Description
Antique wooden Japanese Shinto kamidana "god shelf" with assorted new and vintage altar accessories. This type of small Shinto (native religion of Japan) shrine is commonly used in Japan by families, organizations or business to symbolically house the group's patron deity. Kamidana will normally be placed in conspicuous view on a shelf or high wall within an important room such as the family room or in an area where employees or associates work or gather. Kamidana are also used to house sacred tablets called ofuda (lit "honorable plaque") which are inscribed with written prayers and sanctified by a priest. Kamidana are normally not just for show and will commonly receive regular attention from those who live or operate within its sphere of influence. With my wife's (Japanese) family for instance, the two kamidana within their home do receive offerings twice daily; once in the morning and again in the evening before supper. The ritual is always the same, and anyone who wakes up early enough might enjoy watching mother as she takes the first scoops of rice from the cooker and gives these, along with several clear glasses of water, to her husband who delivers the offerings, along with a solemn prayer, to each of the home's kamidana as well as to their home's small Buddhist altar (butsudan). Kamidana (aka zushi) are basically small versions of larger Shinto shrines called Jinja, which are found at the heart of every Japanese community as well as areas of spiritual significance and to mark important natural features such as waterfalls and even the tops of mountains. Please read below to learn more about Japanese Shinto shrines.
About the Listed Item
The antique wooden kamidana offered here features expert craftsmanship and classic Japanese style, with detailed architectural touches. The shrine includes double doors providing access to a small sanctuary where ofuda and other appropriate religious items may be placed. We received this wonderful old shrine from a Japanese soba noodle restaurant located in Shizuoka City, Japan. The owners of the restaurant are an elderly couple who have run their noodle house in the same downtown location for over 50 years. The couple has decided to retire and we were fortunate to acquire many items from the restaurant including this lovely, timeworn kamidana. The kamidana has spent more than 50 years watching over restaurant patrons and serving as the family's spiritual center for prayers, protection and aid in achieving personal and business goals. The kamidana is in good condition considering its age and has no major damage though several accessories such as banisters and rails are loose or broken. We have most of the pieces on hand and will ship these along with the kamidana. We suspect that someone who is handy with woodcraft might be able to repair and replace the few loose and missing pieces. This particular kamidana is designed to function as a built-in unit though it can certainly be used as a standalone altar.
To complete the kamidana we have added several new and vintage items which are commonly seen in use with Japanese kamidana. Included are a new wooden offering tray (sanbou), two vintage ceramic water vessels (tokkuri) as well as a second pair of different sized, vintage painted porcelain tokkuri which are suitable for use as small vases. A pair of vintage glass offering plates (sara) and a brand new glass water vessel (misuire) are also included. Additionally, two Japanese offering cups (buppanki) are included. The buppanki cups are actually more commonly seen in use with Buddhist altars though as we have sometimes seen them used with Kamidana thought it might be nice to include these as well. Finally, a brand new Shinto ofuda paper-covered wooden prayer plaque is included. The ofuda comes from the Minowa Inari Shinto shrine located in Shimizu, Japan. This shrine is the oldest and largest Shinto shrine in Shimizu and the included ofuda is suitable for general purpose usage.
Size of kamidana:
Height: 12.3 inches (31.5 centimeters)
Width: 22.2 inches (57.0 centimeters)
Depth: 6.4 inches (16.5 centimeters)
Weight: 3.2 pounds (1.4 kilograms)
item code: R1S1-0003374
ship code: D
Loading...
200 videos
i love your kamidana set. i am in the process of creating one for myself similar to the one you have on your wall. if you could suggest a place where i can get accessories such as the vessle bottles, covered dish, wooden offering platform, brass rice bowls, etc i would really appriciate and advice you could give.
TheBuddhistwitch 10 months ago
it is so beautiful
princessbelladona 11 months ago
i got my kamidana from ebay
pluto15 1 year ago
Wow, you're so lucky!!! Very divine :)
We're so lucky as well to get to view :)
Thank you.
thunhi80 1 year ago
Extremely interesting. Thanks a lot.
Why has the kamidana grilled windows?
What is supposed to be behind them?
Qcumber 2 years ago
How lovely! I got my kamidana at Yasukuni Shrine and I display it too.
sithlordess 2 years ago
how much to buy and send to UK?
ceniboy 4 years ago