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Gehōbako
A is a box that contains many magical items traditionally used by miko, and '' Itako''. It means , in reference to practices outside of Buddhist teachings. It is a box which contains secret items representative of a protective spirit, or ''kami''. It has been described as "parallel othe siberian shaman's drum as a source of power They have been described as representing a pre-Buddhist shamanism. It is often used for healing people. It is believed at some point in premodern times most miko had human skulls in their ''gehōbako'' from people who promised their skulls to them, but this practice declined over time Dolls for '' Kuebiko'' and ''Kangiten Kangiten or Kankiten (, "god of bliss"; Sanskrit (IAST): ), also known as Binayaka (毘那夜迦; Skt. ), Ganabachi (誐那鉢底, alternatively Ganahachi or Ganahattei; Skt. ), or more commonly, Shōten or Shōden (聖天, lit. "sacred god" or ...'' were often found in them in the 1960s. ''Gehōbako'' were common among wander ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wandering Miko
Wandering Miko are a historical variety of miko, or Shinto priestesses, from Japan. Wandering miko are characterised by their lack of allegiance to any particular shrine or temple, instead performing their religious duties in various locations over time. ''Gehōbako'' were a common tool among wandering miko.{{rp, 85 Overview While not belonging to specific Shinto shrines, wandering Miko made their living by traveling around the country praying, ordaining, and advocating. Similarly, some wandering miko also worked as itinerant poets and prostitutes. For this reason, they could also be called ''shirayumoji'' (白湯文字, an ordinary woman who secretly engages in sex work), or ''tabi-jo-rо̄'' (旅女郎, a prostitute who travels alone on foot to meet various clients). Other terms included ''azusa miko (''a priestess who performed rites by playing a bowstring) or ''kumano higauni'' (a priestess who spread the Kumano faith throughout Japan). Other varieties of wandering miko inc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Miko
A , or shrine maiden,Groemer, 28. is a young priestess who works at a Shinto shrine. were once likely seen as Shamanism, shamans,Picken, 140. but are understood in modern Japanese culture to be an institutionalized role in daily life, trained to perform tasks ranging from sacred cleansing to performing the sacred dance. Appearance The Miko clothing, traditional attire of a is a pair of red (divided, pleated trousers), a white (a predecessor of the kimono), and some white or red hair ribbons. In Shinto, the color white symbolizes purity. The garment put over the during dances is called a . Traditional tools include the , the (offertory -tree branches), and the . also use bells, drums, candles, , and bowls of rice in ceremonies. Definition The Japanese words and ("female shaman" and "shrine maiden" respectively)Kokugo Dai Jiten Dictionary, Revised edition, Shogakukan, 1988. are usually written as a compound of the kanji ("shaman"), and ("woman"). was arch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Itako
, also known as or , are blind women who train to become spiritual mediums in Japan. Training involves severe ascetic practices, after which the woman is said to be able to communicate with Japanese Shinto spirits, ''kami'', and the spirits of the dead. ''Itako'' perform rituals tied to communication with the dead and divination. The practice has been on the decline. As of 2009, there were only 20 living ''itako'' in Japan, all more than 40 years old. Training for ''itako'' traditionally began at a very young age, and included ritualized exposure to cold water. Hundreds of buckets of ice water could be poured on their bodies over the course of a few days. This education for ''itako'' takes about three years, and also includes memorization of songs and sutras. At the end of this training, a ceremony is held, announcing the marriage of the ''itako'' and her patron spirit. Scholars suggest that blindness has long been associated with spiritual powers in Japan. Furthermore, option ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kami
are the Deity, deities, Divinity, divinities, Spirit (supernatural entity), spirits, mythological, spiritual, or natural phenomena that are venerated in the traditional Shinto religion of Japan. ''Kami'' can be elements of the landscape, forces of nature, beings and the qualities that these beings express, and/or the spirits of venerated dead people. Many ''kami'' are considered the ancient ancestors of entire Japanese clans, clans (some ancestors became ''kami'' upon their death if they were able to embody the values and virtues of ''kami'' in life). Traditionally, great leaders like the Emperor of Japan, Emperor could be or became ''kami''. In Shinto, ''kami'' are not separate from nature, but are of nature, possessing positive and negative, and good and evil characteristics. They are manifestations of , the interconnecting energy of the universe, and are considered exemplary of what humanity should strive towards. ''Kami'' are believed to be "hidden" from this world, and in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Human Skulls
The skull, or cranium, is typically a bony enclosure around the brain of a vertebrate. In some fish, and amphibians, the skull is of cartilage. The skull is at the head end of the vertebrate. In the human, the skull comprises two prominent parts: the neurocranium and the facial skeleton, which evolved from the first pharyngeal arch. The skull forms the frontmost portion of the axial skeleton and is a product of cephalization and vesicular enlargement of the brain, with several special senses structures such as the eyes, ears, nose, tongue and, in fish, specialized tactile organs such as barbels near the mouth. The skull is composed of three types of bone: cranial bones, facial bones and ossicles, which is made up of a number of fused flat and irregular bones. The cranial bones are joined at firm fibrous junctions called sutures and contains many foramina, fossae, processes, and sinuses. In zoology, the openings in the skull are called fenestrae, the most prominent of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Katashiro
A is a kind of where a kami is said to enter which has a human form. In Shinto rituals and folk customs, dolls are used as human substitutes to transfer sins and impurities during exorcisms. They are usually made of paper or thin boards. After the exorcism, they are thrown into the river or sea, or burned. During Hinamatsuri in March, people use these dolls as to stroke the parts of their bodies that are not in good shape, and then cast them into the river or sea to pray for the growth of their children. History Katashiro is said to have existed since Ancient times, and has been found in Dogu from the Jōmon period, human-faced earthenware from the Yayoi period, and human haniwa from the Kofun period. Since they were to be flushed with water, plants and trees were used as materials. In Japan, from ancient times to the present, an event called "Oharai", which is described in Kojiki and Enki-Shiki, has been held at Shinto shrines all over Japan. In this event, people blow o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
