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[[File:住吉神社 (神戸市西区)2008初詣 社殿P1010466.jpg|thumb|right|Kadomatsu in [[Shinto shrine]]]]
[[File:住吉神社 (神戸市西区)2008初詣 社殿P1010466.jpg|thumb|right|Kadomatsu in [[Shinto shrine]]]]


A {{Nihongo|'''''kadomatsu'''''|門松||"gate [[pine]]"}} is a traditional [[Japan]]ese decoration of the [[Japanese New Year|New Year]] placed in pairs in front of homes to welcome ancestral spirits or ''[[kami]]'' of the harvest. They are placed after [[Christmas]] until January 7 (or January 15 during the [[Edo period]]) and are considered temporary housing (''[[shintai]]'') for ''kami''. Designs for ''kadomatsu'' vary depending on region but are typically made of [[pine]], [[bamboo]], and sometimes [[ume]] tree sprigs which represent longevity, prosperity and steadfastness, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/01/01/general/lucky-food-charming-decorations-visiting-deities-welcoming-the-new-year-with-history-tradition/#.VzkU7oR97IV|title=Lucky food, charming decorations, visiting deities: welcoming the new year with history, tradition {{!}} The Japan Times|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-16}}</ref> "The fundamental function of the New Year ceremonies is to honor and receive the ''[[toshigami]]'' (deity), who will then bring a bountiful harvest for farmers and bestow the ancestors' blessing on everyone." After January 15 (or in many instances the 19th) the ''kadomatsu'' is burned to appease the ''kami'' or ''toshigami'' and release them. The kadomatsu is included in [[Unicode]] as {{unichar|1F38D|PINE DECORATION}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://emojipedia.org/pine-decoration/ |title=Pine Decoration Emoji |website=[[Emojipedia]]}}</ref>
A {{Nihongo|'''''kadomatsu'''''|門松||"gate [[pine]]"}} is a traditional [[Japan]]ese decoration as ''[[yorishiro]]'' of the [[Japanese New Year|New Year]] placed in pairs in front of homes to welcome ancestral spirits or ''[[kami]]'' of the harvest. They are placed after [[Christmas]] until January 7 (or January 15 during the [[Edo period]]) and are considered temporary housing (''[[shintai]]'') for ''kami''. Designs for ''kadomatsu'' vary depending on region but are typically made of [[pine]], [[bamboo]], and sometimes [[ume]] tree sprigs which represent longevity, prosperity and steadfastness, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/01/01/general/lucky-food-charming-decorations-visiting-deities-welcoming-the-new-year-with-history-tradition/#.VzkU7oR97IV|title=Lucky food, charming decorations, visiting deities: welcoming the new year with history, tradition {{!}} The Japan Times|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US|access-date=2016-05-16}}</ref> "The fundamental function of the New Year ceremonies is to honor and receive the ''[[toshigami]]'' (deity), who will then bring a bountiful harvest for farmers and bestow the ancestors' blessing on everyone." After January 15 (or in many instances the 19th) the ''kadomatsu'' is burned to appease the ''kami'' or ''toshigami'' and release them. The kadomatsu is included in [[Unicode]] as {{unichar|1F38D|PINE DECORATION}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://emojipedia.org/pine-decoration/ |title=Pine Decoration Emoji |website=[[Emojipedia]]}}</ref>


==Construction and placement==
==Construction and placement==
The central portion of the ''kadomatsu'' is formed from three large bamboo shoots, though plastic ''kadomatsu'' are available. Similar to several traditions of [[ikebana]] (Japanese flower arrangement), the shoots are set at different heights and represent [[heaven]], [[human race|humanity]], and [[earth]] with heaven being the highest and earth being the lowest. Some ''kadomatsu'' place the humanity and earth shoots at the same height. After binding all the elements of the ''kadomatsu'', it is bound with a straw mat and newly woven straw rope. ''Kadomatsu'' are placed in pairs on either side of the gate, representing male and female.
The central portion of the ''kadomatsu'' is formed from three large bamboo shoots, though plastic ''kadomatsu'' are available. Similar to several traditions of ''[[ikebana]]'' (Japanese flower arrangement), the shoots are set at different heights and represent [[heaven]], [[human race|humanity]], and [[earth]] with heaven being the highest and earth being the lowest. Some ''kadomatsu'' place the humanity and earth shoots at the same height. After binding all the elements of the ''kadomatsu'', it is bound with a straw mat and newly woven straw rope. ''Kadomatsu'' are placed in pairs on either side of the gate, representing male and female.


==Gallery==
==Gallery==

Revision as of 21:29, 8 October 2017

Kadomatsu in Shinto shrine

A kadomatsu (門松, "gate pine") is a traditional Japanese decoration as yorishiro of the New Year placed in pairs in front of homes to welcome ancestral spirits or kami of the harvest. They are placed after Christmas until January 7 (or January 15 during the Edo period) and are considered temporary housing (shintai) for kami. Designs for kadomatsu vary depending on region but are typically made of pine, bamboo, and sometimes ume tree sprigs which represent longevity, prosperity and steadfastness, respectively.[1] "The fundamental function of the New Year ceremonies is to honor and receive the toshigami (deity), who will then bring a bountiful harvest for farmers and bestow the ancestors' blessing on everyone." After January 15 (or in many instances the 19th) the kadomatsu is burned to appease the kami or toshigami and release them. The kadomatsu is included in Unicode as U+1F38D 🎍 PINE DECORATION.[2]

Construction and placement

The central portion of the kadomatsu is formed from three large bamboo shoots, though plastic kadomatsu are available. Similar to several traditions of ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement), the shoots are set at different heights and represent heaven, humanity, and earth with heaven being the highest and earth being the lowest. Some kadomatsu place the humanity and earth shoots at the same height. After binding all the elements of the kadomatsu, it is bound with a straw mat and newly woven straw rope. Kadomatsu are placed in pairs on either side of the gate, representing male and female.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Lucky food, charming decorations, visiting deities: welcoming the new year with history, tradition | The Japan Times". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
  2. ^ "Pine Decoration Emoji". Emojipedia.

2. The Hawaii Herald