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| Credits: The "Wedded Rocks" at Futamigaura |
good fortune
now protects this house
shimekazari
now protects this house
shimekazari
at Futamigaura
protecting beach and sailors
rope between rocks
protecting beach and sailors
rope between rocks
shimekazari
the kami flee from the temple
in Kyoto
the kami flee from the temple
in Kyoto
© G.s.k. 15
Today I'm writing about the shimekazari ... a Japanese Shintoist ornament made with straw rope widely used throughout that land to ward off the bad spirits at the beginning of new year. For further information about this custom I invite you to read Carpe Diem Haiku Kai's post on the subject. In the meantime here are two haiku written by Basho about these wreaths:
mina ogame Futami no shime o toshi no kure
please all, worship this!
the sacred rope of Futamigaura Beach
at end of the year
© Basho (1688)
haru tatsu to warawa mo shiru ya kazari nawa
spring has finally come
even the children will understand this -
ritual rope decorations
© Basho (written at the age 28)
