Torri And Kamidana Home Project

RainStarDragon · **Posted:** Sun Jul 12, 2009 12:19 am

This is more of a craft than anything, perhaps eventually a separate craft/project board ought to be set up if enough posts generate a need for one.

One of the things that I undertook today was to construct a small torri, which I've been meaning to do for a long time. Popsicle sticks, after a long time of not having the sort of tools I needed for building a larger one, was the material of choice. With small children about, it's a building material that I have fairly steady access to, whether they are eating a bunch, or I'm picking up bags of them for projects.

I took four, laying them out with two uprights and two crossbars, then gluing them together. I intend to paint this after it dries, suspending this above the outer door. As the path to my kamidana also involves the passage through another door, I will make another two... one for above that door, and one to place before the kamidana itself, and the standing one I intend to make a stand for (probably two small, heavy blocks of wood).

My son wants me to help him construct a "spirit house" for "mommy's shelf," also with popsicle sticks, as his sister has her own separate one that she maintains. So when that project is completed I will list the supplies that took, as well as pictures. I thought that might prove useful to someone down the road, as an alternative to painting a cardboard box for those that would like a wood structure, but don't have a lot of room or money to obtain one from a shrine.

Zhenwu · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:02 pm **Posts:** 36

Sounds like an interesting project. I've been feeling a little crafty myself and wanting to reinvent my little shrine area. Perhaps I'll employ some craft into it. The unrelated crafty feeling I was feeling before was to attempt construction of a wooden dummy for martial arts practice. That might be too ambitious though. I'll have to think about it.

rhaine_patrick · **Joined:** Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:30 am **Posts:** 211

Are kamidana those little shrines found in gardens? I love them and wanted to have one after buying my own house.

Zhenwu · **Joined:** Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:02 pm **Posts:** 36

rhaine_patrick wrote:

Are kamidana those little shrines found in gardens? I love them and wanted to have one after buying my own house.
The short answer is no. There is, of course, nothing wrong with having a garden shrine though. Kamidana 神棚 are "Kami shelves" and are usually inside the home, office, or whatever and in an elevated position. Some are small, simple, and near the ceiling, and others are quite large and ornate. Here is a link from the "Encyclopedia of Shinto" website for some info and a picture . At least in modern times they are set up to be like a miniature version of a full size shrine (especially the larger kamidana). There are such things as miniature shrines (often enshrining a local tutelary kami) that you may find on the sides of streets or perhaps in gardens, but I am not sure if it is the same as what you are referring to. Small shrines and sacred objects around a village may be arranged and positioned based on prescribed tradition often only known by the local priests.

_________________
"Taking the Origin as such, one penetrates the origin of origins; Taking the Original State as such, one sees the heart-mind." - Yuiitsu Shintō Myōbō Yōshū
「元元入元初　本本任本心」
唯一神道名法要集

RainStarDragon · **Posted:** Tue Aug 11, 2009 2:37 am

Yes, I'm speaking of the "Kami Shelf" and implements that are upon this.

I think Rhaine of thinking of the toro, or the little stone lanterns that look like a comfortable place to alight in? If not the lanterns, the shrines themselves would still be called shrines.

rhaine_patrick · **Joined:** Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:30 am **Posts:** 211

I don't know what they call it but I'm really attracted to those little shrines found in gardens. I feel something different each time I look at it.

Torri And Kamidana Home Project

Who is online