, , or are wooden
wand
A wand is a thin, light-weight rod that is held with one hand, and is traditionally made of wood, but may also be made of other materials, such as metal or plastic.
Long versions of wands are often styled in forms of staves or sceptres, which ...
s, decorated with two (zigzagging paper streamers) used in
Shinto
Shinto () is a religion from Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners ''Shintois ...
rituals.
The streamers are usually white, although they can also be gold, silver, or a mixture of several colors, and are often attached as decorations to straw ropes () used to mark sacred precincts.
The
shrine priest or attendants () use the to bless or sanctify a person or object in various Shinto rituals. The is used for some ceremonies, but its usual purpose is to cleanse a sacred place in temples and to cleanse, bless, or exorcise any object that is thought to have negative energy. In addition to its use in
purification rituals, it may be included in an (wooden wand with many ), and serve as the object of veneration () in a
Shinto shrine.
See also
*
Flail
A flail is an agriculture, agricultural tool used for threshing, the process of separating cereal, grains from their husks.
It is usually made from two or more large sticks attached by a short chain; one stick is held and swung, causing the othe ...
*
Glossary of Shinto
This is the glossary of Shinto, including major terms on the subject. Words followed by an asterisk (*) are illustrated by an image in one of the photo galleries.
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A
* – A red papier-mâché cow bobblehead toy; a kind of ''engimo ...
for an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Shinto, Shinto art, and Shinto shrine architecture.
* , wooden wands used in
Ainu rituals
*
*
Ruyi (scepter)
Ruyi () is a Chinese curved decorative object that serves as either a ceremonial scepter in Chinese Buddhism or a talisman symbolizing power and good fortune in Chinese folklore. The "ruyi" image frequently appears as a motif in Asian art.
A ...
*
*
*
*
References
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Shinto in Japan
Exorcism in Shinto
Shinto religious objects
Wands
Ritual weapons
Honorary weapons
Ceremonial weapons
{{Shinto-stub