Shide (Shinto)

Nihongo|Shide|紙垂, 四手| is a zigzag-shaped paper streamer, often seen attached to shimenawa or tamagushi, and used in Shinto rituals. A popular ritual is using a "harai gushi", or "lightning wand", named for the zig-zag shide paper that adorns the wand. A Shinto priest waves the harai gushi over a person, item, or newly bought properties, buildings, and cars. The wand is waved at a slow rhythmic pace, but with a little force so that the "shide" strips make a rustling noise on each pass of the wand. For new properties, a similar ritual known as "jijin sai" is performed with a harai gushi, an enclosed part of the land (enclosed by shimenawa), and sake, or ritually purified sake known as O-miki. The haraigushi has been used for centuries in Shinto ceremonies and has similarities in Ainu culture. The Ainu is a culture north of Japan that are closely related to Japan's first settlers. In their culture, a shaved willow branch called an Inaw or inau closely resembles the Shinto haraigushi, and is used in similar blessing rituals.

External links

* [http://www.nihonbunka.com/shinto/shime.htm Shide strips in shinto]
* [http://www.nihonbunka.com/shinto/shinto-haraigushi.htm Attaching Shide strips to wand]