This blog is my photo gallery that shows the photos I shot while travelling
around Japan, and I often visit temples and shrines for not only taking
photos but receiving a calligraphy cards of each temple or shrine called
"Goshuin（御朱印）". Recently almost all temples and shrines are providing
us their Goshuin with beautiful writings, stamps or even religious
pictures!
Goshuin has a religious meaning, but at the same time, I believe it should
be a good souvenir or gift when you travel around Japanese temples and
shrines. Therefore this page will briefly introduce you the origin and
meaning of Goshuin and how you can get them with some simple conversation
samples and my photos of Goshuin and temples/shrines.
Goshuin Album
~Index~
1. What is Goshuin?
Originally, Goshuin is a proof of Buddhism pilgrimage. When a pilgrim visit
a temple, s/he writes a copy of
Heart Sutra (wiki) and offer it to the temple. The temple monk, in return, gives
the pilgrim a piece of paper with a name of the temple. At the funeral
of the pilgrim, the paper is also put in their coffin and sent to a
crematory. Buddha will find the prayer of the pilgrims and guide them to
heaven.
Nowadays, there is no need to offer the Heart Sutra to get the Goshuin (it
is still required in some temples), and you can even recieve Goshuin at
shrines of Shinto-ism. It only costs 300 Yen or 500 Yen /card. Each temple
and shrine has their own Goshuin books as the photo above, and you can ask
the monks to write it on the book (there are some rules. I will explain them
later).
2. What is written on Goshuin?
The contents of the Goshuin are simple and no difference between temples and
shrines, prayer word, date, name of temle/shrine, and stamp. the photos
above are the Goshuin at Jishoji-temple（慈照寺）aka Ginkaku（銀閣）in Kyoto
and its English translation provided by the temple. Jishoji-temple is very
huge, and several buildings (pavilions) there have their own Goshuin.
This is a Goshuin of the main building. I usually receive the main ones
only.
Goshuin of temples are like strict and solemn. On the other hand, Goshuin of
shrines tends to be simple but artistic. Some shrines provides the seasonal,
monthly or Shinto-ism holiday Goshuin with different colours or
designs. Buddhism and Shinto-ism are totally different religions, so
the idea for the Goshuin should be different, too.
However, some temples also provide artistic Goshuin. This weird Goshuin is
from Hozo-ji temple（宝蔵寺）in Kyoto, and you can choose from many colours
of Goshuin. Actually, this temple is a family temple of Jakuchu Ito（伊藤若冲
1716-1800) who was a painter of weird pictures like this Goshuin.
3. Rules of Goshuin
Lengthy explanation is over. Then let's see how you can receive the Goshuin
at temples and shrines. There are some simple but strict rules when you
receive the Goshuin.
-
Use separated Goshuin books between temple and shrine.
As I said, Buddhism of temples and Shinto-ism of shrines are totally
different religions. Therefore, if you collect the Goshuin on Goshuin books,
the books need to be separated. If not, monks often refuse to provide you
the Goshuin. I am using two books with different sizes. Large one is for
temples, and small one is for shrines.
-
Be peaceful and patient (Zen mind!)
There are no monks who is working only for Goshuin. If they are busy for
their daily jobs, do not force them to provide Goshuin. Also, most of
temples and shrines are closed at 5 pm. You should not visit them later than
that for Goshuin.
-
Use Goshuin book, not your own notebooks.
Temples and shrines often complain that "Goshuin is not a commemoration
stamp" as it has a religious background. If you do not have your Goshuin
books, temples and shrines also provides us the Goshuin on a piece of
paper.
-
When you receive Goshuin by card, DO NOT BEND IT!!
This would rather be a manner in Japan, but bending a card with names or
messages are unbelievably impolite in Japan. Goshuin is a religious item, so
bending it is much more impolite than doing it to business cards.
However, if the card is big, you can cut the edge of the card. If I receive
the card that is bigger than my Goshuin book, I cut it and glue it on the
book.
There should be more small rules, but I think these are the basic ones. "Zen
mind" is the most important!!
4. How can you receive Goshuin?
If you can read Japanese (or Chinese characters), find 「御朱印」words on
board. Almost all temples and shrines providing Goshuin show the words
somewhere you can receive it. If you cannot read Japanese, do not worry.
Many Japanese tourists are also making a queue on a booth for Goshuin with
their Goshuin book in their hand in famous temples and shrines.
If you cannot find the queue, find a booth selling charms or religious items
in the temples or shrines. Monks are working there, so you can ask where you
can receive the Goshuin. In most of times, Goshuin is also provided in the
same booth.
If you are not able to find whether you are visiting a temple or a shrine,
find a main gate of the place first. If the gate is like the photo above
made of wood or stone, it is a shrine (usually not so large as this photo!). The gate is called "Torii（鳥居）",
which is a gate to a Shinto-ism's divine place.
Or most of temples have Buddha statues outside or in a building while
shrines do not.
If you are not a fluent Japanese speaker, here are some simplified phrases
to receive Goshuin.
-Conversation when you receive Goshuin on cards-
You: Goshuin, kami de kudasai (Goshuin
on a card, please, 御朱印、紙でください。)
Monk: Sanbyaku yen/Gohyaku yen oosame
kudasai (please offer us 300 Yen/500 yen、300円/500円、お納めください）
You: Arigato (Thank you、ありがとう）
-Conversation when you receive Goshuin on your Goshuin book-
You: (Pointing a page of Goshuin book)
Goshuin, kokoni kudasai
(Goshuin on this page, please, 御朱印、ここにください。
Monk: Sanbyaku yen/Gohyaku yenoosame kudasai (please offer us 300 Yen/500 yen、300円/500円、お納めください）
You: Arigato (Thank you、ありがとう）
Note, some temples and shrines provide us several patterns of Goshuin. I
recommend you to find you favourite one or choose the first one on the list,
which should be a main Goshuin of the place.
Timing of paying money depends on the temples and the shrines. Some request
before Goshuin, and others do after. Monks in big temples or shrines
sometimes hand you a number card. You can visit around the place first and
exchange it to your Goshuin when you leave there.
Some temples and shrines do not indicate the price of Goshuin to us by
saying "Okimochi dake ("with you mind" literally). This does not mean
it is free of charge! I often pay 300 yen in this case. If I do not have
coins, I pass a note of 1,000 yen and say "300 yen（Sanbyaku-yen)".
5. Where is the place to visit?
I've got tremendous number of temples and shrines to recommend you around
Kyoto or Tokyo. I have summarised some of my travels on this photo gallery
as below. I am appreciated if you check the page and find your next place!!
No comments:
Post a Comment