Jinja
General神社 ・ Reading: じんじゃ
Definition
What a jinja is
A jinja is a Shinto shrine, a place set aside for the worship of kami, the deities and spirits of the Shinto tradition. Some enshrine a single famous kami, while others honour several together. Many are dedicated to natural forces, ancestral figures, or the guardian spirit of a local area, which is why almost every neighbourhood in Japan has one nearby.
What to look for
You enter through a torii gate, which marks the boundary of sacred ground. A path leads past stone lanterns to a chozuya, a water basin where you rinse your hands and mouth. Ahead stands the haiden, the hall of worship where visitors pray, and behind it the honden, the inner sanctuary that houses the kami and is usually closed to the public. You will often see a pair of guardian lion-dogs called komainu and thick sacred ropes known as shimenawa.
How to pray
The common custom at the offering box is to bow twice, clap your hands twice, make your wish or give thanks, then bow once more. A well-known example is Meiji Jingu in Tokyo, a large forested shrine honouring the spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.
Common questions
- What is the difference between a jinja and a Buddhist temple?
- How do you pray at a jinja?
At a jinja, the common custom is to bow twice, clap your hands twice, offer your prayer or thanks, and then bow once more at the offering box. Many visitors also rinse their hands and mouth at the water basin before approaching.
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