Haiden
Architecture拝殿 ・ Reading: はいでん
Definition
Where you stand to pray
The haiden is the hall of worship at a Shinto shrine, set directly in front of the honden, the inner sanctuary that houses the kami. Most worshippers never enter it. You approach the front, where you will usually find a hanging bell with a thick rope, an offering box, and space to stand. The custom is to toss a coin into the box, ring the bell, then bow twice, clap twice, offer a silent prayer, and bow once more.
What to look for
A haiden is often the largest and most decorated building you can see clearly, with wide steps and a sheltered porch. Behind it, frequently linked by a short covered passage, stands the smaller honden, which is usually closed to visitors. At some shrines the two halls are built so close together, or joined by a linking hall, that they read as a single continuous structure from the front.
Haiden and honden
It helps to remember the split. The honden is the kami's home and stays shut, while the haiden is the human side, built for you to pray from. If a shrine has only one hall you can clearly approach, you are almost certainly standing before the haiden, with the honden hidden behind it.
Common questions
- What is the difference between a haiden and a honden?
- Can visitors go inside the haiden?
At most shrines visitors pray from the front of the haiden rather than entering it, standing before the offering box and bell. You can usually only go inside a haiden for a formal, arranged ritual such as a blessing or purification ceremony, which the shrine performs on request.
- How do you pray at a haiden?
At a haiden you typically toss a coin into the offering box, ring the bell if there is one, then bow twice, clap twice, offer a silent prayer, and bow once more. This two bows, two claps, one bow custom is the standard way to worship at most Shinto shrines.