Shinboku
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Ashinboku(Thần mộc)is atreeorforestworshipped as ashintai– a physical object of worship at or near aShinto shrine,worshipped as a repository in which spirits orkamireside.[1][2]They are often distinctly visible due to theshimenawawrapped around them.[3]
The related termgoshingirefers to trees that are considered sacred or divine in the precincts of Shinto shrines andjingūof Shinto, as well as the forests that surround them and trees that are not grown forlogging.[4]It also refers to trees that are owned by shrines or by private individuals and have a special origin in folklore. It may also refer to trees that have been specially cut down for planting or growing wild to be used as timber for the construction of shrines.
Overview
[edit]Nature worship,also known as Himikura Shinto, is a part of theancient Shintoreligion that originated inJapan.This form of worship is based on gratitude, fear, and respect forkami,life, and nature. Ancient Shinto practices involved using symbolic objects, such as trees, in places where the environment changed as vessels for Shinto bodies.
Over the course of thousands of years, the form and style of Shinto shrines and rituals have been influenced by foreign religions or established independently, leading to the development of various forms of Shinto. Today, there are tens of thousands of Shinto shrines in Japan, many of which were built on the site of shrines in ancient Shinto religion. These shrines may contain sacred trees,iwakura,rock formations,steles,ormounds,and serve as a testament to the history of nature worship in Japan.
In some cases, shrines may not have a physical structure, but rather worship a sacred tree in its natural state. Evergreen trees with pointed branches are often used astamagushiin Shinto rituals, serving as a substitute for the gods to descend from. The most common type oftamagushiis thesakakitree, but other species such ashisakakiandogatama no kimay be used in regions wheresakakidoes not grow naturally (areas north of theKantoregion).
In general, atadakushiis a branch that has been cut down to be offered to the gods, while a sacred tree is one that is still rooted in the earth and worshiped by many people.
Yorishiro
[edit]Kami-yorigi,also known askanjinboku,are considered to beyorishiroof the gods, and are given special treatment, being decorated withshimenawa.TheNageia nagiis ayorishiroof the gods, and is also decorated withshimenawa.Many of them areNageia nagi,mochinoki,andcedar.
In addition, some trees are treated as sacred trees, such as the cedar trees atIse Grand Shrine,which are regarded as special trees separate from the gods in order to maintain the scenery or create a solemn atmosphere. For those who work in the mountains, a tree that stands out as a substitute for the god of the mountain may be temporarily treated as a sacred tree and enshrined.
Thegohei,which is used in Shinto rituals and is made fromsakakiandnagi,is also called a sacred tree, but it was originally a simple substitute for a naturally occurring sacred tree in ancient Shinto.
Divine realms and boundaries
[edit]In ancient Shinto, the Shinto shrine was considered to be a Shinto shrine as a place where the gods dwelled, or a boundary between the everlasting world and the present world, and was feared and respected. In order to prevent people, things in this world, gods in this world, and things that bring misfortune andevilto this world from easily coming and going,shimenawawere hung aswalls,making it a forbidden place. Even today, there are many places such asOkinoshima Islandwhere not only the shrine, the sacred tree, or the forest of the local guardian, but the entire island is forbidden. In some places, rituals and festivals are held for a certain period of time when people want to bring good fortune and invite the gods in.
Memorial tree
[edit]Memorial trees are trees donated by people who are related to the shrine, which are considered sacred and are treated as sacred trees.
Construction tree
[edit]When building a shrine, the trees that will be used for its lumber are treated as sacred trees.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^""Shintai, Shinboku": The Divine Object or Tree ".nippon.com.2016-08-22.Retrieved2023-03-11.
- ^"Encyclopedia of Shinto tường tế".Quốc học viện đại học デジタルミュージアム(in Japanese).Retrieved2023-03-11.
- ^"Muza-chan's Gate to Japan".muza-chan.net.Retrieved2023-03-11.
- ^Mertz, Mechtild (2016).Wood and Traditional Woodworking in Japan.Kaiseisha Press. pp. 85, 120.ISBN9784860993238.