Less recognizable than a Torii gate, a shimenawa is a traditional rope made of twisted straw that mark sacred or holy territory. Straw, paper or cloth streamers are hung from the shimenawa. They can be small and light or can weigh over 3,000 pounds, the heaviest one being in the Great Shrine in Izumo. Because they are believe to ward off evil spirits shimenawa are used in purification rituals and are often hung between the uprights of a Torii Gate or around sacred areas as well as sacred trees and rocks that are believe to house kami.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Shimenawa
Less recognizable than a Torii gate, a shimenawa is a traditional rope made of twisted straw that mark sacred or holy territory. Straw, paper or cloth streamers are hung from the shimenawa. They can be small and light or can weigh over 3,000 pounds, the heaviest one being in the Great Shrine in Izumo. Because they are believe to ward off evil spirits shimenawa are used in purification rituals and are often hung between the uprights of a Torii Gate or around sacred areas as well as sacred trees and rocks that are believe to house kami.
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