Quote:
Originally Posted by TokyoSnowBunny
I have a question about something I've read in a book. The book has a chapter about travel and it talks about Japan. It says that a nice place to visit is the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Tokyo.
It says that when you visit it you have to wash your hands, rinse your mouth, clap your hands, and bow. In return for observing the rituals you become Japanese and are able to revel in the shrins calm. Is this true and what is all that ritual for?
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Before you enter the temple it is traditional to pour some water over your hands and to wash out your mouth (most people just do the hands things). Then after you enter at the front of the shrine will be a thick rope connected to a bell. After giving a small contributution (100 yen or so... up to you) tossed into a wood box you ring the bell, clap your hands and pray for whatever it is you want to pray for. Again, this is optional, but for Japanese, especially, it's part of the reason they would come to the shrine.
It doesn't "make you Japanese", but it may give you the feeling of what a Japanese person feels when they visit a shrine.
The ringing of the bell is optional, but it is nice to at least do the water thing, as it shows respect.