Shinto Shrines are places of worship that house the Shinto gods called kami. The shrine is similar to a safe haven where the kami are protected. These shrines are visited by people when they wish to pray for fortunes for their future or when they want to pay their respects to the Shinto gods. People also visit these shrines on special occasions and sometimes have ceremonies there.
Architectural Design:
Today, only a few shrines are considered to be built in a completely Japanese style. The Shinto Shrine’s general structure is in Buddhist origin. Nagere-zukuri and Tisha-zurkuri are two styles the foundation of the shrines is made in. There are various structures to the Shinto Shrine and each part has a different purpose. The honden is the kami sanctuary. The heiden is the part where prayers and offers are presented. The main hall, honden, and the offering hall, heiden, are sometimes combined or separated in two buildings depending on the structure of the shrine. The torii is the entrance to the shrine. Most of these entrances are made of wood and usually painted orange and black. Komainu are guardian dogs that are placed at the entrance of the shrine. The purification trough is a fountain found near the entrance. The water in this fountain is used for purification.
Harmony with Nature:
“The Japanese have always felt in awe of nature, offering prayers to divinities and expressing gratitude through festivals at shrines.” Japanese culture has always valued nature; therefore, these Shinto Shrines display a great amount of nature. In Japan from about 500 BC to 300 AD, the Japanese felt the presence of spirits in nature. The Japanese believed that parts of nature and sometimes animals were thought to be charged with spiritual power. Village council sessions were in quiet spots in the forest, mountains, and other nature areas.
Symbolism and Sacred Objects:
The Shinto Shrine symbolizes Japanese culture and Buddhist religious and spiritual beliefs. Most sacred objects of worship to the Shinto gods are placed in the innermost chamber. These objects are not visible to anybody. People visiting the shrine leave wooden plates there which they write their desires on. This sacred wooden plate is known as Ema. Omikuji, found at several shrines, are slips of paper that tell various fortunes and predictions. When the paper slip is tied around a tree branch, it symbolizes good fortune. A big tree, yorishiro, can be found in many shrines, with a shimenawa, a sacred rope, around it. The Yorishiro is now an object of worship. The shimenawa symbolizes the boundary to something sacred.
How the shrine is used by Worshippers:
When shrine visitors first come for worship to the shrine, they must go to the chozuya and wash their hands and mouth. The visitor then goes under a gateway, which is the sacred space where spirituality is found. The visitor bows at the entrance (torii) to show his or her respects to the kami. As mentioned above, a visitor of the shrine can tie the Omikuji around a tree in hopes of good fortune. This tree, yorishiro, is also a place of worship. The shrines are also used by worshippers as places to hold ceremonies and celebrate special occasions.
Sources:
"Google Images." Shinto Shrine. Google, 2009. Web.
Nakano, Hiroko. "Quintessential Kyoto — The Shinto Shrine." International Edition (2004): n. pag. Web. 15 Nov 2009.
"Shinto Shrine." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Web.
"Shinto Shrines." Japan Guide. 1996. Japan-Guide, Web. 15 Nov 2009.
No comments:
Post a Comment