Kamidana

are miniature household altars provided to enshrine a Shinto . They are most commonly found in Japan, the home of worship.

The is typically placed high on a wall and contains a wide variety of items related to Shinto-style ceremonies, the most prominent of which is the , an object meant to house a chosen , thus giving it a physical form to allow worship. are most commonly small circular mirrors, though they can also be jewels, or some other object with largely symbolic value. The within the is often the deity of the local shrine or one particular to the house owner's profession. A part of the () was obtained specifically for that purpose from a shrine through a process called .

Worship at the typically consists of the offering of simple prayers, food (e.g., rice, fruit, water) and flowers. Before worshiping at the it is ritually important for family members to cleanse their hands or mouth.

can also be found in some traditional Japanese martial arts dojos.

Acquisition and care

A household is typically set up in one's home to enshrine an , a type of charm. Both and can be obtained at any large Shinto shrine. by themselves can be displayed on a counter or anywhere visible, provided that they are kept in their protective pouches. However, when an is enshrined in a there are several rules which must be followed to ensure proper installation.

# First, a cannot be set up on the ground or at eye level. It must be above an ordinary person's eye level.
# Second, a cannot be set up over an entrance; it must be built into a space which people will not walk under.
# Finally, when an is enshrined in a , after removing the pouch it is customary to leave an offering of water, liquor, or food in front of the , which should be renewed regularly. Water, for example, is stored in a small, droplet-shaped vessel called a .

These rules apply both to one's household and to martial arts dojos.

are replaced before the end of each year. However, can be kept in one's house until they are no longer usable.

Examples

File:Kamidana2.jpg, alt=A small pinewood shrine, featuring a plain gate decorated with streamers, a small mirror in front of a cup, and a blue daruma doll., A personal .
File:Kamidana with kagamimochi offering by shig2006 in Hitachinaka.jpg, alt=A large, darkwood altar, featuring paper and wooden sticks with kanji tied together with cord, behind two stacked rice cakes with a satsuma balanced on top., A larger household .
File:Toei Uzumasa-0347.jpg, alt=A large, decorative alcove shrine, with red paper lanterns decorated with black text strung across the top, a miniature torii gate in front and two red daruma dolls at either side., A decorative .
File:Name-the-baby&household-Shinto-altar,japan.JPG, alt=A wooden household shrine featuring two lanterns made of wood, and a piece of paper announcing the name of a baby., A celebrating the naming of a baby.

See also

* – analogous concept in Japanese Buddhism
* Etiquette in Japan
*
*
* Spirit house
* - also called , , or
*

Notes

References

Bibliography

* Ono, Sokyo, ''Shinto: The Kami Way'', Charles E. Tuttle Company,

{{Japanese architectural elements

Altars
Japanese architectural features
Japanese home
Shinto in Japan
Shinto religious objects
Japanese words and phrases