Comments

Posts

How to Pray at a Shinto Shrine

Gee, these foreign-looking children don’t seem to be sure of the exact ritual for a prayer/offering at a Shinto shrine. This video shows us the correct procedure:

The correct ritual is as follows:

Put your monetary offering in the box. (The amount of money is not fixed, so give according to your feelings.)
Ring the bell once.
Bow twice.
Clap twice in prayer while thinking about your wish.
Bow once.

The program also mentions that specific wishes are preferable to vague wishes.\

{democracy:48}

10 comments - What do you think? Posted by James - November 11, 2007 at 10:39 am

Categories: General Japan Tags: japan, japanese, prayer, religion, shinto, shrine

The Overthinker

I think this is not so much that foreign children don’t know, but that many Japanese don’t know, both from the clip title in the top right and the brief bit of “Oh are you kidding?” reaction shot. I guess the blond kid was just there for decoration.

http://www.japanprobe.com James

Yeah, it was from a show that went through a variety of traditional Japanese customs and quized a celebrity panel about them. In this case they had to answer what part of the prayer ritual came first, and three of the four celebs got it right, I think. [One guy thought the bell was first]

While it was amusing to use the foreign kids (as any Japanese will tell you, those white kids are so cute), I’d have to say it was a bit strange.

The Overthinker

I’d probably have got it wrong too – with two claps at the end. Actually I’m pretty sure that there are either regional or historical variations in Shinto prayers. And as for ringing the bell – I’ve seen a lot of Japanese who love to get that rope and give the bell the workout of its life.

You manage to find some interesting clips – I watch very little TV here, largely as so much is utter crap and I don’t have the patience to sit through moronic ‘tarento’ discussing questions (Naruhodo za Warudo would be much more interesting if they’d leave out the quizzes).

darg

“Put your monetary offering in the box. (The amount of money is not fixed, so give according to your feelings.)”

I dunno about it not being fixed… you’re supposed to give 5 yen, or 50 yen but I’ve never seen anyone do that. The reason is because you give the money with the holes in it since the word for circle, 円(en), is pronounced the same as the word for fate/destiny/luck, 縁(en). At least I think that’s how it goes…

The Overthinker

Sounds a bit like ex post facto reasoning to me. Aside from the fact that all Japanese coins are circular, the “5 yen” thing is because it sounds like 御縁, with the honorific. Also, “en” in that context means “connections”, between people or things, or in the Buddhist sense, a catalyst. You might be thinking of “un” 運. It is true that putting in five yen is thought of of “engi ga ii” (縁起がいい) where “engi” means “omen” or “auspicious” especially at New Years, but there are many variations even on that. See the discussion at:
http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/question_detail.php?qid=1010346035
15 yen can mean “juu”bun “goen”, 45 yen can mean “shijuu” (constant, ongoing) “goen”, 50 yen can be a multiplication of “en”.

In my personal experience, for your average shrine visit, the most common amount in ten yen.
Miyuki

I do that 5yen/50 yen thing lol

darg

Ahh, yes that’s what I was trying to recall – the 御縁・五円 connection, thanks. Never heard the 15/45 variations. I’ve had more than one person tell me using 5 yen coins is most common though, including a Shinto priest I talked to on a shrine tour.

The Overthinker

My comment about ten yen being common is as I said based on my personal experience, which simply means that it is the amount I have seen Japanese I am with use – they may not be the average, of course. I’ll take a quick look and see what I can find out about that….

Here’s a link to a survey of how much people use at New Years (which would on average be more than they would normally, hence over 30% putting in more than a hundred yen):
http://www.mag2.com/vow/osiete/osaisen.htm
It notes that at New Years the 45-yen combo is very popular.

Here’s a comment about why they throw money in the first place:
“Money is a magnet for uncleanliness, and shrines are a vehicle for cleansing. The action of throwing coins as offerings is the action of throwing away money that is tainted, and being cleansed by the powers of the gods.”
http://www.ringolab.com/note/daiya/archives/004105.html

Okay, most seem to be only talking about New Year, when such things as “en” are especially important. I found another site or two that talked up the 45-yen thing as well. But there do not seem to be reasonably strict rules like with wedding gift money. So I guess whatever works for you is good.

Pingback: Tropiques Japonaises » La lettre et l’ordre : neat, plausible and wrong ?
Pingback: colon cleansers

How to Pray at a Shinto Shrine

Recent Comments

Further Reading

Ceremony held for Japan’s unknown soldiers

Toru Hashimoto clarifies remarks on comfort women

Police raid on Vanity club in Roppongi highlights ridiculous Japanese laws that make dance clubs illegal

Video: Munenori Kawasaki post-game interview

Major South Korean newspaper: Atomic bombings were divine retribution. / “God may feel that retaliation against Japan hasn’t been complete.”

Korean man arrested for stabbing attack in Osaka / “I want to kill Japanese people”

Book Review: Kobe Blue

Report: Urban Sustainability Seminar in Tokyo

Elderly Japanese scammed into overpaying for obscure foreign currency

Is Japan really shifting further away from pacifism?

Categories

Subscribe

Japan Blogs

Korea Blogs

Linkroll

Other Asia Blogs