Saisenbako
Ritual objects賽銭箱 ・ Reading: さいせんばこ
Definition
The saisenbako is the wooden offering box placed before the worship hall at shrines and temples, into which visitors toss a monetary offering before praying. A five-yen coin is a popular offering for its auspicious pun.
What it is
A saisenbako is the offering box that sits directly in front of the worship hall at a shrine or temple. Its top is a slatted wooden grille that lets coins drop through into the chest below. Visitors add a small monetary offering here before praying, a gesture of gratitude and respect toward the kami or Buddha rather than a payment or a fee.
How to use it
The usual order is simple. Approach the box, gently drop in your offering, then pray. At a shrine this means bowing twice, clapping twice, praying, and bowing once more; at a temple you place your palms together quietly without clapping. There is no fixed amount. Many people choose a five yen coin because go en, the word for five yen, sounds the same as the word for a good connection or fortunate tie, making it a small pun for a lucky bond with the deity.
What to look for
Most saisenbako are plain and sturdy, built to withstand years outdoors, though older or grander halls may have large, handsomely aged boxes. Above the box you will often see a thick rope and a bell or gong that worshippers sound to announce their presence before offering.
Common questions
- How much should you put in a saisenbako?
There is no set amount for a saisenbako, the offering box at shrines and temples. Many visitors give a five-yen coin because its name sounds auspicious, but any coin is fine, as the offering is a gesture of respect rather than a fee.
- Do you pray before or after putting money in the saisenbako?
You put your coin in the saisenbako first, then pray. At a shrine the usual order is to make the offering, bow twice, clap twice, pray, and bow once more, while at a temple you press your palms together without clapping.
- Why do people use a five-yen coin at the saisenbako?
A five-yen coin is popular at the saisenbako because go-en, the word for five yen, sounds like the word for a good connection or fortunate tie. It is a small custom rather than a rule, so any coin works just as well.