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Shinto · TRADITIONAL RITUAL PRAYERS · PERSONALIZE & PRINT A4

Shinto Household Kamidana and Jichinsai Groundbreaking Norito Prayers: Liturgy for Home Shrine, Land Pacification and Ancestral Spirits

Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami · Tutelary Land Kami Ubusunagami · Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow & Pure Heart Makoto · A4 Scroll

Three complete liturgical Norito scrolls from the Japanese Shinto tradition: the daily morning and monthly Tsukinamisai (1st and 15th) prayer before the household Kamidana shelf, the Jichinsai Groundbreaking and Jotosai Roof-Raising land-pacification prayer, and the household ancestral prayer before the Shinto Mitamaya (Soreisha) spirit shrine.

Occasion
Every Morning, 1st & 15th of Each Month (Tsukinamisai) & Groundbreaking (Jichinsai)
Renew evergreen Sakaki branches on the 1st and 15th; offer fresh water (Mizu), rice (Kome) and salt (Shio) each morning
Auspicious timing
Mao (05:00-07:00), Chen (07:00-09:00), Si (09:00-11:00)
Best performed in the clear early morning hours as the rising sun illuminates the home
Altar setting
Household Kamidana Shelf (Facing South or East) & Jichinsai Outdoor Himorogi Altar
Present the 5 pure Shinsen offerings: washed white rice (Kome), spring water (Mizu), white sea salt (Shio), sacred Sake (Omiki) and Sakaki
Variants & A4 scroll
3 variants · A4 Scroll
Daily & Tsukinamisai Kamidana Norito, Jichinsai Groundbreaking & Mitamaya Ancestral Shrine

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Tradition-Specific Sub-page of Shinto (1 ritual prayer in this tradition)
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3. Choose Prayer Variant, Enter Altar Mode or Print A4 Scroll

Recited by the householder and family members each morning and on the 1st and 15th days of every month (Tsukinamisai) after purifying hands and mouth with clean water (Temizu), arranging the Shinsen offerings (rice, water, salt, Sake, evergreen Sakaki), and performing the Nirei Nihakushu Ichirei salutation.

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Shinto Household Kamidana and Jichinsai Groundbreaking Norito Prayers: Liturgy for Home Shrine, Land Pacification and Ancestral Spirits

1. Daily Morning and Monthly (1st & 15th Tsukinamisai) Norito Prayer Before the Household Kamidana

Opening Salutation (Ippai: Stand upright before the Kamidana, bow gently at 45 degrees once to quiet the mind, then recite the Purification Words Harae-kotoba).

Purification Invocation (Harae-kotoba): With deep awe and reverence before the Great Kami of Purification born when the August Sovereign Izanagi-no-Okami washed and purified Himself at the river mouth of Awagihara in Tachibana of Himuka in Tsukushi! Oh Great Kami of the Purification Place (Haraedo-no-Okami), we humbly pray that You sweep away and cleanse every unintentional fault (Tsumi), every stagnation or impurity (Kegare), and every obstacle resting upon our bodies, minds and household. Hear our petition in peace! (Kakemaku mo kashikoki Izanagi no Okami, Tsukushi no Himuka no Tachibana no Odo no Awagihara ni, misogi harae tamaishi toki ni narimaseru Haraedo no Okami-tachi, moromoro no magagoto tsumi kegare aramu wo ba, harae tamae kiyome tamae to maosu koto wo kikoshimese to kashikomi kashikomi mo maosu).

Two Deep Bows and Two Reverent Claps (Nirei Nihakushu): Bow deeply at a 90-degree angle twice in solemn reverence (Nirei). Bring both palms together at chest height, slide the right hand slightly lower by one knuckle beneath the left fingertips in humility, open hands shoulder-width apart and clap twice with a clear, resonant sound (Nihakushu). Align both palms together at the chest and speak the Norito from a sincere heart (Makoto).

In deep awe and reverence, we speak before this sacred Kamidana sanctuary (Kashikomi, kashikomi mo maosu)! We bow before the Supreme Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami enshrined at the Grand Shrine of Ise (Jingu Taima), whose radiant light sustains all living beings across heaven and earth.

We bow before the Tutelary Guardian Kami of our local land and community (Ujigami and Ubusunagami), the Revered Patron Deities (Suhaujin), and the Eight Million Kami (Yaoyorozu no Kami) dwelling throughout mountains, rivers, forests and seas.

Today is ……………………, in the ………… Year.

………… ………………………………, of the ………… family lineage, residing at: ………….

In the clear light of this new morning (or on this monthly Tsukinamisai observance of the 1st and 15th), through the boundless grace and august protection of Amaterasu Omikami and the Guardian Kami, our household has awakened in good health, peace and harmony.

With profound gratitude and in accordance with the Way of Nature (Kannagara), ………… have purified our hands and mouth, tidied the sacred shelf, and respectfully placed before the Kamidana the five pure gifts of earth and sea (Shinsen): freshly washed white rice (Kome), crystal morning water (Mizu), pure white sea salt (Shio), sacred rice wine (Omiki) and fresh evergreen branches of Sakaki.

May Amaterasu Omikami and the Guardian Kami graciously accept these offerings and bestow Your benevolent blessing (Mi-megumi): protecting our residence at ………… from fire, storm, illness and misfortune; and granting every member of ………… robust vitality, a heart as bright, pure and upright as the Sacred Mirror (Yata no Kagami), diligence in our daily work, and enduring family harmony.

………… pledge to walk each day with a bright, pure, upright and sincere heart (Akaki Kiyoki Naoki Makoto no Kokoro), honoring the gifts of nature and serving our community with honesty and kindness.

Closing Salutation (Ichirei): In deep awe and gratitude we humbly pray! (Kashikomi, kashikomi mo maosu). Lower both hands to your sides, bow deeply at 90 degrees once (Ichirei), and offer one gentle 45-degree bow (Ippai) before stepping back.

IICeremonial Offerings and Preparation Checklist

Shinto household and construction rituals rest upon the principle of Seimei Seichoku (Bright Purity, Uprightness and Sincerity). Offerings presented upon the home Kamidana shelf or the outdoor Jichinsai altar are known as Shinsen (Food for the Kami): the purest staples of earth, mountain and sea, centered on white rice, spring water, sea salt, sacred Sake and evergreen Sakaki branches.

Prepared 0 of 10 items

Group 1: The Five Core Shinsen Offerings on the Household Kamidana (Daily & 1st / 15th)

Group 2: Seasonal Harvests for Jichinsai Groundbreaking & Monthly Tsukinamisai

Group 3: Purification Water, Altar Lamps & Hinoki Cypress Vessels

Offering Photograph Credits (Wikimedia Commons · Open Licenses): 1. Washed White Rice (Kome / Senmai) and Cone-Shaped Sea Salt: Sanjay Acharya (CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source) · 2. Fresh Morning Water in a White Ceramic Vessel: Phuong Huy (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source) · 3. Pair of White Porcelain Sake Flasks: Phuong Huy (Public domain · Source) · 4. Pair of Evergreen Sakaki Branches (Cleyera japonica) or Fresh Green Boughs: Bui Thuy Dao Nguyen (CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source) · 5. Fruits of the Mountains and Vegetables of the Fields: Rachel41Ng (CC0 · Source) · 6. Round Mirror Rice Cakes (Kagami-mochi) or Dried Sea Kelp: Phuong Huy (Public domain · Source) · 7. Warm Steamed Rice and Green Tea: Phuong Huy (Public domain · Source) · 8. Pair of White Altar Candles or Kamidana Lanterns: Aliva Sahoo (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source) · 9. Clean Water for Hand-Washing and Mouth-Rinsing (Temizu) with Fresh White Towel: Mattes (Public domain · Source) · 10. Circular Sacred Mirror (Shinkyo), Shimenawa Rope & Unvarnished Hinoki Trays: Phuong Huy (Public domain · Source)

IIIInteractive 3D Altar, Layout Diagram and Ritual Protocol

Drag to rotate 360° · Click numbered pins 1 to 7 or cards below to inspect each offering
Rendering crimson-and-gold 3D ritual altar…
A household Shinto Kamidana (God-Shelf) is mounted high above eye level in a bright, clean family room, facing South (to receive midday sunlight) or East (to greet the rising sun). Inside the unpainted Hinoki cypress miniature shrine (Miya-gata), three sacred talismans (Ofuda / Shinsatsu) are enshrined: at the center stands Jingu Taima of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami from Ise Grand Shrine; on the viewer's right stands the Ujigami Ofuda of the local tutelary deity; and on the viewer's left stands the Suhaujin Ofuda of a personally revered shrine.
1
Hinoki Cypress Miniature Shrine (Miya-gata) Housing Three Sacred Ofuda TalismansCenter: Jingu Taima (Amaterasu Omikami of Ise); Viewer Right: Local Ujigami; Viewer Left: Revered Suhaujin.
2
Sacred Rice-Straw Rope (Shimenawa) with Four Zigzag White Paper Streamers (Shide)Suspended across the top front of the Kamidana shelf to demarcate a purified sacred precinct.
3
Circular Sacred Bronze Mirror (Shinkyo) Centered Before the Shrine DoorsSymbol of the Sacred Mirror Yata no Kagami, reminding the worshiper to keep an unclouded, truthful heart (Makoto).
4
Pair of Evergreen Sakaki Vases (Sakaki-tate) at the Outer Left and Right CornersPositioned symmetrically at the far left and right edges of the shelf; branches are refreshed on the 1st and 15th.
5
Central Shinsen Row: Washed White Rice Plate (Kome) Flanked by Two Sake Flasks (Heishi)White rice sits directly at the center in front of the mirror, with a pair of white porcelain Sake flasks on either side.
6
Cone-Shaped Sea Salt Plate (Shio on Viewer Right) & Pure Water Vessel (Suiki on Viewer Left)Facing the Kamidana: the salt cone sits to the right of the Sake flask, and the unlidded water vessel sits to the left.
7
Shinto Ancestral Spirit Shrine (Mitamaya / Soreisha) or Outdoor Jichinsai Himorogi AltarThe ancestral Mitamaya shelf is mounted slightly lower than the Kamidana; for Jichinsai, a 4-bamboo Himorogi altar is raised on site.

Real-world reference photographs of traditional altars and offering trays

Open-license documentary photographs via Wikimedia Commons (click any photo for source file)
Traditional Vietnamese household altar with bronze trio. Balanced Vietnamese domestic altar displaying a bronze incense urn and candlesticks at the rear, a blue-and-white ceramic incense bowl centered on a wooden stand, red gladiolus vases and fresh fruit.
Traditional Vietnamese household altar with bronze trio. Balanced Vietnamese domestic altar displaying a bronze incense urn and candlesticks at the rear, a blue-and-white ceramic incense bowl centered on a wooden stand, red gladiolus vases and fresh fruit.
Photograph: Phuong Huy · License: Public domain · Source: Wikimedia Commons
Pure vegetarian offering tray for Full Moon and New Moon rites. Modest household vegetarian offering featuring mung-bean sticky rice, leaf-wrapped cakes, plant-based savory dishes, dragon fruit and ripe bananas, a lit oil lamp and fresh flowers.
Pure vegetarian offering tray for Full Moon and New Moon rites. Modest household vegetarian offering featuring mung-bean sticky rice, leaf-wrapped cakes, plant-based savory dishes, dragon fruit and ripe bananas, a lit oil lamp and fresh flowers.
Photograph: Phuong Huy · License: Public domain · Source: Wikimedia Commons

Step-by-step ceremonial sequence before the altar

Shinto worship unites physical purification (Temizu) with the dignified rhythm of Two Deep Bows, Two Claps, and One Deep Bow (Nirei Nihakushu Ichirei).

  1. Step 1
    Purify hands and mouth with clean water (Temizu) and wear neat attire

    Upon waking in the morning, wash your face, thoroughly wash your left and right hands, and rinse your mouth with clean water before approaching the Kamidana.

  2. Step 2
    Present fresh morning water, white rice and sea salt, and remove vessel lids

    Place fresh water (Mizu), washed white rice (Kome) and a neat cone of sea salt (Shio) on the Kamidana. Remove the lids of the water vessel (Suiki) and Sake flasks (Heishi) before praying.

  3. Step 3
    Stand upright before the Kamidana, offer a 45-degree bow (Ippai) and recite Harae-kotoba

    Stand one step back from the shelf with an upright posture, bow gently at 45 degrees once (Ippai), and recite the short purification formula Harae-kotoba.

  4. Step 4
    Perform Two Deep Bows at a 90-degree angle (Nirei)

    Bend slowly from the waist to a full 90-degree flat-back bow twice in succession, expressing supreme reverence toward Amaterasu Omikami and the Kami.

  5. Step 5
    Clap twice clearly (Nihakushu) and recite the Norito Prayer

    Join palms at chest height, slide the right hand down by one knuckle below the left fingertips, open hands shoulder-width apart and clap twice resonantly. Re-align both palms and recite Variant 1, 2 or 3.

  6. Step 6
    Perform One Deep 90-degree Bow (Ichirei) and a closing 45-degree bow (Ippai)

    After completing your Norito prayer, lower both hands to your sides, bow deeply at 90 degrees once (Ichirei), and conclude with a gentle 45-degree bow (Ippai).

  7. Step 7
    Partake of the blessed offerings in family meals (Naorai communion)

    Replace vessel lids; later lower the offered rice, salt, water and Sake from the Kamidana and cook them into the family's meal (Naorai) to share in the life-force of the Kami.

IVThe Philosophy of Kannagara (Living in Harmony with Nature), Makoto Sincerity and Norito Prayers

Shinto (the Way of the Kami) is Japan's indigenous spiritual tradition, rooted in reverence for the sacred vitality permeating nature, community and ancestral continuity. In the Shinto worldview, the sun, mountains, rivers, ancient trees, wind and human beings all partake in a shared life-force emanating from the Kami. Humanity is regarded as inherently good, born as children of the Kami (Ujiko); yet in daily life people inevitably accumulate dust on the spirit through unintentional missteps (Tsumi) and energetic stagnation or impurity (Kegare).

According to the tradition

Consequently, the primary aim of Shinto liturgy is not to plead for supernatural favors, but to perform Harae (Purification): sweeping away Kegare so that one's innate luminous heart, known as Akaki Kiyoki Naoki Makoto no Kokoro (a bright, pure, upright and sincere heart), shines forth unobstructed. That is why a circular bronze mirror (Shinkyo) stands at the center of the Kamidana rather than a sculpted idol: when worshipers bow before the shrine, they behold their own reflection and examine the honesty of their own mind.

According to the historical record

From Japan's earliest chronicles, the Kojiki (Record of Ancient Matters, 712 CE) and Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan, 720 CE), to the 27 classical liturgical scrolls preserved in Book VIII of the Engishiki (Procedures of the Engi Era, 927 CE), formal Shinto prayers are called Norito. Classical scholars such as Motoori Norinaga (1730 to 1801) explained that words spoken with reverent sincerity (Makoto) carry Kotodama (the spiritual power of resonant speech). Reciting a well-ordered Norito in gratitude harmonizes the household with the blessings of the Kami.

VStructure of the Household Kamidana and Official Rules for Enshrining Three Ofuda Talismans

In Japanese homes, traditional workshops, martial arts halls (Dojo) and corporate offices, the Kamidana (God-Shelf) functions as a miniature Shinto shrine. According to the guidelines of the Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honcho), both the placement of the shelf and the arrangement of the three sacred talismans (Ofuda or Shinsatsu) follow a precise hierarchy.

Standard placement of the household Kamidana and hierarchy of the 3 Ofuda talismans.
Kamidana ElementStandard Position (Facing the Shelf)Theological Meaning & Enshrinement Rule
Shelf Orientation & ElevationMounted above eye level in a clean, bright room, facing South or East.Faces the warmth of the southern sun or the rising eastern sun. In multi-story buildings or apartments, families paste the written character Kumo (Clouds / Sky) on the ceiling directly above the Kamidana to signify that only heaven lies above the Kami.
Center Compartment (or Front Layer): Jingu TaimaExact center of the Hinoki cypress shrine (Miya-gata).Enshrines Jingu Taima, the sacred talisman of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami issued from the Grand Shrine of Ise (Ise Jingu).
Right Compartment (or Middle Layer): Ujigami OfudaViewer's right side when looking into the Kamidana (the honored left side from the Kami's seat).Enshrines the talisman of Ujigami / Ubusunagami, the local tutelary deity protecting the neighborhood or town where the household resides.
Left Compartment (or Rear Layer): Suhaujin OfudaViewer's left side when looking into the Kamidana (the right side from the Kami's seat).Enshrines the talisman of Suhaujin, a shrine or Kami personally revered by the family or business (such as Inari Okami for prosperity, Tenjin for scholarship, or Ebisu).
Shinto Ancestral Spirit Shrine (Mitamaya / Soreisha)Mounted on a separate shelf slightly lower than the main Kamidana.Houses the Mitama-shiro (wooden spirit tablet or small mirror) honoring departed family ancestors who have become Guardian Ancestral Spirits (Sorei).
According to the tradition

Single-Door Shrine Rule (Ichisha-zukuri): When a compact Miya-gata has only one central door rather than three, the three Ofuda talismans are stacked neatly one behind another from front to back: Jingu Taima (Amaterasu Omikami) at the very front, the local Ujigami Ofuda in the middle, and the personally revered Suhaujin Ofuda at the back. Each December before the New Year (Oshogatsu), families return the previous year's Ofuda to their local shrine for the sacred bonfire rite (Otakiage) and receive fresh talismans for the coming year.

VIThe Five Shinsen Offerings and the Meaning of Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow (Nirei Nihakushu Ichirei)

Unlike Buddhist altars (Butsudan) where incense sticks are burned in ash bowls, a Shinto Kamidana never uses incense. Communion with the Kami is expressed through five pure natural offerings (Shinsen) and the crystalline resonance of clapping hands (Hakushu / Kashiwade).

1. White Rice (Kome), Sea Salt (Shio) and Morning Water (Mizu)

Renewed every morning: washed white rice (or cooked rice) sits at the center, a small cone of pure sea salt sits on the viewer's right, and fresh water drawn in the morning sits on the viewer's left.

2. Sacred Rice Wine (Omiki) and Evergreen Sakaki Branches

On the 1st and 15th of each month (Tsukinamisai) and auspicious occasions, a pair of porcelain flasks filled with Sake flank the central rice plate, and fresh evergreen Sakaki branches are placed in the outer vases.

3. Sliding the Right Hand Slightly Downward When Clapping (Kashiwade)

Before clapping twice, worshipers join palms at chest level and slide the right hand down by one knuckle beneath the left fingertips. In classical Japanese court and shrine protocol, the left side represents the spiritual realm of the Kami and the right side represents humanity; lowering the right hand shows humility and produces a fuller acoustic clap.

4. Sacred Communion Through Naorai (Sharing the Kami's Bounty)

Once worship concludes, the rice, salt, water and Sake lowered from the Kamidana are never discarded; they are cooked into the family's daily meals. This practice, called Naorai, allows the household to ingest the vital blessing of the Kami.

VIIThe Jichinsai Groundbreaking Ceremony and Jotosai Roof-Raising Rite in Japanese Architecture

Even in twenty-first-century Japan, before constructing a family home, a high-rise tower, a semiconductor plant or a high-speed rail station, owners, architects and engineers gather on site to perform Jichinsai (the Groundbreaking and Land-Pacification Ceremony) officiated by a Shinto priest (Kannushi).

According to the tradition

The Outdoor Himorogi Altar and Seven Ceremonial Stages of Jichinsai: At the center of the cleared site, four fresh green bamboo stalks are erected at the four corners of a square, linked by sacred rice-straw rope (Shimenawa) hung with white paper lightning streamers (Shide). In the center stands an evergreen Sakaki branch serving as the Himorogi (temporary sacred vessel where the Land Kami descends). The rite proceeds through seven ordered steps:

(1) Shubatsu (Purification): The priest waves the white paper wand (Onusa) while reciting Harae-kotoba to purify the land, offerings and attendees; (2) Koshin (Calling Down the Kami): A solemn vocal call welcomes the Tutelary Land Kami (Ubusunagami) into the central Sakaki branch; (3) Kensen (Presenting Offerings): Removing the lids of the water and Sake vessels alongside fruits of mountain, field and sea; (4) Norito Sojo (Reciting the Liturgical Scroll): Chanting the Jichinsai Norito (Variant 2); (5) Shihobarai (Purifying the Four Corners): Walking clockwise to the Northeast, Southeast, Southwest and Northwest corners of the site to scatter white rice, sea salt, Sake and confetti-like paper strips (Kirinusa); (6) Jichin-no-Gi (Ceremonial First Earth-Breaking): The architect mows ceremonial grass with a sickle (Kusakari-zome), the owner strikes the conical sand mound three times with a wooden hoe while calling out Ei! Ei! Ei! (Ugachi-zome), and the builder spades the earth (Tsuchisuki-zome) while burying the pacification talisman box (Shizume-mono); (7) Tamagushi Hoten & Shoshin (Offering Sakaki Boughs and Sending Off the Kami): Each representative offers a sacred Tamagushi branch, performs Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow, and bids farewell to the Kami.

VIIIFive Essential Rules of Etiquette and Taboos in Shinto Household Worship

A common misunderstanding

Five important guidelines for maintaining a respectful Shinto Kamidana at home or in an office:

First, never mount a Shinto Kamidana directly opposite a Buddhist altar (Butsudan) facing each other (Mukaiawase). Many Japanese households maintain both a Kamidana and a Butsudan. If placed in the same room, never position them directly facing one another, as bowing to one would force the worshiper to turn their back directly toward the other; instead, place them side by side or on perpendicular walls.

Second, do not install the Kamidana directly over a doorway where people constantly walk underneath, nor against a wall shared with a restroom. Choose a quiet, dignified wall in the main living area.

Third, never blow out Kamidana candles with your breath. In Shinto purity norms, human breath is considered potentially impure; always extinguish altar flames using a candle snuffer or a gentle wave of the hand.

Fourth, observe mourning closures (Kamidana-fuji) and silent claps (Shinobite) during bereavement. When a death occurs in the immediate family, the household covers the front of the Kamidana with a sheet of white paper for 49 or 50 days (Kichu) to shield the sacred shelf from the sorrow and impurity of death. During Shinto funeral and memorial rites (Mitama-matsuri), worshipers bring their hands together silently without making a sound (Shinobite).

Fifth, never leave wilted Sakaki leaves or spoiled offerings on the shelf. A single cup of fresh morning water offered daily with a sincere heart (Makoto) honors the Kami far better than elaborate offerings left neglected.

?Quick Questions

Which direction should a household Shinto Kamidana face, and which Ofuda talismans are placed inside?

According to the Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honcho), a household Kamidana should be mounted high above eye level in a clean, bright family room, facing South (toward the midday sun) or East (toward the rising sun). Inside the cypress shrine (Miya-gata), three sacred Ofuda talismans are enshrined: at the center (or front layer) stands Jingu Taima of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami from Ise Grand Shrine; on the viewer's right (or middle layer) stands the Ujigami Ofuda of the local tutelary deity; and on the viewer's left (or rear layer) stands the Suhaujin Ofuda of a personally revered shrine.

How do you properly perform Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow (Nirei Nihakushu Ichirei)?

Follow this classical sequence before any Shinto shrine or household Kamidana: (1) Stand upright and offer a gentle 45-degree bow (Ippai); (2) Two Deep Bows (Nirei): bend from the waist to a full 90-degree flat-back bow twice; (3) Two Reverent Claps (Nihakushu): join palms at chest height, slide the right hand down by one knuckle beneath the left fingertips, open hands shoulder-width apart and clap twice clearly, then align both palms at the chest to recite the Norito prayer; (4) One Deep Bow (Ichirei): lower your hands, bow deeply at 90 degrees once, and finish with a gentle 45-degree bow before stepping back.

What are the five Shinsen offerings placed on the Kamidana daily and on the 1st and 15th of each month?

The five pure offerings (Shinsen) are: (1) Washed white rice (Kome) or freshly steamed rice placed on a small plate at the exact center; (2) White sea salt (Shio) shaped into a neat cone and placed on the viewer's right; (3) Pure morning water (Mizu) in an unlidded white vessel (Suiki) placed on the viewer's left; (4) Sacred rice wine (Omiki / Sake) in a pair of open porcelain flasks (Heishi) flanking the central rice plate on the 1st and 15th; and (5) Evergreen Sakaki branches in the two outer vases (Sakaki-tate), refreshed on the 1st and 15th of each month.

When is the Shinto Jichinsai Groundbreaking Ceremony performed, and what does it accomplish?

Jichinsai (the Groundbreaking and Land-Pacification Ceremony) is performed on the building site after clearing the land and before any foundation excavation begins. The rite asks permission from the local Tutelary Land Kami (Ubusunagami), purifies the four corners of the property with rice, salt, Sake and paper streamers (Shihobarai), enacts the ceremonial first strokes into a sand mound (Ugachi-zome), and prays for unshakeable structural stability and complete safety for all engineers and construction workers.

Can international households or joint-venture companies outside Japan perform Kamidana worship or Jichinsai?

Yes, with complete warmth and authenticity. Shinto does not require a doctrinal conversion ceremony; it honors Makoto (sincerity of heart), gratitude toward nature, and respect for the spirit of the land where one lives or works. International families and Japanese joint-venture enterprises constructing offices or factories abroad regularly use Variant 1 and Variant 2 on this page to conduct dignified ceremonies.

How does the Shinto ancestral shrine (Mitamaya / Soreisha) differ from the main Kamidana?

In Shinto, the Kamidana enshrines the Sun Goddess Amaterasu Omikami and the natural Kami, and is mounted at the highest position. The Mitamaya (Spirit Dwelling) or Soreisha (Ancestral Spirit Shrine) is a dedicated smaller shrine mounted slightly lower than the Kamidana, enshrining the Guardian Ancestral Spirits (Sorei) of the family's own lineage. During morning devotions, family members salute the Kamidana first (Variant 1) and then salute the ancestral Mitamaya (Variant 3).

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Compiled, textually collated and diagrammed by Master Ưng Khiêm and UK MASTER ACADEMY. Last updated: 31 October 2026. Sources: Collated from the classical Engishiki Norito (Book VIII, 927 CE), Kojiki (712 CE), official liturgical manuals on Kamidana no Matsurikata and Jichinsai issued by the Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honcho), and traditional Harae-kotoba texts.