Description
Antique Japanese religious good luck charm housed in a leather travel pouch. The omamori is made of paper and the pouch includes a short string with a blue-colored bead. The pouch and omamori are in poor to fair condition and date from the early to mid Japanese Showa period.
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. 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.
Koutsu Anzen - Protection for drivers and travelers of all sorts.
Gakugyojoju - Aid for students and academics.
Enmusubi - Available for singles and couples to ensure love and marriage.
Anzan - Protection for pregnant women during term and to ensure safe and easy delivery.
Kanai Anzen - Ensure general good health or to help those with illness.
Shobaihanjo - Success in business and matters of money.
Size of pouch:
Height: 2.3 inches (6.0 centimeters)
Width: 1.6 inches (4.0 centimeters)
Weight: 0.4 ounces (11 grams)
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: R1S4-0003367
category code: (sacred_object)
ship code: L1650
Posted in Uncategorized
