February 24, 2004

Los Angeles, California

Sakai, Atsuharu, Japan In A Nutshell, Vol. 2,Japanese Psychology Tradition Customs and Manners, Yamagata Printing Co., Yokohama, 1952, p65

sakaki =The leaves of this tree native only to Japan are used for purifying and blessing, as well as offerings (when they are called tamagushi), in Shinto rituals. The tree is green year-round, and its leaves are similar in shape and appearance to those of the camellia. Once used in a ritual, they cannot be used again, although they may remain as an offering beside the altar. See also himorogi. [Nelson, John K., A Year In The Life Of A Shinto Shrine, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1996, p263]

July 11, 2004

himorogi = Originally a clearly delineated plot of land upon which an altar is erected and around which shimenawa or other boundary-marking symbols are placed. The himorogi is often discussed as being the "first" shrine. Next to or behind the altar is a sakaki tree, the very spot which the descending Kami are thought to infuse with their august presence. [Nelson, John K., A Year In The Life Of A Shinto Shrine, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1996, p255]

CLEYERA JAPONICA

eurya ochnacea

Sakaki (eurya ochnacea) is sacred to Shintoism. Sakai, Atsuharu, Japan In A Nutshell, Vol. 2,Japanese Psychology Tradition Customs and Manners, Yamagata Printing Co., Yokohama, 1952, p4

Gohei is a generic term for Shinto offerings, consisting of paper, hemp and cotton. These are hung on a branch of the Sakaki-tree, which is sacred to Shintoism. Sakai, Atsuharu, Japan In A Nutshell, Vol. 2,Japanese Psychology Tradition Customs and Manners, Yamagata Printing Co., Yokohama, 1952, p161

. . . and pulling up by pulling its roots a true cleyera japonica [In Japanese saka-ki. It is commonly planted in the precincts of Shinto temples.] with five hundred [branches] from the Heavenly Mount Kagu, and taking and putting upon its upper branches the augustly complete [string] of curved jewels eight feet [long] ,--of five hundred jewels,--and taking and tying to the middle branches the mirror eight feet [long] [eight sided?], and taking and hanging upon its lower branches the white pacificatory offerings and the blue pacificatory offerings, and His Augustness Heavenly-Beckoning-Ancestor-Lord prayerfully reciting grand liturgies . . . . [The Kojiki, Records of Ancient Matters, Basil Hall Chamberlain, translator, Charles Tuttle Co., Rutland, VT, 1981, p64]

String of beads, called Yasakani-no-Magatama: When the myriads of princes and princesses gathered together before the cave, they made a string of comma-shaped beads, which they hung on a branch of Sakaki-tree as an ornament. Sakai, Atsuharu, Japan In A Nutshell, Vol. 2,Japanese Psychology Tradition Customs and Manners, Yamagata Printing Co., Yokohama, 1952, p11

konusa = The konusa leaf (from the sakaki tree) is used to scatter drops of water to dispel impurities. [Nelson, John K., A Year In The Life Of A Shinto Shrine, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1996, p258]

tamagushi = A sprig of sakaki leaves between 20 and 30 cm in length. When paying one's respects to the Kami in a formal ritual conducted by priests, the tamagushi is laid upon a small table by the participant. [Nelson, John K., A Year In The Life Of A Shinto Shrine, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1996, p265]