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Pitt Rivers Museum

1908.82.152

Amulet against fire from Mitsumina-jinja [SM 19/09/2008]


1908.82.152

Digital asset copyright: Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford

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Collection type
Object
Description
Amulet against fire from Mitsumina-jinja [SM 19/09/2008]
Long description
Amulet against fire from Mitsumina-jinja. The amulet is inscribed on one surface in black and has a red stamp. The stamp is decorated with a representation of clouds and is the same as that on 1908.82.420 and 1908.82.258 [SM 19/09/2008]
Geographical reference
Honshu Saitama Mitsumine
Cultural groups
Japanese
Person
Field collector Basil Hall Chamberlain
PRM source Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1908
Date collected
By 1908
Acquisition information
Donated: 1908
Materials and processes
Material Paper Plant, Material Ink, Material Pigment, Process Stamped, Process Printed
Dimensions
Length x Width: max 232 x 106 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1908.82.152 Other numbers: Chamberlain no. 110
Research and responses

This object was examined by Professor Itaru Chijiwa during his research visit in November 2008. He noted that the inscription on the inner strip of paper reads "o-guchi-no-magami" which refers to a wolf. Professor Chijiwa said that it is unusual to protect against a wolf as wolves are traditionally regarded as a good animal because they eat other animals which normally damage crops. He noted that this amulet was from a shrine in Saitama Prefecture. [SM 01/12/2008]

The inscription on this object was transcribed and translated by Fusa McLynn who volunteered at the Museum in 2009 as: Written outside the amulet. “Mitsumine jinja” - Mitsumine shrine. “Kabo no shinji” - Divine mark for protection from fire. Written inside the amulet, “Izanagi okami, Izanami okami, okuchi no makami”, which refers to a wolf.

Search terms: Religion, Ornament, Writing, Amulet, Envelope, Inscription, Religious Object