Kamidana

A kamidana (神棚), literally “rack of the kami ”, is a kind of miniature sanctuary Shintô , posed or fixed on the wall in certain Japanese houses . The kamidana contains various objects related to the ceremonies shintoïstes. The worship in front of the kamidana consists in saying Prière S, to make Offrande S of food (for example of rice, of water…) and of flowers. Before that, it is ritually important to purify by washing the hands.

History of the kamidana

The kamidana is intended to shelter the O-fuda , symbol annual of the kami . According to the tradition shintoïste, the kamidana inserts the kami the house, the company or the Dojo , and makes it possible to daily thank them for their benefits.

Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun, is honoured with the Temple with Ise. She accepted divine treasures of her Izanami father, of which some are preserved in temples. The kamidana is very related to the Temple of Ise, where Amaterasu but also Toyouke No Okami is honoured (in the temple of Toyouke-Daijingu or Geku), the god who brings food and what is necessary to the life. The pilgrimage towards the temple of Ise is called o-Ise-mairi and makes it possible to thank these gods for their benefits.

During the era Edo, fraternal groups of pilgrimage, called Ise-Kou , was formed a little everywhere in Japan. At the time of a pilgrimage, the pilgrims bring back a named amulet on their premises will oharai Taima ; those are also distributed through Japan by the ise-kou . To shelter these amulets, one manufactured miniature sanctuaries in the houses, which one called daijingu-dana : this practice is at the origin of the current kamidana .

Installation of the kamidana

For setting up a kamidana , it is initially necessary to purify the site and to clean the house. The site of the kamidana must be luminous, calm and high. It is necessary also that it is a place where the family gathers, and where one can easily make prayers and offerings of food daily. The kamidana must be placed against the northern or western wall, so that its doors open towards the south or the east. If there is a part above the kamidana , it is to better place in this part a bearing paper registers the word “kumo” (cloud), so that the people on the floor do not walk above the kamidana .

The kamidana must be placed just above the addendum. It must be there a vase special containing of the branches with persistent foliage ( sakati touches ). A cord of straw ( shimenawa ) carrying pieces of paper ( shide ) must be above the kamidana .

O-fuda

The kamidana must contain a O-fuda which symbolizes the kami . The o-fuda are various types, according to the temples which provide them. Each year, the o-fuda must be brought back to the temple and exchanged against new.

Offerings of food

The offerings of food to the kami are called shinsen . It is generally about rice ( kome ), of alcohol of rice ( sake or o-miki ), of water ( omizu ) and of salt ( oshio ). Food must be changed daily; it is allowed to eat it after having withdrawn it ( naorae ). The shinsen must be been useful in special dishes, which can be bought in the temples.

To request in front of the kamidana

For the offering of food, it is necessary to be placed vis-a-vis the kamidana , to thank for the benefits for the life and to swear to better do of sound. It is then necessary to be inclined twice, strike in its hands twice, and to be inclined once again.

External bonds

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Manufacturer of '' kamidana ''
Habits related to the '' kamidana ''
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