While Thailand provides numerous cultural venues, none place quite as high a chance of providing an opportunity to experience Japanese Shinto culture outside of Japan as Okuni Shrine at J-Park Si Racha Nihon Mura. The shrine was built and dedicated to the Japanese Shinto priests and is dedicated to the Divine spirit Okuninushi, who was traditionally worshipped as a god of match-making, commerce and auspiciousness.
If visiting a shrine for the first time, it can help to educate people about etiquette if they follow the rules. Every aspect of the visit has a specific purpose, whether it is entry, a gift or offering, or taking the traditional gift, the ritual associated with it.
Entering Okuni Shrine With Respect
The Torii gate is the boundary or gateway between secular space and sacred space of the shrine. People are supposed to leave the use of the main pathway for the kami or deities to walk through; this is considered the path for a deity and people are supposed to avoid walking down the center of it.
It is a custom to bow slightly before passing through the gate as a token of respect. As a courtesy to the faithful, hats and sunglasses are allowed off when one enters the grounds of the shrine.
Purification at the Temizuya
Visitors can follow the traditional Temizuya purification ritual before approaching the Main Altar. Start with your right hand holding the wooden ladle and rinse your left hand with water.
Change the ladle to your left hand and wash your right hand. Take the right hand again, fill the left hand with water to rinse the mouth. Never position the ladle directly on the lips.
Last, at the end of the ladle, tilt the ladle and allow the remainder of the water to run down the main body back into the ladle. The ritual is a sign of purification physically and spiritually prior to prayer.
How to Perform the 2-2-1 Prayer?
The first step to begin at the Saisen-bako is to slowly drop a coin into the offering box. Two deep bends of the head bring the prayer sequence to a close, and then follow two powerful claps of the body.
Once the claps are done, hold hands and silently pray or request what you are asking. Conclude the ceremony with one last “hung dori” (bow).
By following the sequence below, visitors come and go through the shrine’s ceremony, while still observing the order of the ceremony.
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Omamori, Omikuji and Ema
There are also some traditional Japanese items that will be found at a shrine. Omamori are talismans for various kinds of auspiciousness, such as romance, wealth and safety while driving. They are normally well preserved and are strapped to someone or stored in a bag.
Omikuji are fortune slips which may be very good fortune or bad fortune. It is customary to have a special rack at the shrine that can be used to attract a negative fortune.
Small prayer frames made of wood where visitors can write wishes, personal objectives, and messages of thanks for. They are then abandoned at the site of the shrine, following a tradition.
FAQs
Which of these is Okuni Shrine famous for?
The shrine of Okuni is dedicated to Okuninushi and is related to match making, business prosperity and good fortune.
Okuni Shrine is situated where?
J-Park Si Racha Nihon Mura, Si Racha, Thailand.
What to do at the Torii Gate?
Unless you are attending an event, visitors are not advised to walk down the middle, give some consideration to the people and go through with a bow.
