Comments on: Purity & Prayer at Japanese Shrines http://www.nihonsun.com/2009/02/04/purity-prayer-at-japanese-shrines/ Japan's Online Travel & Culture Magazine Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:07:54 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.1 hourly 1 By: 1000 Paper Cranes & Colorful Emi | Japan | Japan Travel | Nihon Sun http://www.nihonsun.com/2009/02/04/purity-prayer-at-japanese-shrines/comment-page-1/#comment-1338 1000 Paper Cranes & Colorful Emi | Japan | Japan Travel | Nihon Sun Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:01:25 +0000 http://www.nihonsun.com/?p=1094#comment-1338 [...] The path to the shrine itself is usually a peaceful portal even if it is the midst of a bustling city.  As you reach the end of the path you likely will pass by a purification fountain where worshippers stop to cleanse themselves before heading the the main hall of the shrine to pray.  (To learn more about the etiquette of visiting a shrine in Japan take a moment to read Purity & Prayer at Japanese Shrines.) [...] [...] The path to the shrine itself is usually a peaceful portal even if it is the midst of a bustling city.  As you reach the end of the path you likely will pass by a purification fountain where worshippers stop to cleanse themselves before heading the the main hall of the shrine to pray.  (To learn more about the etiquette of visiting a shrine in Japan take a moment to read Purity & Prayer at Japanese Shrines.) [...]

]]> By: Shane Sakata http://www.nihonsun.com/2009/02/04/purity-prayer-at-japanese-shrines/comment-page-1/#comment-472 Shane Sakata Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:21:24 +0000 http://www.nihonsun.com/?p=1094#comment-472 Tornadoes28 - Thanks for stopping by to comment. You pose an interesting question. I think that I have read that the smoke from incense is used for healing and prayer itself rather than purification and that it's use a Buddhist rather than Shinto practice. More research is in order...I will report back. In the meantime some other readers may be interested in reading about <a href="http://www.nihonsun.com/2008/11/14/temple-or-shrine-whats-the-difference/" rel="nofollow"> the difference between a Shrine and a Temple</a>. Tornadoes28 – Thanks for stopping by to comment. You pose an interesting question.

I think that I have read that the smoke from incense is used for healing and prayer itself rather than purification and that it’s use a Buddhist rather than Shinto practice. More research is in order…I will report back.

In the meantime some other readers may be interested in reading about the difference between a Shrine and a Temple.

]]> By: Tornadoes28 http://www.nihonsun.com/2009/02/04/purity-prayer-at-japanese-shrines/comment-page-1/#comment-471 Tornadoes28 Thu, 05 Feb 2009 16:49:37 +0000 http://www.nihonsun.com/?p=1094#comment-471 It is my understanding that you can also purify using incense. I remember one visit to Japan at what I believe was a Shinto shrine, there was a place out front with incense burning and we waved the incense smoke over to ourselves to purify before entering the shrine. Am I understanding this correctly? It is my understanding that you can also purify using incense. I remember one visit to Japan at what I believe was a Shinto shrine, there was a place out front with incense burning and we waved the incense smoke over to ourselves to purify before entering the shrine. Am I understanding this correctly?

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