Your way with words is an absolute delight to read every time, and I find myself seeing the scenes you describe in my head when reading!
I especially loved the image of a stern man being alarmed by a frog! I think sometimes folks from the west are so used to priests being these serious-separated individuals that they forget they're just like us.
I was very lucky to get to experience Nagoshi no Ōharae at several shrines in Kyoto when I was living there. One was Kitano Tenmangū, where on a rainy day we all gathered and chanted the Ōharae alongside the priests. And later were lead through the Chi no Wa in groups by one of the many priests there. And the other was that evening at Kamigamo Shrine, seeing the katashiro float down the river lit by torches while the Ōharae was echoing over speakers was a very mystical sight.
I had a vague understanding of the story behind the Chi no Wa but not the exact details of the meanings of it, so I appreciated hearing your interpretation of the story and learning more about what it means!
Thanks again! I look forward to reading your next article.
Thank you so much for reading! I really do enjoy reading the comments here — it’s always such a pleasure. What you said about how people in the West often see priests as solemn and distant is something I’ve also heard from a French friend of mine. She asked me so many questions like, “Why did you choose to become a priest at such a young age? Didn’t you dislike the idea of entering such a strict world with so many limitations?”
So I told her, “Shinto priests in Japan aren’t really different from ordinary people. We’re just specialists when it comes to conducting rituals.”
I see that when you lived in Kyoto, you were able to experience Nagoshi no Ōharae at several shrines — how wonderful! Actually, the shrine where that little adventure with the slimy creatures took place was Yoshida Shrine, right next to Kyoto University. The training I received at that shrine was really important and has formed the foundation of my life as a priest, so you might see it come up again in future posts.
And the river where you saw the katashiro floated at Kamigamo Shrine — I’ve actually done misogi (purification by water) there myself. I think I’ll share that story in a future post, so please look forward to it!
Thank you so much for this post. I have been intrigued by Nagoshi no Oharae and so I really appreciate you explaining more about it. I am curious as to whether someone not living in Japan could replicate any part of this ceremony? For example, could you create your own katashiro to burn, or is this something that can only be done by a shrine? I wish I could visit Japan at this time but unfortunately it won't be possible this year. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge, as always I am very grateful.
Thank you for your comment! Among the elements of the Nagoshi no Ōharae ritual, both using katashiro (paper substitutes) and reciting the Ōharaeーshi (Great Purification Prayer) can be done no matter where you are. The purification with katashiro is a form of self-purification — you can make your own katashiro, transfer your impurities to it, and burn it as a way to perform the ritual yourself.
Also, the Ōharae-shi is not a prayer of petition directed at the kami, but rather a form of self-purification through words, so it can be recited anywhere as well. I will introduce the Ōharae -shi in my next post, so I hope you’ll try both!
Here I was, thinking to myself: "where is my favourite Tuesday reading? Still not uploaded?" I'm joking of course, take your time to write when you feel you want to and have the time to it.
Once again, thanks for the teaching and to bring us a little bit closer to your world and the world of Shinto.
I've seen the chinowa several times when I travelled to Japan during summer, but I never thought it was something that most shrines would do, I always assumed it was something more local. If I remember correctly, you cross it by doing an infinity symbol movement, not just by going straight to it, am I right? Or does it differ from shrine to shrine?
As for the katashiro, they are also a lot associated with the 陰陽 arts, am I right?
The story that you told about harvesting the chigaya with your senior priests is also something that really fascinates me with Shinto. There is a great connection with nature, that connection which on our daily lives we tend to sadly forget... But... I would react the same as your senior priest if I touch a frog or had a leech in me...
Sadly, I can't participate on a Nagashi-no-Oharae this year, since I have my baby to take care of and my wife is working until the end of July, but I would love to. But I can feel a bit of it thanks to you.
On a side note: Susanoo-no-Mikoto is a diety that I really like. If you remember my comment a few posts ago, I mentioned that I had a connection with a small local shrine (koyama jinja) - it is dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Another personal favorite is Yasaka Jinja, where I have been headshot-ed with setsubun beans by a maiko boss last year, is also dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto. I really like to read his stories on the kojiki I feel he is a diety with a lot of dualities - while he can be a bringer of storm and disaster, he can also be a hero.
Again, I'm eager for the next post with the norito! Hope you have a lovely week!
Thank you so much for looking forward to my posts! I also truly enjoy reading all of your comments — it feels a bit like my favorite AM radio program, and I have so much fun interacting with you all in the comment section.
Nagoshi no Ōharae is held at many shrines across Japan, but there may not be that many shrines that set up the large type of chinowa (ring of grass) big enough for people to walk through. This is because making such a large ring and holding the chinowa kuguri ritual requires a certain number of priests.
As you mentioned, there are indeed shrines where people pass through the chinowa in a figure-eight (infinity symbol) pattern. In most cases, the order is: pass through the chinowa from the front and turn left → pass through it again and turn right → pass through it a final time and proceed straight ahead. This is done to thoroughly purify oneself from all directions and to enhance the ritual solemnity.
As for the hitogata (paper doll substitutes), it is thought that their use in Shinto predates that in onmyōdō (yin-yang practices). From as early as the Nara period or before, Shinto used them in Ōharae rites to transfer impurities and send them down rivers or into the sea. Onmyōdō, on the other hand, developed its use of katashiro later during the Heian period, influenced by Chinese yin-yang and Taoist ideas, as part of court rituals and protective magic. The Shinto katashiro serves as a substitute to carry away impurities, while the onmyōdō katashiro was more of a tool for magic and protection.
In any case, I was surprised by how knowledgeable you are about this ritual! I’m sure other readers will find your comment very helpful.
The shrine where I serve also enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto as its main deity. I too find him very fascinating — while he is a wild and unruly god, he also has many other sides to him. His conflicts with his sister, Amaterasu-Ōmikami, are really interesting stories, aren’t they?
Shinto katashiro precedes Onmoyoudou katashiro. That is interesting to know. I wonder if there is an usage of katashiro back in China. I would guess there is something similar, working as an amulet, as in onmyoudou, but with different shape. I have to search a bit more about it.
As of Susanoo-no-Mikoto, all of him is fascinating: he can show a more "fragile" feeling, while weeping for his mother, can be unruly while initially portraying good feelings when going to say farewell to his sister. Can also be a great hero, while defeating the Yamata-no-Orochi. Despite being a god, his behaviour looks so human-like to me. It really feels that he develops from a boy, then to a teenager and then to an adult version. So, I think his story can really reflect the life which everyone of us live.
Thank you so much for another wonderful and informative article and sharing your experiences! I loved the story of harvesting the Chigaya and couldn't help but smile at how the senior priest got startled twice by the little frog and leech (^_^)! It reminded me of my time in very rural areas of Japan which had so many fun memories like that!
Please continue to be well, and I look forward to the next article too!
Thank you for your comment! Perhaps because of Japan’s high humidity, we have an abundance of slimy little creatures. I’m happy to hear that your time in rural Japan left you with such fun and pleasant memories！
Thank you so much for your wonderful posts. I find that they contain seeds that ripen over the ensuing days so that I see more and more clearly how these ideas apply to my own daily life.
Thank you so much for sharing such a heartwarming message. I found your expression about “seeds being sown” so beautiful that I kept reading it over and over again. For me, creating this space and being able to connect with people from around the world in this way is itself an experience of “seeds being sown,” and it fills me with excitement every day. I truly appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment!
Your way with words is an absolute delight to read every time, and I find myself seeing the scenes you describe in my head when reading!
I especially loved the image of a stern man being alarmed by a frog! I think sometimes folks from the west are so used to priests being these serious-separated individuals that they forget they're just like us.
I was very lucky to get to experience Nagoshi no Ōharae at several shrines in Kyoto when I was living there. One was Kitano Tenmangū, where on a rainy day we all gathered and chanted the Ōharae alongside the priests. And later were lead through the Chi no Wa in groups by one of the many priests there. And the other was that evening at Kamigamo Shrine, seeing the katashiro float down the river lit by torches while the Ōharae was echoing over speakers was a very mystical sight.
I had a vague understanding of the story behind the Chi no Wa but not the exact details of the meanings of it, so I appreciated hearing your interpretation of the story and learning more about what it means!
Thanks again! I look forward to reading your next article.
Thank you so much for reading! I really do enjoy reading the comments here — it’s always such a pleasure. What you said about how people in the West often see priests as solemn and distant is something I’ve also heard from a French friend of mine. She asked me so many questions like, “Why did you choose to become a priest at such a young age? Didn’t you dislike the idea of entering such a strict world with so many limitations?”
So I told her, “Shinto priests in Japan aren’t really different from ordinary people. We’re just specialists when it comes to conducting rituals.”
I see that when you lived in Kyoto, you were able to experience Nagoshi no Ōharae at several shrines — how wonderful! Actually, the shrine where that little adventure with the slimy creatures took place was Yoshida Shrine, right next to Kyoto University. The training I received at that shrine was really important and has formed the foundation of my life as a priest, so you might see it come up again in future posts.
And the river where you saw the katashiro floated at Kamigamo Shrine — I’ve actually done misogi (purification by water) there myself. I think I’ll share that story in a future post, so please look forward to it!
Thank you so much for this post. I have been intrigued by Nagoshi no Oharae and so I really appreciate you explaining more about it. I am curious as to whether someone not living in Japan could replicate any part of this ceremony? For example, could you create your own katashiro to burn, or is this something that can only be done by a shrine? I wish I could visit Japan at this time but unfortunately it won't be possible this year. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge, as always I am very grateful.
Thank you for your comment! Among the elements of the Nagoshi no Ōharae ritual, both using katashiro (paper substitutes) and reciting the Ōharaeーshi (Great Purification Prayer) can be done no matter where you are. The purification with katashiro is a form of self-purification — you can make your own katashiro, transfer your impurities to it, and burn it as a way to perform the ritual yourself.
Also, the Ōharae-shi is not a prayer of petition directed at the kami, but rather a form of self-purification through words, so it can be recited anywhere as well. I will introduce the Ōharae -shi in my next post, so I hope you’ll try both!
Thank you so much for your reply. I am very pleased to hear that and will definitely give it a try. I look forward to your next post too.
Here I was, thinking to myself: "where is my favourite Tuesday reading? Still not uploaded?" I'm joking of course, take your time to write when you feel you want to and have the time to it.
Once again, thanks for the teaching and to bring us a little bit closer to your world and the world of Shinto.
I've seen the chinowa several times when I travelled to Japan during summer, but I never thought it was something that most shrines would do, I always assumed it was something more local. If I remember correctly, you cross it by doing an infinity symbol movement, not just by going straight to it, am I right? Or does it differ from shrine to shrine?
As for the katashiro, they are also a lot associated with the 陰陽 arts, am I right?
The story that you told about harvesting the chigaya with your senior priests is also something that really fascinates me with Shinto. There is a great connection with nature, that connection which on our daily lives we tend to sadly forget... But... I would react the same as your senior priest if I touch a frog or had a leech in me...
Sadly, I can't participate on a Nagashi-no-Oharae this year, since I have my baby to take care of and my wife is working until the end of July, but I would love to. But I can feel a bit of it thanks to you.
On a side note: Susanoo-no-Mikoto is a diety that I really like. If you remember my comment a few posts ago, I mentioned that I had a connection with a small local shrine (koyama jinja) - it is dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto. Another personal favorite is Yasaka Jinja, where I have been headshot-ed with setsubun beans by a maiko boss last year, is also dedicated to Susanoo-no-Mikoto. I really like to read his stories on the kojiki I feel he is a diety with a lot of dualities - while he can be a bringer of storm and disaster, he can also be a hero.
Again, I'm eager for the next post with the norito! Hope you have a lovely week!
Thank you so much for looking forward to my posts! I also truly enjoy reading all of your comments — it feels a bit like my favorite AM radio program, and I have so much fun interacting with you all in the comment section.
Nagoshi no Ōharae is held at many shrines across Japan, but there may not be that many shrines that set up the large type of chinowa (ring of grass) big enough for people to walk through. This is because making such a large ring and holding the chinowa kuguri ritual requires a certain number of priests.
As you mentioned, there are indeed shrines where people pass through the chinowa in a figure-eight (infinity symbol) pattern. In most cases, the order is: pass through the chinowa from the front and turn left → pass through it again and turn right → pass through it a final time and proceed straight ahead. This is done to thoroughly purify oneself from all directions and to enhance the ritual solemnity.
As for the hitogata (paper doll substitutes), it is thought that their use in Shinto predates that in onmyōdō (yin-yang practices). From as early as the Nara period or before, Shinto used them in Ōharae rites to transfer impurities and send them down rivers or into the sea. Onmyōdō, on the other hand, developed its use of katashiro later during the Heian period, influenced by Chinese yin-yang and Taoist ideas, as part of court rituals and protective magic. The Shinto katashiro serves as a substitute to carry away impurities, while the onmyōdō katashiro was more of a tool for magic and protection.
In any case, I was surprised by how knowledgeable you are about this ritual! I’m sure other readers will find your comment very helpful.
The shrine where I serve also enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto as its main deity. I too find him very fascinating — while he is a wild and unruly god, he also has many other sides to him. His conflicts with his sister, Amaterasu-Ōmikami, are really interesting stories, aren’t they?
Thank you for your reply.
Shinto katashiro precedes Onmoyoudou katashiro. That is interesting to know. I wonder if there is an usage of katashiro back in China. I would guess there is something similar, working as an amulet, as in onmyoudou, but with different shape. I have to search a bit more about it.
As of Susanoo-no-Mikoto, all of him is fascinating: he can show a more "fragile" feeling, while weeping for his mother, can be unruly while initially portraying good feelings when going to say farewell to his sister. Can also be a great hero, while defeating the Yamata-no-Orochi. Despite being a god, his behaviour looks so human-like to me. It really feels that he develops from a boy, then to a teenager and then to an adult version. So, I think his story can really reflect the life which everyone of us live.
Looking forward for the next post!
Thank you so much for another wonderful and informative article and sharing your experiences! I loved the story of harvesting the Chigaya and couldn't help but smile at how the senior priest got startled twice by the little frog and leech (^_^)! It reminded me of my time in very rural areas of Japan which had so many fun memories like that!
Please continue to be well, and I look forward to the next article too!
Thank you for your comment! Perhaps because of Japan’s high humidity, we have an abundance of slimy little creatures. I’m happy to hear that your time in rural Japan left you with such fun and pleasant memories！
Thank you so much for your wonderful posts. I find that they contain seeds that ripen over the ensuing days so that I see more and more clearly how these ideas apply to my own daily life.
Thank you so much for sharing such a heartwarming message. I found your expression about “seeds being sown” so beautiful that I kept reading it over and over again. For me, creating this space and being able to connect with people from around the world in this way is itself an experience of “seeds being sown,” and it fills me with excitement every day. I truly appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment!
Reading this, I felt a great sense of gentleness and peace. Thank you.