Shinto Glossary

The fierce, forceful, and wild aspect of a kami's spirit

Shrines of particular importance listed separately by Jinja Honcho

X-shaped wooden beams projecting from the roof ridge of a shrine building

A kami that guards and protects a specific place, institution, or settlement

Walking through a large ring of woven miscanthus grass to purify oneself

Shrines to which the emperor sends an envoy (chokushi) for their major festivals

Small wooden plaques on which worshippers write prayers or wishes

Divine matchmaking — the spiritual tying of romantic or interpersonal bonds

A calligraphic seal and inscription given by shrines as proof of visit

A specially bound accordion book for collecting goshuin shrine and temple stamps

The head priest of a Shinto shrine, responsible for all shrine affairs

The hall where worshippers offer prayers, located in front of the honden

The fundamental Shinto concept and practice of ritual purification

The first shrine or temple visit of the new year, a major Japanese tradition

A hall between the haiden and honden where offerings are presented to the kami

A sacred space or tree where kami descend, predating permanent shrine structures

A tiny wayside shrine, often found on roadsides, mountainsides, or in forests

The innermost building of a shrine that houses the enshrined kami

The highest-ranked shrine in each of Japan's historical provinces

A large rock or stone formation believed to be a seat or dwelling place of a kami

A Shinto ritual performed before construction to purify the land and appease the local kami

The central administrative body overseeing most of Japan's approximately 80,000 Shinto shrines

Ancient ritual dances and music performed to entertain and honor the kami

A hall within a shrine where sacred kagura dances and music are performed

The divine spirits or deities of Shinto, encompassing gods, nature spirits, and revered ancestors

The highest rank in the Meiji-era shrine classification system (now abolished)

Living in harmony with the natural divine order, the ideal way of Shinto life

A common term for a Shinto priest; historically the chief ritualist of a shrine

Cylindrical logs placed horizontally along the roof ridge of a shrine

A state of spiritual impurity or pollution that must be ritually cleansed

Paired stone guardian figures placed at shrine entrances to ward off evil

The belief that words carry spiritual power and can influence reality

A small subsidiary shrine within a larger shrine complex, of lower rank than sessha

A Shinto festival celebrating and honoring the kami, often with processions and community events

A young woman serving at a shrine, assisting with rituals and shrine operations

A sacred dance performed by shrine maidens (miko) as an offering to the kami

An ornate portable shrine carried through streets during festivals to transport the kami

A Japanese aesthetic of bittersweet appreciation for the transience of all things

The divine creative and binding force that connects and generates life

A communal meal shared after a ceremony, eating the food offered to the kami

A senior priest ranking below the guji, assisting in rituals and shrine management

The gentle, harmonious, and nurturing aspect of a kami's spirit

The standard prayer sequence at Shinto shrines: bow twice, clap twice, bow once

Formal prayers recited by Shinto priests during ceremonies and rituals

An exceptionally large shimenawa rope, often a shrine's most iconic visual feature

A paper or wooden talisman enshrined in the household altar for divine protection

A Shinto purification rite to remove spiritual impurities and misfortune

Small fabric amulets sold at shrines believed to provide various protections and blessings

Random fortune-telling paper slips drawn at shrines and temples

A shrine's most important annual festival, unique to each shrine

A two-story gate structure at the entrance to a shrine's inner precincts

The wooden box in front of the worship hall where visitors toss monetary offerings

An evergreen tree sacred in Shinto, used in rituals and as offerings

The path leading from the torii to the main shrine buildings

The act of visiting and praying at a shrine

A smaller shrine within the grounds of a larger shrine, closely related to the main deity

A ceremony on February 3 involving throwing beans to drive out evil spirits

The historical ranking system that classified shrines by their relationship to the state

A rite of passage celebrating children aged 3, 5, and 7 at shrines in November

Zigzag-folded paper streamers attached to shimenawa or ritual wands

A rice-straw rope marking a sacred or purified space

The Meiji-era government policy forcibly separating Shinto shrines from Buddhist temples

The historical blending of Shinto and Buddhism that lasted over a thousand years

A historical system of court ranks bestowed upon kami by the imperial government

A gate at a shrine marking the entrance to the innermost sacred area

Food and drink offerings presented to the kami during rituals

The formal term for Shinto priests and clergy of all ranks

A physical object in which a kami is believed to reside, housed within the honden

The Japanese New Year period, the most important time for shrine visits

A lay representative elected from the ujiko community to help manage shrine affairs

A fence enclosing the sacred inner area of a shrine

A branch of sacred sakaki tree with shide attached, offered to the kami in rituals

The traditional Japanese iron smelting method using bellows and iron sand

A water basin near the shrine entrance where visitors purify their hands and mouth

A traditional gate marking the entrance to a shrine's sacred space

The kami of the land where a person was born, offering lifelong protection

The guardian deity of a specific local community or clan

A person affiliated with their local shrine by virtue of residing in its parish area

A physical object in which a kami resides or to which it is attracted

A ritual in which boiling water is splashed using bamboo leaves for purification

A shrine gate housing wooden guardian figures (zuijin) on either side