第２節 知っておきたい参拝の方法
In order to make visiting shrines meaningful, it's important to know the proper manners. This is the fundamental thing to avoid being rude to kamisama.
The cat says: I'll make sure to wash my head thoroughly before going.
参拝に行くべき日とマナー
参拝に行く日・時間帯
“Because many shrines have no gates, there is the impression that one can visit at any time. However, with the exception of special events like Ōmisoka 大晦日 (New Year's Eve), it's best to avoid late night visits. For regular visits it's best to go at hours when businesses and stores are typically open.
...Sone people only visit shrines during New Years, but one should visit at important points in life (birthdays, shichigosan, entering a new school, Coming of Age Day etc...) This is to give thanks for having lived a safe life up until that point, and to pray for protection in the future.
Of course if you are experiencing worries or doubts, it's a good idea to visit a shrine to get assistance in overcoming these obstacles. If visiting is difficult, you can ask a close friend to visit and pray on your behalf.”
一般的に行われる参拝の例
人生儀礼で行う参拝
Events for milestones and major events in one's life that you'd visit a shrine for:
初宮詣（お宮参り） Hatsumiyamōde (Omiyamairi) a baby's first visit to a shrine. It's done at 31-32 days for boys, and 32-33 days for girls
お食い初め Okuizome a ceremony held 100 days after birth to pray that a baby will never want for food, the meal usually has red beans and rice with a Red Sea bream that has the head attached
初節句 Hatsusekku a baby's first seasonal festival (usually Momo no Sekku 桃の節句 March 3 for girls, or Tango no Sekku 端午の節句 May 5th for boys)
七五三詣 Shichigosanmōde festival that celebrates the growth and well being of children ages 3, boys aged 5 and girls aged 7
合格祈願 Gōkaku Kigan prayers for success in exams
成人式 Seijin-shiki Coming of Age Ceremony for those who have reached the age of maturity
結婚式 Kekkon-shiki Weddings
安産祈願 Anzan Kigan Prayers for safe delivery
厄除け Yakuyoke Warding off Unlucky Years
方位除け Hōiyoke Directional Protection based on Stars
随時行う参拝
Events and occurrences that you'd go to a shrine on an as needed basis:
車のお祓い Kuruma no Oharai Purification of One's Car
商売繁盛 Shōbai Hanjō Prayers for a Thriving Business
必勝祈願 Hisshō Kigan Prayers for Certain Victory
身体健康 Shintai Kenkō Prayers for Bodily Health
病気平癒 Byōki Heiyu Prayers for Recovery from Illness
心願成就 Shingan Jōju Prayers for Thanks of Prayers being Realized
家内安全 Kanai Anzen Prayers for Safety of the Home
火難除け Kananyoke Prayers for Warding Off Fire Disasters
盗難除け Tōnanyoke Prayers for Warding Off Theft
厄年の年齢
Yakudoshi is the idea that there are certain years you will have more struggles than not.
The footnote at the bottom of this diagram reads: "Your age when you are born starts at 1 year, therefore one year is added each New Year." This concept is fairly common in East Asia, and in Japanese is called Kazoedoshi 数え年.
Pink is Women, and Blue is Men. Maeyaku 前厄 is the year before an inauspicious year, Honyaku 本厄 is the major inauspicious year, and Atoyaku 後厄 is the year after an inauspicious year. Generally you would go and have special prayers done for these 3 years, with the focus being the major inauspicious year. Yakudoshi is basically the concept of "you should take extra care look after your health and wellbeing, as well as not make hasty decisions in these periods of your life."
The Cat Says: "The Unlucky Year was originally the Service Year"
It's word play with Yaku having the kanji 厄 unlucky, and 役 service.
本命星と方位盤
Before I cover the diagram, a brief explanation of what Honmeishō 本命星 is required. This is from a concept known as Kyūsei Kigaku 九星気学, which are 9 traditional astrological signs from Onmyōdō practices corresponding to a person's birth year, it is believed the characteristics of that "main star" (honmeishō) have a great influence on their personality and luck, and they live their lives constantly under the influence of it.
Now together with the Kyūsei Kigaku, comes a compass called Hōi-ban 方位盤. The compass points to 8 directions, and each direction is given a star. Each year is given an auspicious and inauspicious direction. It's also important to note that north is on the bottom of the compass.
There are Unlucky Directions, while good directions are based on your individual star.
The main unlucky directions are:
五黄殺 Go'ōsatsu the most abhorred direction of the year (based around Saturn's movements)
暗剣殺 Ankensatsu runs opposite of Go'ōsatsu, and both are considering the two most dangerous directions
歳破 Saiha the sign in the opposite direction of the yearly Zodiac direction (for example 2025's sign is snake, the saiha is northwest)
本命殺 Honmeisatsu the direction where your Honmeishō changes luck, should be avoided if you are of age or older
本命的殺 Honmeitekisatsu the sign opposite the Honmeisatsu, and like it should be avoided if you're over 18.
Other unlucky directions include:
Tsukimeisatsu and Tsukimeitekisatsu 月命殺・月命的殺 Monthly sign where luck changes, and the sign opposite it, should be avoided by younger people
Shōnisatsu 小児殺 only exists on the Lunar Calendar, children under 7 should avoid this direction
Teītaichū 定位対冲 is based on a fixed position of certain stars, the level of bad omen varies from theory to theory no one quite agrees on this one
Honmeijūnishitekisatsu 本命十二支的殺 direction opposite of one's zodiac sign, said to decrease the effects of good luck and amplify bad luck.
Shōkyōhōi 小凶方位 Minor Bad Direction
The footnote at the bottom of the diagram reads: "The above compass is for 2023. The direction of the star changes with each passing year."
北東（鬼門）Hokutō (Kimon) Northeast (Demon Gate)
The star of your life is in the northeast, and there will be many changes and fluctuations, your luck will tend to decline, and you will need to be careful of injuries and illnesses.
北（困難宮）Kita (Konankyū) North (Palace of Difficulties)
The star of your life is in the north, and this is the year when your luck is most stagnant. Think of this as a year to prepare for a leap forward, and be humble.
中央（八方塞がり) Chū'ō (Happōfusagari) Center (Covered on All Sides)
This is a year in which your star is in the center, blocking all sides and making it difficult to do anything.
南西（裏鬼門） Nansei (Urakimon) Southwest (Unlucky Quarter)
Your star is in the southwest. Your luck from the previous year will gradually improve, but you need to be careful in the first half of the year.
本命星早見表
Above is a simplified chart of folks main stars, it uses the Imperial Calendar system, so you'll need to calculate your birth year.
The footnote at the bottom says: "People whose birthdays fall between New Year's Day (January 1st) and Setsubun (February 3rd-4th) will have the star of the previous year."
The Nine Stars as Listed in the Diagram
一日水星 Ippakusuisei
Strengths: Gentle, creative, hardworking, strong core
Weaknesses: Stubborn, assertive, tends to be solitary
二黒土星 Jikokudosei
Strengths: service-oriented, honest, stability-oriented, patient, receptive
Weaknesses: indecisiveness, assertiveness, stubbornness, greed
三碧木星 Sanbekimokusei
Strengths: bright and positive personality, energy and determination, leadership, creativity, sociability, challenging spirit, intuition
Weaknesses: rash, short-term, self-centered, unplanned, vain
四緑木星 Shirokumokusei
Strengths: mild-mannered, considerate, sociable, cooperative
Weaknesses: indecisive, poor decision making, easily swayed by others, lack of stability
五黄土星 Go'ōdosei
Strengths: leadership and decisiveness, strong will and drive, passion and action, confidence and independence, creativity and innovation, inclusion and generosity
Weaknesses: self-centered and dogmatic aspect, emotional ups and downs, stubborn and inflexible, perfectionist and blind to the surroundings, and shakes up those around him.
六白金星 Roppakukinsei
Strengths: high ideals, strong will, high ability, enthusiasm for learning
Weaknesses: pride, dogmatism, conflict with surroundings, inability to admit failure
七赤金星 Shichisekikinsei
Strengths: sharp insight, good storyteller, engaging charm, mood-maker who brightens up the surroundings, well planned, prudent
Weaknesses: high self-esteem, self-promotional, competitive, lack of execution, can waste money depending on mood
八白土星 Happakudosei
Strengths: single-minded, strong-willed, tenacious, and capable of achieving goals
Weaknesses: lack of cooperation, inflexible, self-centered, changeable moods
九紫火星 Kyūshikasei
Strengths: intelligent, sociable, charming, expressive
Weaknesses: vain, extravagant, restless, emotional ups and downs, self-centered, proud
厄年と本命星
“You don't only visit shrines for happy occasions. People will pray to the kami for their luck to change when they are experiencing a streak of misfortune, or are feeling unwell. From experience it is known that there are inauspicious directions and ages one should be particularly careful around.
Yakudoshi are the years when people are prone to misfortune and illnesses, and they differ between men and women. The years before and after yakudoshi are also considered years that one should be careful in. When men turn 42, and women turn 33, in particular is considered a significantly calamitous year, called Taiyaku 大厄.
厄年 was originally 役年, and was the age in which one took on important roles at shrines or other places of worship. In any case, it came to be thought of as the age in which you get purification done at shrines and take care of your body.
Honmeishō is the star used to predict the fortune of the year according to the direction of that star. Years in which the star is in Chū'ō, Kimon (Northeast) and Urakimon (Southwest) are years you should take special care in.”
Sources for the Unlucky Directions, and Star Meanings: 1, 2, 3, 4
Wow this one was a doozy, a good chunk was me reading through various Japanese websites to figure out this star chart stuff. Japanese Astrology is fascinating. As per usual, I am not a professional translator, I do this for fun, and my own practice.
