What does a kamidana look like?

The Kamidana is usually shaped as a miniature shrine with a roof and doors. Amulets or talismans can be stored inside. The rope that hangs on top is ornamented with white paper to show the purity of a place occupied by a kami (god) just as you will see in shrines.

What direction should kamidana face?

In most Japanese homes, it is placed on a shelf high on the wall, near the ceiling. It should be the highest shelf in the room. Kamidana should face south or east, and not be in a bathroom.

What is a kamidana used for?

Kamidana literally means “god-shelf” and serves as a place to worship the kami, often translated as “deity.” The small structure is also accompanied by a small figure that appears to go in the structure. This concept of worshiping kami and use of kamidana stem from the indigenous Japanese religion Shinto.

What is a kamidana and where is it found?

kamidana, (Japanese: “god-shelf”), in the Shintō religion of Japan, a miniature shrine, the centre of daily worship in a household or a shop. The kamidana usually consists of a small cupboard or shelf on which are displayed articles of veneration and daily offerings.

What offerings are made to kami?

Many Japanese homes contain a place set aside as a shrine, called a kami-dana (kami shelf), where they may make offerings of flowers or food, and say prayers. The kami-dana is a shelf that contains a tiny replica of the sanctuary of a shrine, and may also include amulets bought to ensure good luck (or absorb bad luck).

How do you display Ofuda?

TALISMAN (Ofuda) consists of a thin strip of wood wrapped in white paper with the name of the Kami written on it. Ofuda is a kind of icon to pray for Kami. It is enshrined in the home altar or posted near the door of the house or office to represent the Kami who is prayed for blessing and well-being.

How do you pray to kamidana?

It is essential to make offering prayers at a kamidana. A fter “kensen” food offering, please face the Kamidana and enshrined diety, give gratitude for the gifts of life and pledge to do your utmost. Then bow twice, clap twice and bow once again.

How do you make an offering to the kami?

You should present your offering as soon as you meet the shrine staff or priest. They will place your offering on the offering table and let Kami-sama know that you made the offering. We see many people present the offering after the gokitoh or service.

What foods are forbidden in Shinto?

Varieties of festival, worship, and prayer Opening of the door of the inner sanctuary (by the chief priest). Presentation of food offerings—rice, sake wine, rice cakes, fish, seaweed, vegetables, salt, water, etc., are offered but animal meat is not, because of the taboo on shedding blood in the sacred area.

How do you please kami?

Reverence toward the kami is kept by regular practice of rites and rituals, purification, prayers, offerings, and dances.

Where do you put the ofuda?

If your altar is confined by a single door, you must place the ofuda in an order that puts the Amaterasu ofuda at the very top, the ancestral ofuda in the middle, and the local or favored shrine ofuda at the very back.

What is written on an ofuda?

In the Sailor Moon Series The kanji written on the ofuda (“Akuryo Taisan”) can be translated as “Evil Spirit, Disperse.” In the re-released English translation of the manga, it is translated as “Evil Spirit, be exorcized”.