Omikuji

Omikuji (Japanese御 御 签,御 神 签, orおみくじ, translated as " lottery oracle ," O is a Honorativpräfix, hence sometimes only Mikuji ) are strips of paper written on which divinations and in Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples can be found in Japan.

Omikuji usually obtained by shaking one of many randomly selected box and thereby a particular fate or simply wish only happiness. The Omikuji falls while curled up from a small hole in the box. However, there are other ways to get the Omikuji, in some cases there are even vending machines for Omikuji.

Unrolled to the Omikuji, the respective divination is visible. This can be for example one of the following: Greater Blessing ( dai - kichi ,大吉) Middle blessing ( chū - kichi ,中 吉) Little Blessings ( shō - kichi ,小 吉), blessing ( kichi ,吉), Half blessing (han - kichi ,半 吉), near- blessing (sue - kichi ,末 吉), near- Little Blessings (sue - shō - kichi ,末 小 吉), curse ( kyō ,凶), Small curse ( shō - kyō ,小 凶), Half curse (han - kyō ,半 凶), near- curse (sue - kyō ,末 凶), Great curse ( dai - kyō ,大 凶).

The divinations of Omikuji can on any aspect of life, such as physical health, professional success or partnership questions applied and interpreted. Should the prediction be bad, then it is the custom, the Omikuji fold and to knot on a pine tree, which is located in the immediate vicinity of the temple or shrine, which has maintained the Omikuji. A possible explanation for this custom has it that the Japanese words pine (松matsu ) and are waiting (待つmatsu ) homophones and thus rejuvenate the idea of ​​expression, the misfortune to dwell thenceforth on the tree, rather than to stick on the person. However, if the Omikuji predicts good, you keep it usually.

Curse Mikuji凶from Todai -ji in Nara

Branch with knotted Mikuji

Omikuji - machine in the Himuro Shrine in Nara