👣🌿PURIFICATION HOOP🔄🙏
Shortly before the mid-point of the year giant rings of reed begin appearing in shrine precincts across Kyōto.
'Chinowa' (茅の輪) are sacred portals, washing off the impurities gathered over the last six months and offering protection for the next six😇
#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #夏越の祓 #chinowa #nagoshinoharae #purification
The appearance of chinowa (茅の輪) herald 'Nagoshi-no-harae' (夏越の祓), a summer purification rite traditionally held on the last day of the 6th lunar month.
On June 30th many shrines, such as Kitano Tenmangū (北野天満宮), hold special services.
How to use the chinowa-kuguri (茅の輪くぐり)👣...
🙇♂️1) bow
🔄2) pass through the ring and circle round to the left
🔃3) pass through and circle round to the right
🔄4) pass through and circle to the left again
⬆️5) pass through and proceed to the shrine to pray🙏
#Japan #茅の輪 #Kyoto #chinowa #summerpurification #purification #Hiranojinja #平野神社
An ancient Bingo Province record tells how the chinowa came to be.
On his travels the god Susanoo, his identity concealed as a poor wanderer, asked a wealthy farmer called Kotan Shōrai for a bed for the night but was refused.
Kotan's poor brother, Somin Shōrai, overheard the conversation and offered his own bed to the stranger.
Years later Susanoo saved Somin's family from a plague ravaging the country, instructing them to wear rings of reed.
Those not wearing the rings were struck down!💀
After this time miscanthus reeds (茅 aka kaya grass) were used to repel sickness and evil, evolving into various regional charms, such as the giant 'chinowa' rings (茅の輪) and smaller brush-shaped 'chimaki' (茅巻き), hung at doorways in Kyōto from July each year.
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