits, prayers, festivals, etc., we will adore God with "Tusuki" and worship.

"Tamushi" is a thing with papers and cotton (Yu) attached to twigs of evergreens such as Sakaki (Sakaki) and cedars.

It is thought that it has the same meaning as rice, sake, fish etc as a thing to offer to the godhead. However, Tamushi has a special meaning from dedicating and worshiping in the festival. I pray with devotion to give respect to God and receive priesthood.

How to write Tamushi Fugazu

First, take Tamushi with both hands, put on the palm of the left hand, with the base of Tamushi with the right hand.

2. Turn the root of Tamushi skewer toward your body with your right hand and add your left hand to your right hand.

Three, please bring Tamashi to your face, I pray for a few seconds (including your wishes).

4. Hold the direction (leaf part) above Tamushi with the right hand, turn it clockwise and turn the root towards the shrine.

Fifth, reapply the left hand to the right hand, hold the leaves of Tamushi with both hands.

Six, go forward one step before Shin and put down Tamushi with both hands on the plan, then go down one step.

Seven, arrange your feelings, and worship God in the way of "Two bowls applauded baptism".

Points to remember: Do not forget the feeling that "Please give me your wish" to God.

Sakaki

It is believed that gods dwell in evergreen trees full of vitality, and they have been used for rituals since ancient times. It is said that the "sakai tree" that marks the boundary between God and us, and the prosperous "sakaeki" have changed.

Noshi bag

When you receive prayers at the shrine, "熨斗 く (び ぶ く ろ)" is used when you pay the prayer fee.
熨斗 bag is a bag with "熨斗 (noodles)" and "水 引" attached. There are many things printed in advance.

The origin of 熨斗 begins by adding "Abalone Abalone" as a gift. Originally stretched abalone thin and dried, it was a valuable preserved meal at that time, it has been regarded as a food that brings longevity.
Now it is simplified as shown on the right, and yellow paper is used instead of abalone. This 熨斗 can be attached to the envelope when sending cash.

When you receive a shrine at the shrine, I will pay a certain amount of money in this 熨斗 bag. Write in the front page as "Early-bodied fee" or "Tamashiki fee". Write down the name of those who will receive prayers (celebration children in the first place in Shogaku and Shichigosan) under the water drop.

It is now common to wrap money, but in the autumn of the fruitful days he gave thanks to God with gratitude, and provided the gods which were produced at the beginning of the year to God. After having served Inaho (Hatsuho) to the Shrine, I came to express the money I will give to God as "Early Rice Fee". It is also said to be "Tamashigei" because it serves Tamushi (something with a dusk pulled on the twigs of Sakaki) when worshiping in front of the Shinto. In addition, the handwriting called Tamakushi can also be used for spiritual festivals such as memorial service and condolences. Others "Otomo" "Otoshimae" are often used in writing.

Originally, both handwriting and condolences are written with a brushlet in principle. Write a dark black for celebrations and light ink for funerals. Those who are not good at writing brush, are considered rude with fountain pens and ballpoint pens. Please use at least black felt pen.

Even outside the shrine, 熨斗 bag is used to send cash at the time of a festival, but there are types such as a blessing or a no-friday. Usage will change depending on the color and knotting method of water drawing, with or without 熨斗.

Komainu

Guardian dog is written as "Goryeo dog" "sesame dog" and refers to a pair of beast-shaped figures placed in front of the shrine's shrine or approach to the shrine. The original form of a guardian dog is an Orient, a Lion statue in India, which came through China and the Korean Peninsula. In Okinawa Prefecture, a lion called "Shisa" is placed as a devil on the roof of each house, but the stone guardian of a shrine likewise withdraws evil and has the meaning of a god front guardian.

Materials can see many stones, but there are also wood, copper, iron and others, and in general they are paired with both males and females. Also, one side opens the mouth (A), the other one closes the mouth (吽) many. The expression "breath of Aun" is thought to come from here.

Jingu cannabis

When we talk about cannabis at shrines, we mean the shrine tag of Ise Jingu.
"Cannabis" is originally also read as "Onusa" and refers to cotton and linen used for offerings to the gods and exorcisms. Eventually, the pure sacred tags bestowed on the shrine through strict exorcism came to be called "torches."
The sun god "Amaterasu Omikami" enshrined at Ise Jingu is considered the most precious god in Japan.
Jingu cannabis should be displayed in the middle or front of the shrine.

How to enshrine the shrine

The shrine is enshrined near the ceiling of a bright and beautiful room where families and employees gather, facing south or east. * Installed on the north wall facing south, or installed on the west wall facing east.
Try to place it higher than your eyes.
If it is difficult due to the construction of the building, there is no need to be so particular about the direction. It's okay if the place is a place where you can set up a shrine and carefully enshrine the god tag.
It is important to worship God with respect.
The way to place the shrine bill depends on the shape of the shrine shelf.
The shrine with three doors enshrines Jingu cannabis in the center, the shrine tag of Ujigami Shrine on the right, and the shrine tag on the left.
The shrine shelves with only one door are enshrined in the order of Jingu cannabis, Ujigami Shrine shrine tag, and Sokei Shrine from the front.

How to pay old bills

We clean up at the end of the year and prepare to celebrate the new year, but likewise I will also clean the godshelf and I will punish for a new sorcerer. I thank you for the amulet for a year and then paid it to the shrine where I received the bill and then "burn it up" and I will accept a new god Kid. If it is difficult for you to pay the shrine received at a shrine in the distance, you can burn it at a nearby shrine.

Many shrines carry out the Okonomiya and Tonnonaki etc during the period from New Year's Eve to January 15th, and we will do the old god deception and the New Year's decoration fire.

Asakusa Shrine will set up an old bid deal in the precincts at the end of the year (around December 25th) so please pay it there by January 15th.

ema

Ema is offered as a prayer or as a proof of prayer fulfillment. Most of the ema shapes are chevron at the top of the board, on which each wish is written and dedicated.
In Japan, horses have long been regarded as sacred as vehicles of the gods, and there was a custom of dedicating live horses called jinme to shrines during festivals and prayers.
Instead, it is said that the origin of ema was that pictures of horses were drawn on boards and dedicated.
Ema spread to the general public after the Kamakura period. From that time on, in addition to pictures of horses, various animals related to the deity (foxes, snakes, etc.) began to be drawn. As time went on, the designs diversified.

Battering Arrow

Demon arrows are auspicious gifts for amulet, and are often awarded at shrines and temples on New Year's Day.
There are a demon bow that shoots arrows, and a kaburaya with an arrowhead attached to the end of the arrow.
Bows and arrows are weapons, but they are also thought to have the power to exorcise demons.
Arrows are displayed in shrine shelves, alcoves, entrances, living rooms, etc.

Strands

Shimenawa is stretched not only at shrines but also on trees and rocks, and it is said that the place is a sacred place where the gods dwell, the boundary / boundary that separates the sacred area from this world, and has the role of exorcising evil and calamity.
In the middle of the rope, there is a "〆noko" made of straw tufts and a "paper hanging" made by folding paper in a special way.

Mikoshi

The gods are usually seated in the main shrine (shrine hall), but during festivals (festivals), they appear from the main shrine. The vehicle at that time is a mikoshi. Many mikoshi are miniaturized to resemble the main shrine of a shrine, and the center of the roof is decorated with a phoenix or a pseudo-jewel. By transferring the Divine Spirit to the mikoshi and passing each town, you can see the towns to the gods. In addition, it is believed that by swinging the mikoshi up, down, left and right, and deliberately shaking it violently to perform the "soul swing" of the god sitting on the mikoshi, the spiritual power of the god will be enhanced and its power will spread to all corners of the town, and business will prosper, family safety, good harvests and good catches, and the plague will be over.

Asakusa Shrine has three shrine shrines, and at the time of the festival, the spirits of Tsuchishi Manaka Tomomei at Ichinomiya, Hinomiya Hama Seimei at Ninomiya, and Hinomiya Takenarimei at Sannomiya are transferred to each of them, and the town of Asakusa is passed.

congratulatory address

When a festival is held, it is always performed in front of the gods.
At first, the word "congratulatory words" referred to the words of God itself, but later they came to refer to the words spoken to God as congratulatory words.
It is said that the celebration began in the era of the Age of Gods, when Amenokoyane no Mikoto performed in front of the Heavenly Rock Door.

Age God

On the occasion of the New Year, we do a general cleaning and decorate the New Year's decorations, which is a preparation to welcome the "old god".
The original purpose of the New Year is to welcome this old god and wish him safety in the coming year.
The old god is sometimes written as "year god" or "big year god".
In general, it is considered to be the god of grain and agriculture that indicates "rice fruit", but there are also areas where it is welcomed as "ancestral spirit", that is, the spirit of the ancestor.
This old god is also called the "visiting god", and since it comes with the sunrise of the New Year, it is also the reason for the god of the New Year.
We make various preparations to invite this old god into our homes on New Year's Day.

Haniwa

It is mainly unglazed pottery that is laid out on and around the burial mounds. Haniwa is thought to protect or soothe the souls of the dead.
In addition to those in the shape of a person, there are also horse-shaped ones.
A long time ago, when a noble died, there was a custom of martyrdom to bury the people who followed him alive around his grave.
Nomi-shuku, who is famous as the god of sumo, advised the Emperor to replace people made of earth and horses with live people and arrange them around the burial mound, and since then, they have been offered to Niwa Kofun instead of living people.
Nomi-shuku built pottery and pottery to stand in the burial mound and conducted funeral rites, and later received the surname of Doshi.
Our deity, "Doshi Manaka Tomomei", is a descendant of it.