| Description
Brand new set of high quality porcelain altar pieces for use with Japanese Shinto kamidana. This set includes a single lidded mizuire for holding fresh water as well as a pair of flat dishes for salt and rice and two lidded flasks (tokkuri) for sake rice wine. This set also includes a pair of altar vases (Sakaki tate) for holding stems of the sacred sakaki tree. The set ships in a custom fitted storage box and is suitable for use with small to medium size kamidana. Please click here to see artificial Sakaki branches to use with your altar set and please read below to learn more about Japan's native religion, Shinto.
Size of vases (2):
Height: 4.7 inches (12.0 centimeters)
Diameter (at widest point of body): 2.7 inches (6.8 centimeters)
Size of sake flasks (2):
Height: 3.7 inches (9.5 centimeters)
Diameter (at widest point of body): 2.3 inches (6.0 centimeters)
Size of water vessel (1):
Height: 2.7 inches (7.0 centimeters)
Diameter (at widest point of body): 2.1 inches (5.5 centimeters)
Size of flat trays (2):
Height: 0.7 inches (1.8 centimeters)
Diameter (at widest point of body): 3.2 inches (8.3 centimeters)
Weight:
Weight of all items in original box: 27.6 ounces (788 grams)
More about the Shinto religion
Shinto is one of the two major religions of Japan (the other is Buddhism). Shinto is often considered to be the native religion of Japan, and is as old as Japan itself. The name Shinto means "the way of the gods." Shinto is a pantheistic religion, in which many thousands of major and minor gods are thought to exist. The Japanese have built thousands of shrines throughout the country to honor and worship these gods. Some shrines are huge and are devoted to important deities. Other shrines are small and may be easily missed when strolling along roads in the countryside.
Shinto gods are called kami. Kami are thought to have influence on human affairs, and for this reason many Japanese make regular pilgrimage to community shrines in order to offer prayers to local kami. The act of prayer involves approaching the shrine structure, passing through the gate-like torii, cleansing the hands and mouth with water and possibly ascending stairs to the main entrance of the shrine. Usually without entering the shrine the worshipper will throw some coins into a stone or wooden collection box and then rattle the suzu bell which is at the top of a long hemp rope. The worshiper grabs hold of the rope and shakes it back and forth causing the copper bell at the top to rattle. This is thought to get the attention of the shrine god. The worshipper then bows twice, claps his or her hands twice and then bows again. In addition, the worshipper may clasp their hands together in silent prayer. Shintoism and Buddhism have managed to find a comfortable coexistence in Japan. Evidence of this harmonious relationship is found in the fact that that most Japanese are married in a Shinto shrine, but buried by a Buddhist priest.
 item code: INV-0000120_01 (previously INV-0000063_01)
ship code: G6 |
