Kamidana

Short description: Shinto altar

A kamidana displaying a shimenawa and shide

Script error: The function "nihongo3" does not exist. are miniature household altars provided to enshrine a Shinto kami. They are most commonly found in Japan, the home of kami worship.[1]

The kamidana 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 shintai, an object meant to house a chosen kami, thus giving it a physical form to allow worship. Kamidana shintai[lower-alpha 1] are most commonly small circular mirrors, though they can also be magatama jewels, or some other object with largely symbolic value. The kami within the shintai is often the deity of the local shrine or one particular to the house owner's profession. A part of the kami (bunrei) was obtained specifically for that purpose from a shrine through a process called kanjō.[2]

Worship at the kamidana typically consists of the offering of simple prayers, food (e.g., rice, fruit, water) and flowers.[2] Before worshipping at the kamidana, it is ritually important for family members to cleanse their hands or mouth.

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

## Contents

* 1 Acquisition and care
* 2 Examples
* 3 See also
* 4 Notes
* 5 References
* 6 Bibliography

## Acquisition and care

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

1. First, a kamidana cannot be set up on the ground or at eye level. It must be above an ordinary person's eye level.
2. Second, a kamidana cannot be set up over an entrance; it must be built into a space which people will not walk under.
3. Finally, when an ofuda is enshrined in a kamidana, after removing the pouch it is customary to leave an offering of water, liquor, or food in front of the kamidana, which should be renewed regularly.[2] Water, for example, is stored in a small, droplet-shaped vessel called a mizutama.[3][4]

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

Ofuda are replaced before the end of each year.[2] However, kamidana can be kept in one's house until they are no longer usable.

## Examples

* A personal kamidana

* A larger household kamidana

* A decorative kamidana

* A kamidana celebrating the naming of a baby

* Kamidana with Jingu Taima

## See also

* Butsudan – analogous concept in Japanese Buddhism
* Etiquette in Japan
* Kamiza
* Ofuda
* Spirit house
* Script error: The function "nihongo3" does not exist. \- also called otamaya, mitamaya, or soreisha
* Tokonoma

## Notes

1. ↑ Shinto shrines also enshrine a shintai, which can however be of a kind not normally used for kamidana, for example a sword, a statue or a spur.

## References

1. ↑ Basic Terms of Shinto, Kokugakuin University, Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, Tokyo 1985
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Bocking, Brian (1997). A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. Lincolnwood, Illinois: NTC Publishing. ISBN 9780844204253. OCLC 36977290.
3. ↑ Artstor. "Artstor" (in en). https://library.artstor.org/#/asset/SS36617_36617_32702751;prevRouteTS=1543259656534.
4. ↑ "altar" (in en-GB). https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3800341&partId=1&images=true.

## Bibliography

* Ono, Sokyo, Shinto: The Kami Way, Charles E. Tuttle Company, ISBN 4-8053-0189-9

* v
* t
* e

Shinto shrines

Shinto architecture

| Buildings|

* chōzuya or temizuya
* haiden
* heiden
* hokora
* honden / shinden / shōden
* kagura-den
* massha
* sessha

|

Architectonic elements|

* Chinjusha
* chigi
* hidden roof
* kaerumata: see nakazonae
* kairō
* karahafu
* karamon
* katōmado
* katsuogi
* ken
* kentozuka: see nakazonae
* kitsune (fox)
* komainu
* mon
* nakazonae
* sandō
* shinboku
* shōrō
* sōrin
* tamagaki
* tokyō
* torii
* tōrō

Styles|

* hirairi-zukuri
* tsumairi-zukuri
* hachiman-zukuri
* hiyoshi-zukuri
* irimoya-zukuri
* ishi-no-ma-zukuri
* kasuga-zukuri
* kibitsu-zukuri
* misedana-zukuri
* nagare-zukuri
* ōtori-zukuri
* owari-zukuri
* ryōnagare-zukuri
* shinmei-zukuri
* sumiyoshi-zukuri
* taisha-zukuri

Others

| Implements|

* An
* Azusa Yumi
* Chihaya
* Chōzubachi
* Chōzuya
* Ema plaque
* Engimono
* Gohei
* Haiden
* Hama Yumi
* Hakama
* Hana
* Heiji
* Himorogi
* Hokora
* Jōe
* Kadomatsu
* Kagome crest
* Kagura suzu
* Kairō
* Kamidana
* Komainu
* Kunkō
* Kusanagi
* Magatama
* Mikoshi
* Mizutama
* Ō-fuda
* O-kome
* Ō-mamori
* O-miki
* Ō-mikuji
* Ō-nenju
* Ō-nusa
* O-shio
* Ozen
* Saisen
* Sakaki branch
* Sanbo
* Sandō
* Setsumatsusha
* Shaku
* Shide
* Shimenawa
* Shinboku
* Shintai
* Shinzo
* Shuin
* Somin Shorai
* Suzu
* Takarabune
* Tamagaki
* Tamagushi
* Tamaya
* Tomoe
* Tōrō
* Washi
* Yasakani no Magatama
* Yata no Kagami
* Yorishiro

|

Main kami|

* Aizen Myō'ō
* Ajisukitakahikone
* Amanozako
* Amaterasu
* Ame-no-Tajikarao
* Ame-no-Uzume
* Amatsumikaboshi
* Azumi-no-isora
* Benzaiten
* Bishamon
* Daikokuten
* Dōsojin
* Ebisu
* Enma-O
* Fūjin
* Fukurokuju
* Futsunushi
* Hachiman
* Hachimantarō
* Hakudo Maru
* Hoderi
* Hoori
* Hotei
* Inari Ōkami
* Izanagi
* Izanami
* Jurōjin
* Kagu-tsuchi
* Kaguya-hime
* Kisshōten
* Konohanasakuya-hime
* Kōjin
* Kompira
* Konjin
* Kuebiko
* Kukurihime
* Kunado-No-Kami
* Kushinadahime
* Myōjin
* Myōken
* Nakisawame
* Ninigi-no-Mikoto
* Ōkuninushi
* Omoikane
* Ōyamatsumi
* Raijin
* Ryūjin
* Sarutahiko Ōkami
* Shinatsuhiko
* Shinigami
* Suijin
* Susanoo
* Sumiyoshi sanjin
* Ta-no-Kami
* Tamayori-hime
* Takemikazuchi
* Taira no Masakado
* Tenjin
* Toshigami
* Toyotama-hime
* Toyouke-Ōmikami
* Tsukuyomi
* Ugajin
* Ugayafukiaezu
* Uke Mochi
* Watatsumi
* Yama
* Yama-no-Kami

Staff|

* Kannushi
* Miko

Head shrines1|

* Fushimi Inari Taisha
* Usa Hachiman-gū
* Ise Grand Shrine
* Dazaifu Tenman-gū
* Munakata Taisha
* Suwa Taisha
* Hiyoshi Taisha
* Kumano Nachi Taisha
* Tsushima Shrine
* Yasaka Shrine

Miscellaneous|

* A-un
* Glossary of Shinto
* Bunrei
* Futomani
* Harae
* Kagura
* Kanjō
* Kodoku
* Kōshin
* Ko-Shintō
* Kotodama
* Kanjo Nawa
* Junrei
* Meoto Iwa
* Misaki
* Misogi
* Mitama
* Miyamairi
* Norito
* Onmyōdō
* Reikon
* Somin Shorai
* Yakudoshi
* Shinto shrine
* jingū-ji
* Jinja Honchō
* miyadera

1 (in order of the size of the shrine network they head)

* v
* t
* e

Elements of Japanese architecture

Styles|

* Buddhist
* Buke
* Daibutsuyō
* Gassho
* Giyōfū
* Hachiman
* Hirairi
* Hiyoshi (Hie)
* Imperial Crown style (Teikanyōshiki)
* Irimoya
* Ishi-no-ma
* Jutaku
* Kasuga
* Kibitsu
* Nagare
* Ōbaku Zen
* Setchūyō
* Shinden
* Shinmei
* Shinto
* Shoin
* Sukiya
* Sumiyoshi
* Taisha
* Wayō
* Zenshūyō

Model of Himeji Castle

Types of building|

* Butsuden
* Castle
* Chashitsu
* Dō
* Haiden
* Heiden
* Hokora
* Hōkyōintō
* Kura
* Kyōzō
* Machiya
* Main Hall
* Minka
* Setsumatsusha
* Shōrō
* Tahōtō
* Japanese pagoda
* Yagura

Roof styles|

* Hidden
* Irimoya
* Karahafu

Structural and spatial|

* Burdock piling
* Chigi
* Disordered piling
* Engawa
* Hisashi
* Irimoya-zukuri
* Irori
* Katōmado
* Katsuogi
* Kuruwa
* Mokoshi
* Moya
* Nakazonae
* Namako wall
* Nightingale floor
* Onigawara
* Ranma
* Sōrin
* Tamagaki
* Tatami
* Tenshu
* Tokonoma
* Tokyō
* Tsumairi
* Shibi

* Gates
* Approaches

* Genkan
* Kairō
* Karamon
* Mon
* Nijūmon
* Niōmon
* Rōmon
* Sandō
* Sanmon
* Sōmon
* Torii (Mihashira)

Rooms|

* Chashitsu
* Daidokoro
* Mizuya
* Shoin
* Toilets
* Washitsu

Furnishings|

* Butsudan
* Chabudai
* Emakimono
* Furo
* Futon
* Getabako
* Kaidan dansu
* Kamado
* Kamidana
* Kotatsu
* Tamaya
* Tansu
* Zabuton
* Zafu

Partitions|

* Byōbu
* Fusuma
* Jinmaku
* Kichō
* Misu
* Noren
* Shitomi
* Shōji (washi)
* Sudare
* Tsuitate

Outdoor objects|

* Chōzuya (Temizuya)
* Giboshi
* Ishigantō
* Komainu
* Tōrō

Measurements|

* Ken
* Koku
* Ri
* Shaku
* Sun

Organizations|

* Architectural Institute of Japan
* Japan Institute of Architects
* Metabolist Movement

Related topics|

* Groups of Traditional Buildings
* Iki
* Japanese garden (rock (Zen))
* Ryokan
* Sentō
* Wabi-sabi
* Yabo

National Treasures|

* Castles
* Residences
* Shrines
* Temples
* Other structures

0.00

(0 votes)

Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamidana. Read more

|

Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Religion:Kamidana&oldid=4011534"
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template