Japanese Shinto Charm - Tokugawa Kanai Anzen Omamori

Description

Japanese religious charm for health and wellness.  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 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.  Omamori have kept up with the times in Japan where it is today possible to get 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):

• Shiawasemamori - Designed to bring happiness into the life of the owner.
• Kanai Anzen - Ensure general good health and help those with illness.
• Koutsu Anzen - Protection for drivers and travelers of all sorts.
• Enmusubi - Available for singles and couples to ensure love and marriage.
• Anzan - Protection for pregnant women during term and to ensure a safe and easy delivery.
• Gakugyojoju - Aid for students and scholars.
• Shobaihanjo - Success in business and matters of money.
• Yakuyoke - Protection during bad luck years.
• General purpose omamori - Suitable for every situation including any of the above.
  View all available omamori!

About the Listed Item

Brand new Japanese omamori designed to ensure good health and to speed recovery from illness and disease.  This particular talisman is contained within a purple-colored fabric omamori bukuro pouch embroidered with a detailed leaf and vine pattern, and includes a braided fabric cord.  The omamori comes from Kunouzan Toushougu Shinto shrine located atop Japan's rugged Mt. Kuno, overlooking the Pacific ocean and beautiful Suruga Bay.  This shrine is dedicated to the deified spirit of Tokugawa Ieyasu who unified Japan in 1600 and founded the Tokugawa Shogunate which ruled Japan during the long and peaceful Edo period (1600-1868).  Only 15 days before his death in 1616 Tokugawa Ieyasu instructed that his cremated remains should be placed atop Mt. Kuno (close to where he was born) for one year, after which point they were to be moved to a specially built shrine at Nikko in Tochigi prefecture.  The omamori offered here comes from the shrine atop Mt. Kuno where the Shogun's remains were kept during that one year period after his death.  The shrine is approached via an impressive stone staircase leading up from the shore of the bay or via a ropeway tram crossing a deep gorge.  Kunouzan Toushougu shrine is richly decorated and features many impressive example of the famous Tokugawa family crest (kamon in Japanese).  Please click here to see more religious charms, amulets and talismans!

Size:
Height (excluding cord): 3.1 inches (8.0 centimeters)
Width: 1.8 inches (4.5 centimeters)
Weight: 0.2 ounces (6 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 (jinja) 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.

item code: INV-0000072_07
category code: (sacred_object)
ship code: ENV