#Chinowa
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camelliakyoto.bsky.social
👣🌿RING OF PROTECTION🔄🙏

Shortly before the mid-point of the year giant rings of reed begin appearing in shrine precincts across the country.

'Chinowa' (茅の輪) are sacred portals, washing off the impurities gathered over the last six months and offering protection for the next six😇
#茅の輪 #chinowa
Chinowa ring in the grounds of Yasaka-jinja (this one is erected in July for the Gion Matsuri). Selection of sweets for June. At the bottom the clear jelly sweet containing beans and a swirl of green is inspired by the giant chinowa rings. Minatsuki is a triangular sweet of soft mochi and red beans, typically eaten around the Nagoshi-no-Harae celebrations. Chinowa ring, dwarfed by the Oten-mon gate of Heian Jingu.
June 19, 2026 at 1:39 AM
curiousordinary.bsky.social
In Japan Nagoshi no Oharae is a Shinto purification ritual occurring on the 30th of June. It involves both writing names on katashiro (paper figures) and passing through chinowa (woven grass rings) to remove burdens and impurities.
🎨'Fuji in a Chinowa' Katsushika Hokusai,
1834.
#WyrdWednesday
1/2
June 18, 2025 at 12:20 PM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
After this time miscanthus reeds (茅 kaya grass) were used to repel sickness and evil, evolving into various regional charms, such as the giant 'chinowa' rings (茅の輪) and smaller brush-shaped 'chimaki' (茅巻き), hung at doorways in Kyōto from July each year.
#夏越の祓 #茅の輪
Chinowa ring at Goo-jinja. Man painting the chinowa ring at Imamiya-jinja. Chinowa at Kamado-jinja.
June 19, 2026 at 4:34 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
crow and nightingale
pass through it too...
purification hoop
御鴉も鶯も潜る茅の輪哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶).
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

As the haiku suggests (crow = commoners and nightingale = nobility), the summer purification ceremony does not discriminate...all are welcome🐦‍⬛
#Kyoto
Illustration of a priest before a chinowa and worshippers purifying themselves at a water font. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/ Right image: Illustration of a priest before a chinowa and worshippers purifying themselves at a water font. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/ Woodblock print of visitors readying to walk through a shrine chinowa. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/ Illustration of worshippers crowding into the grounds of a shrine and beneath a giant chinowa ring. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
June 22, 2026 at 3:20 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
The appearance of chinowa (茅の輪) herald 'Nagoshi-no-harae' (夏越の祓), a summer purification rite traditionally held on the last day of the 6th lunar month.

On June 30th many shrines, such as Kitano Tenmangū (北野天満宮), hold special services.

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #夏越の祓
Chinowa miscanthus reed ring at Goo-jinja. Chimaki, a popular sweet eaten on Children's Day, around Nagoshi-no-harae, and during the Gion Festival. Visitors step through a giant chinowa wrapped around the gate portal at Kitano Tenmangu. Visitors line up to pass through the chinowa beneath the Oten-mon at Heian Jingu (the chinowa is dwarfed by the size of the gate).
June 25, 2025 at 2:40 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Mikami Shrine/御髪神社/2025.06.29
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#MikamiShrine #御髪神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#PurificationOfNatsugoshi
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪くぐり #茅の輪
June 29, 2025 at 6:41 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
The appearance of chinowa (茅の輪) herald 'Nagoshi-no-harae' (夏越の祓), a summer purification rite traditionally held on the last day of the 6th lunar month.

On June 30th many shrines, such as Kitano Tenmangū (北野天満宮), hold special services.
#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #夏越の祓
Chinowa before the main shrine at Kitano Tenmangu. Beautiful flower display in the purification font at Kitano Tenmangu. Kitano Tenmangu's most famous ox statue. Chinowa bound within the Ro-mon gate at Kitano Tenmangu.
June 19, 2026 at 2:07 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
After this time miscanthus reeds (茅 kaya grass) were used to repel sickness and evil, evolving into various regional charms, such as the giant 'chinowa' rings (茅の輪) and smaller brush-shaped 'chimaki' (茅巻き), hung at doorways in Kyōto from July each year.

#夏越の祓 #茅の輪 #miscanthus #kayagrass #chinowa
Chinowa at Kitano Tenmangu. Fields of pampas grass beside Miyama village. A traditional thatched farmhouse in Miyama. A traditional sweet with a grass motif.
June 25, 2025 at 6:22 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
As well as passing through chinowa, in some areas people would purify themselves against disease by transferring 'impurities' onto a proxy that was floated away on a river or the sea.
There are records of domestic animals also being included in these (often entertaining) rites!
A rainy Nagoshi-no-harae at Yasui Konpira-gu. Erecting a chinowa ring for summer purification. Taking home a miniature chinowa to offer protection at home. Miniature chinowa for sale at Kitano Tenmangu.
June 22, 2026 at 4:12 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Nonomiya Shrine/野宮神社/2025.06.29
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#NonomiyaShrine #野宮神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#PurificationOfNatsugoshi
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪くぐり #茅の輪
June 30, 2025 at 7:29 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Nonomiya Shrine/野宮神社/2024.06.22
茅の輪を作ってはりました(^_^)v
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#sagano #嵯峨野
#sagaarashiyama #嵯峨嵐山
#NonomiyaShrine #野宮神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#Chinowa #茅の輪
June 22, 2024 at 7:34 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Nonomiya Shrine/野宮神社/2026.06.27
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#NonomiyaShrine #野宮神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#PurificationOfNatsugoshi
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪くぐり #茅の輪
#Cat #猫
June 28, 2026 at 7:01 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
👣🌿PURIFICATION HOOP🔄🙏

Shortly before the mid-point of the year giant rings of reed begin appearing in shrine precincts across Kyōto.

'Chinowa' (茅の輪) are sacred portals, washing off the impurities gathered over the last six months and offering protection for the next six😇

#NagoshinoHarae #夏越の祓 #京都
Yukiko-san and Norie-san visit Kitano Tenmangu for Nagoshi-no-harae. A sweet inspired by the purification hoops erected for Nagoshi-no-harae. The Gion Festival ends in late July with visitors passing through a reed of rings before Eki-jinja in the grounds of Yasaka-jinja. Priests at Yasui Konpiragu pass through a chinowa in the shrine grounds.
June 25, 2025 at 2:21 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Ogura Pond・Mikami Shrine/小倉池・御髪神社/2025.07.05
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#OguraPond #小倉池
#NearbyPond #近所の池
#MikamiShrine #御髪神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#lotus #蓮 #ハス
#dragonfly #トンボ #蜻蛉
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪くぐり #茅の輪
July 5, 2025 at 7:48 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Kurumazaki Shrine/車折神社/2025.06.21
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#KurumazakiShrine #車折神社
#GeinoShrine #芸能神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪 #茅の輪くぐり
June 24, 2025 at 7:08 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
As well as passing through chinowa, in some areas people would purify themselves against disease by transferring 'impurities' onto a proxy that was floated away on a river or the sea.

There are records of domestic animals also being included in these (often entertaining) rites!
#summerpurification
A chinowa being constructed at Yasui Konpiragu. Miniature chinowa for sale at Kitano Tenmangu. Protective charms for sale at Kitano Tenmangu. Yasui Konpiragu's famous rock, covered in paper prayer slips for forging and breaking relationships.
June 26, 2025 at 3:23 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Kurumazaki Shrine/車折神社/2025.06.21
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#KurumazakiShrine #車折神社
#GeinoShrine #芸能神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪 #茅の輪くぐり
June 24, 2025 at 7:01 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Kurumazaki Shrine/車折神社さん/2024.06.01
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#sagano #嵯峨野
#sagaarashiyama #嵯峨嵐山
#kurumazaki #車折
#KurumazakiShrine #車折神社
#GeinoShrine #芸能神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#Chinowa #茅の輪
June 1, 2024 at 6:26 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Ogura Pond・Mikami Shrine/小倉池・御髪神社/2026.06.27
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#OguraPond #小倉池
#NearbyPond #近所の池
#MikamiShrine #御髪神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#lotus #蓮 #ハス
#PurificationOfNatsugoshi
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪くぐり #茅の輪
June 30, 2026 at 6:59 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Nonomiya Shrine/野宮神社/2025.06.21
茅の輪を作りかけてはりました。
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#NonomiyaShrine #野宮神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#PurificationOfNatsugoshi
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪くぐり
#茅の輪 を作りかけてはりました
June 21, 2025 at 6:49 AM
hitomihcx.bsky.social
Kurumazaki Shrine/車折神社/2026.06.06
#Kyoto #京都 #arashiyama #嵐山
#KurumazakiShrine #車折神社
#GeinoShrine #芸能神社
#NearbyShrine #近所の神社
#夏越の祓 #夏越の大祓
#Chinowa #茅の輪 #茅の輪くぐり
#Gardenia #クチナシ #梔子
#Azalea #ツツジ #躑躅
#Cat #猫
June 10, 2026 at 7:01 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
The summer purification ritual 'chinowa-kuguri' (茅の輪くぐり) and the 'chimaki' amulets evolved from the same legend...both concerned with protecting oneself against disease and misfortune.

Yasaka-jinja, home of the Gion Matsuri, enshrines Susanoo.
July 13, 2026 at 5:19 AM
camelliakyoto.bsky.social
In Kyōto it is common to see small, broom-like charms hung beside doorways. Made from miscanthus reeds, the same grass used to create the giant chinowa rings, 'chimaki' (茅巻き) prevent misfortune from entering the home.
They are sold exclusively during the Gion Festival.
#Kyoto
June 19, 2026 at 5:43 AM
tanukinomori.bsky.social
On June 30th, shrines across Japan hold Chinowa Kuguri, a traditional Shinto purification ritual.

Participants walk through a large grass ring called a chinowa in a figure-eight pattern to ward off illness, cleanse past impurities, and pray for health and good fortune for the rest of the year.
June 28, 2025 at 9:49 PM
dasmarzipan.bsky.social
For #AuGhost: Prompt: Hoop. I had the experience of walking in a figure-eight through a large chinowa (large hoop made of bundled grasses) in front of a Shinto shrine in Kanazawa, Japan, as a summer purification opportunity. My little pre-ghost characters would love to do the same. #AuGhost2025
August 3, 2025 at 1:51 PM