| |
|
 |
*** click to
enlarge any image *** |
Japanese Purification Rites
  In
the West we often hear that "cleanliness is next to godliness."
This phrase could well be applied to life in Japan where clean living has long
been an important and, in many ways, spiritual part of life. The native
religion of Japan is Shinto; a pantheistic belief system which traces its
origins into pre-history and has been a defining influence in nearly every
aspect of Japanese life. Purification of body and mind are central to
Shinto belief, and cleansing rituals form an important part of nearly all
Shinto rites. Evidence of Shinto's influence is seen in many
aspects of Japanese life such as the use of salt to symbolically cleanse the
body of family members returning home from a funeral service (salt is thrown at
such individuals before they can pass over the threshold). Salt is also
tossed into the wrestling arena as a cleansing action by Sumo wrestlers
preparing for a match. Water is another obvious purification agent very
important in Shinto ritual. Nearly every Shinto shrine will
have a water basin called a chozubachi near the entrance where visitors
to the shrine should wash their hands and mouth. A small wooden ladle
called a hishaku is commonly provided for this purpose. Large
Shinto shrines may have oversized pool-like chozubachi with rows of
hishaku lined-up at the ready (please see the image above which shows a
large chozubachi with many hishaku at a shrine near our home here
in Japan).
 Many
artifacts of the Shinto religion have, over time, made their way into and
around the Japanese home. Nearly every traditional Japanese home will have
one or two small Shinto shrines called zushi positioned on a high
shelf (called a "god shelf") or placed in the garden as sanctuaries for resident
deities (example zushi from my wife's parent's home at left).
Chozubachi are also frequently seen in home gardens, though today these
usually play a more ornamental than functional role and may double as ponds for
beautiful Japanese koi fish. The 19th century Japanese scholar
Edward Morse living in Japan noted "A curious evidence of the cleanly habits
of the Japanese is seen in the chozubachi, a receptacle for water at the
end of the veranda near the latrine. This convenience is solely for the
purpose of washing the hands."
 The
Japanese also appreciate the effort of those who attempt to cleanse their mind
of impure thoughts or dishonorable ambition as well as the clutter of worldly
distraction. This fact is evident in the almost single-minded application
of will which the Japanese are able to apply towards the successful
accomplishment of an important goal or venture. Japanese students are well
known for their ability to clear their mind of distraction in order to focus on
their studies. Very serious students may even make special white headbands
called hisshou hachimaki upon which they boldly write the word hisshou
meaning "win." These headbands are then tied around the
head when studying
in order to help the student keep after their aim. Such ambitious efforts
are often a family affair, with mom and dad frequently taking on the role of proud and busy servants to their studious offspring; bringing tea and
 refreshments and attending to every possible need in an effort to help their son
or daughter avoid distraction and keep after their academic aim. Possibly
the most extreme example of mental cleansing is found with the monks of the
Japanese sect of Zen Buddhist. Seeking enlightenment through worldly
denial, the life of the Zen monk consists largely of long periods of mind
cleansing meditation punctuated by menial community and temple labor and
highlighted by succinct, seemingly illogical sermons from the temple master.
This routine is designed to eventually so remove the acolyte from worldly
distraction and impure thought that enlightenment or satori as it is
called in Japanese may at last be achieved.
The country of Japan has changed greatly since its emergence from isolation
in the middle of the 19th century (Japan was a closed country from approximately
1600 to 1868). The traditional minka home has been replaced by the
ultra-modern house and high rise mansion (large family apartment).
Kimono are only rarely seen and no one wears a samurai sword. However
beneath this modern veneer the spirit and culture of the Japanese has in many
ways changed very little, and the people's almost spiritual appreciation for
cleanliness is one thing in particular that remains largely untouched by outside
influence.
Research on chozubachi:
Nicholas Bornoff & Michael Freeman. "Things Japanese"
Tokyo: Periplus Editions, 2002
Feature Appendix
One of the more interesting acts of devotion/purification the Japanese have
traditionally performed is the act of sitting beneath a freezing torrent in an
effort to demonstrate one's pure heart and resolve. This act was (and
sometimes still is) often performed in the hope of winning favor with petitioned
deities who may witness the event. The old woodblock print below (click to
enlarge) depicts a resolute man in the act of performing such a ritual while a
pair of gods watch from their lofty perch.
Related Features
 |
Japanese
Buddhism in the Home
Learn the history of how and
why Japanese began to keep small Buddhist altars at home. Click
here
|
 |
The Legend of
Daruma
The founder of Zen Buddhism. Click
here
|
 |
Fudo
"The Immovable"
Fierce leader of protective
Buddhist task force.
Click here
|
 |
Buddhist Prayer
Beads
Learn the history and function of these very
special religious implements. Click
here
|
 |
Shinto
Religion
Japan's native faith. Click
here
|
| 
