Ofuda
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/Ofuda.jpg/220px-Ofuda.jpg)
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Votive talismans designed for the home |
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Ofuda, and Ise Jingu |
Votive paper slips applied to the gates of shrines |
Senjafuda |
Amulets sold at shrines for luck and protection |
Omamori |
Wooden plaques representing prayers and wishes |
Ema |
Paper fortunes received by making a small offering |
O-mikuji |
Stamps collected at shrines |
Shuin |
In
Certain kinds of ofuda are intended for a specific purpose (such as protection against calamity or misfortune, safety within the home, or finding love) and may be kept on one's person or placed on other areas of the home (such as gates, doorways, kitchens, or ceilings). Paper ofuda may also be referred to as kamifuda (紙札), while those made of wood may be called kifuda (木札). Omamori, another kind of Japanese amulet, shares the same origin as and may be considered as a smaller, portable version of ofuda.
A specific type of ofuda is a talisman issued by a Shinto shrine on which is written the name of the shrine or its enshrined kami and stamped with the shrine's
In a similar vein, Buddhist ofuda are regarded as imbued with the spirit and the virtue of
History
The origins of Shinto and Buddhist ofuda may be traced from both the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Jingu_taima_gaku.jpg/290px-Jingu_taima_gaku.jpg)
The shinsatsu currently found in most Shinto shrines meanwhile are modeled after the talisman issued by the
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/EeJaNaiKaScene.jpg/220px-EeJaNaiKaScene.jpg)
In 1871, an imperial decree abolished the oshi and allotted the production and distribution of the amulets, now renamed Jingū Taima, to the shrine's administrative offices.
Varieties and usage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Jingu_taima_cover.jpg/130px-Jingu_taima_cover.jpg)
Ofuda come in a variety of forms. Some are slips or sheets of paper, others like the Jingū Taima are thin rectangular plaques (kakubarai/kakuharai (角祓)) enclosed in an envelope-like casing (which may further be covered in translucent wrapping paper), while still others are wooden tablets (kifuda) which may be smaller or larger than regular shinsatsu. Some shrines distribute kenharai, which consists of a sliver of wood placed inside a fold of paper. The Oharai Taima issued by the shrines of Ise before the
Ofuda and omamori are available year round in many shrines and temples, especially in larger ones with a permanent staff. As these items are sacred, they are technically not 'bought' but rather 'received' (授かる, sazukaru) or ukeru (受ける), with the money paid in exchange for them being considered to be a donation or offering (初穂料, hatsuhoryō, literally 'first fruit fee').[21][22] One may also receive a wooden talisman called a kitōfuda (祈祷札) after having formal prayers or rituals (kitō (祈祷)) performed on one's behalf in these places of worship.
Shinto ofuda
Shinsatsu such as Jingū Taima are enshrined in a household altar (kamidana) or a special stand (ofudatate); in the absence of one, they may be placed upright in a clean and tidy space above eye level or attached to a wall. Shinsatsu and the kamidana that house them are set up facing east (where the sun rises), south (the principal direction of sunshine), or southeast.[23][24][25][26]
The Association of Shinto Shrines recommends that a household own at least three kinds of shinsatsu:
- Jingū Taima
- The ofuda of the tutelary deity of one's place of residence (ujigami)
- The ofuda of a shrine one is personally devoted to sūkei jinja (崇敬神社)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Ofuda_Arrangement.png/220px-Ofuda_Arrangement.png)
In a 'three-door' style (三社造, sansha-zukuri) altar, the Jingū Taima is placed in the middle, with the ofuda of one's local ujigami on its left (observer's right) and the ofuda of one's favourite shrine on its right (observer's left). Alternatively, in a 'one-door' style (一社造, issha-zukuri) kamidana, the three talismans are laid on top of one another, with the Jingū Taima on the front. One may own more shinsatsu; these are placed on either side of or behind the aforementioned three.[23][24][27][28][29] Regular (preferably daily) worship before the shinsatsu or kamidana and offerings of rice, salt, water, and/or sake to the kami (with additional foodstuffs being offered on special occasions) are recommended.[24][30] The manner of worship is similar to those performed in shrines: two bows, two claps, and a final bow, though a prayer (norito) – also preceded by two bows – may be recited before this.[31][32]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Amulet_return_at_Fukagawa_Fudoson.jpg/180px-Amulet_return_at_Fukagawa_Fudoson.jpg)
Other ofuda are placed in other parts of the house. For instance, ofuda of patron deities of the hearth –
Japanese spirituality lays great importance on purity and pristineness (tokowaka (常若, lit. 'eternal youth')), especially of things related to the divine. It is for this reason that periodic (usually annual) replacement of ofuda and omamori are encouraged. It is customary to obtain new ofuda before the end of the year at the earliest or during the New Year season, though (as with omamori) one may purchase one at other times of the year as well. While ideally, old ofuda and omamori are to be returned to the shrine or temple where they were obtained as a form of thanksgiving, most Shinto shrines in practice accept talismans from other shrines.[25][38][39][40][41] (Buddhist ofuda are however not accepted in many shrines and vice versa.) Old ofuda and omamori are burned in a ceremony known either as Sagichō (左義長) or Dondoyaki (どんど焼き), also Dontoyaki or Tondoyaki) held during the Little New Year (January 14th or 15th), the end of the Japanese New Year season.[22][42][43]
Kifuda
Kifuda (木札) are ofuda made out of wood with characters carved, written, or printed directly on them.
Gallery
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Goōfu from Kumano Hayatama Taisha
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Kajikimen (鹿食免, "permit to eat deer"), a talisman issued by Suwa Shrine in Nagano Prefecture. At a time when meat eating was mostly frowned upon due to Buddhist influence, these were held to allow the bearer to eat venison and other meat without incurring impurity or negative karma.
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An ofuda of the tutelary deities of the hearth (kamadogami), for use in kitchens (from Nishino Shrine in Sapporo)
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Diagram of two talismans invoking theShinto-Buddhist grouping of thirty Japanese kami presiding over the thirty days of a lunar month) against disease, from a Nichiren-shūritual manual
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Part of a series of seventy-two talismans (霊符, reifu) (from the Chinese lingfu) known as Taijō Shinsen Chintaku Reifu (太上神仙鎮宅霊符, "Talismans of the Most High Gods and Immortals for Home Protection") or simply as Chintaku Reifu (鎮宅霊符, "Talismans for Home Protection"). Originally of Daoist origin, these were introduced to Japan during the Middle Ages.[44][45]
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Jingū Taima and other shinsatsu
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Ofuda posted beside a doorway
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A sakasafuda (逆札, reverse fuda), a handmade talisman against theft displayed upside-down. This ofuda is inscribed with the date the legendary outlaw Ishikawa Goemon supposedly died: "the 25th day of the 12th month" (十二月廿五日).[a][47] Other dates are written in other areas, such as "the 12th day of the 12th month" (十二月十二日), which is claimed to be Goemon's birthdate.[46]
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A 'ship shrine' (艦内神社, kannai jinja) inside battleship Mikasa (currently in Mikasa Park in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture). Beside the altar is a wooden ofuda (kifuda) from Tōgō Shrine (dedicated to the deified naval leader Tōgō Heihachirō, who used Mikasa as his flagship) in Harajuku, Tokyo.
See also
- Bujeok
- Ema
- Fulu
- Himmelsbrief
- Holy card
- Jingū taima
- Murti
- Omamori
- Omikuji
- Onmyōdō
- Onmyōji
- Netsuke
- Senjafuda
- Shikigami
- Thai Buddha amulet
Notes
- ^ The diary of contemporary aristocrat Yamashina Tokitsune seemingly indicates that the historical Goemon was executed on the 24th day of the 8th month (October 8th in the Gregorian calendar).[46]
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Further reading
- Nelson, Andrew N., Japanese-English Character Dictionary, Charles E. Tuttle Company: Publishers, Tokyo, 1999, ISBN 4-8053-0574-6
- Masuda Koh, Kenkyusha's New Japanese-English Dictionary, Kenkyusha Limited, Tokyo, 1991, ISBN 4-7674-2015-6
External links
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