Departments
Intermediate Japanese - Free Online Course
JICHINSAI
地鎮祭
ground-breaking ceremony
The jichinsai is usually held before work begins on the foundation of a building. With the owners of the enterprise in attendance, a Shinto priest prays over the building site. He prays for the safety of the workers, and also tries to appease any angry spirits that may be in the area.
When Japanese companies build facilities abroad, the jichinsai is usually substituted with a Western-style ground-breaking ceremony and a souvenir shovel. However, the two are sometimes mixed. Shinto priests have prayed over business sites that are as far away from Japan as Guadalajara, Mexico, and the U.S. state of Kentucky.
JINJA
神社
Shinto shrine
A jinja is served by a Shinto priest (kannushi / 神主), and attended to by the people living near the shrine. The shrine houses an ujigami 氏神. The ujigami is an ancestral deity, which is supposed to look over all the people living near the shrine.
Jinja contain standard elements. Outside the jinja is a torii / 鳥居gate. After passing through the torii, the visitor enters the hall of worship (haiden / 拝殿). At the rear of the hall of worship is the main sanctuary (honden / 本殿). The entrance to the sanctuary is guarded by two stone lions (komainu / 狛犬). The stone lions protect the jinja from evil spirits.
JIZŌ
地蔵
Jizō is the guardian deity of children. He is traditionally represented as a Buddha-like character holding a large round gem in one hand, and a staff in the other. Statues of Jizō are common along country roads.
When a child dies, stones are placed before one of these statues. Many believe that the stones enable Jizō to assume the burdens of the deceased child.