Description
Japanese Shinto religious good luck charm for good health and speedy recovery from illness and disease. Items such as this are called omamori or ofuda in Japan where they are used to invoke the protection and aid of spiritual forces associated with the Shinto and Buddhist religions. Shinto is the native religion of Japan and an animist system supporting a pantheon of innumerable major and minor gods. Omamori (lit "honorable protector") are typically simple bits of wood, paper or cloth holding a written prayer and/or the name of a patron deity, and made holy through consecration by a priest. Omamori are normally kept safe within special pouches called omamori bukuro which are then carried or worn by the believer. Other types of Omamori include traditional hamaya arrows as well as modern items such as omamori stickers for your car, omamori keychains and even omamori phone straps to hang on your mobile phone! Ofuda are similar to omamori though the former are typically made of wood and are designed for domestic use, being displayed at the entrance to a home or held within special family shrines called kamidana (god shelf). Omamori and ofuda are commonly replaced at the start of each year as the power of these charms is thought to be only temporary and subject to diminish over time. Below is a list of the most popular types of Japanese omamori (click link to see available listings):
About the Listed Item
Brand new Shinto omamori designed to provide spiritual aid in maintaining good health and to speed recovery from illness and disease. This particular type of omamori is called hamaya in Japanese which translates as "demon-breaking arrow". Hamaya arrows are commonly purchased at new year by visitors to Shinto shrines who use the arrows to ward away evil forces and bring good fortune into their life. This small (please see size information below) hamaya is sized for tabletop display and is mounted on a special wooden plaque and stand. Japanese writing on the plaque and arrow read Shizuoka-ken Gokoku jinja kanai hamaya omamori which translates as "Shizuoka prefecture Gokoku shrine good health protector arrow". This particular talisman comes from Shizuoka-ken Gokoku Shinto shrine (jinja) located in Shizuoka city, Japan near Mt. Fuji. This particular shrine is the official shrine of Shizuoka prefecture. Please click here to see more religious charms, amulets and talismans!
Size:
Height (including wooden base): 6.6 inches (17.0 centimeters)
Width of wooden base: 1.6 inches (4.0 centimeters)
Weight: 1.0 ounces (29 grams)
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More about the Shinto religion
Shinto is one of the two major religions of Japan (the other is Buddhism). Shinto is often considered to be the native religion of Japan, and is as old as Japan itself. The name Shinto means "the way of the gods." Shinto is a pantheistic religion, in which many thousands of major and minor gods are thought to exist. The Japanese have built thousands of shrines throughout the country to honor and worship these gods. Some shrines are huge and are devoted to important deities while other shrines are small and may be easily missed when strolling along roads in the countryside.
Shinto gods are called kami. Kami are thought to have influence on human affairs, and for this reason many Japanese make regular pilgrimage to community shrines in order to offer prayers to local kami. The act of prayer involves approaching the shrine structure, passing through the gate-like torii, cleansing the hands and mouth with water and possibly ascending stairs to the main entrance of the shrine. Usually without entering the shrine the worshipper will throw some coins into a stone or wooden collection box and then rattle the suzu bell which is at the top of a long hemp rope. The worshiper grabs hold of the rope and shakes it back and forth causing the copper bell at the top to rattle. This is thought to get the attention of the shrine god. The worshipper then bows twice, claps his or her hands twice and then bows again. In addition, the worshipper may clasp their hands together in silent prayer. Shintoism and Buddhism have managed to find a comfortable coexistence in Japan. Evidence of this harmonious relationship is found in the fact that that most Japanese are married in a Shinto shrine, but buried by a Buddhist priest.
product code: INV-0000074_05 REL-0000353
category code: (sacred_object)
ship code: L1650
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