Mikoshi
A mikoshi is a special type of portable shrine that is considered sacred in the Shinto religion in Japan. It is used to carry a deity during festivals or when moving to a new shrine. It looks like a small building with walls, pillars, a roof, a veranda, and a railing.
In Japanese, "o-" (お) is often added to the front to make the word "omikoshi" (お神輿). This prefix is used to show respect or politeness, and is commonly added to words that are considered important or sacred.
Moving a kami with one in a festival is called Shinko-shiki. Omikoshi are common in parades alongside Matsuri floats
Other pages
- Glossary of Shinto
- Honden
- Matsuri Float
Mikoshi Media
A mikoshi of Hiyoshi-taisha.
Mikoshi fighting on Nada-no-Kenka Matsuri at Himeji.
A mikoshi in Jak Japan Matsuri 2018
Mikoshi porté par des femmes.
Children mikoshi (Sanja Matsuri)
Japan's largest (Tomioka Hachiman Shrine)
No. 17, Gion Festival in Tōri-itchōme (Tôri-itchōme Gion-e), from the series Comical Views of Famous Places in Edo (Edo meisho dōke zukushi)
(video) A local shrine being carried in Japan. As it is being carried the participants chant.
References
- Sokyo Ono, William P. Woodward, Shinto - The Kami Way, Charles E. Tuttle Company, Tokyo 1992, ISBN 4-8053-0189-9
- Basic Terms of Shinto, Kokugakuin University, Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, Tokyo 1985