It's already December 29th, so 2016 is going
to end soon! In Japanese traditional custom, we have cleansing rituals at the
end of a half year and a whole year as I introduced in my previous post inJune. We can see special events/items for this custom at some of the Japanese
Shinto shrines.
The photos are taken at Koyasu Shrine in
Hachioji city, Tokyo (4-10-3, Myojin-cho, Hachioji City). It is one of the oldest
local shrines in the area and apparently the shrine was originally build in the
8 century. Many local people love this shrine because it’s believed as a shrine
that gives blessings for matchmaking, having babies, and safe births.
Now you can try annual "Cleanse
Ceremony for The Year" at the shrine. A big circle made by a thick straw
rope was placed in front of the shrine building and this circle is a special
item to cleanse people's body and soul. When you walk through the circle three
times making an "8" shape tilted 90 degree as you can see in the
lower center photo, your body and soul would get cleaned.
It is said that the origin of the ritual
came from a legendary episode. Long ago, when one of Japanese gods was traveling he
asked one night stay at a poor man’s house. The man gave the god warm
hospitality, then the god told him that he can escape from the disaster of
diseases when he carries a ring made of one kind of grass. Later, he could
survive from an epidemic by following the teaching. In ancient time people
carried a small ring of the grass to get rid of diseases, but later it changed
to the aforesaid ritual going through a big circle.
How about trying this ritual and cleansing
your body and soul to prepare for coming New Year?
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