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Pitt Rivers Museum

1892.29.18.1

Amulet. Ritual purification wand of wood [.1] in stamped and inscribed kite-shaped folded paper envelope [.2]. [SM 13/11/2008]


1892.29.18.1

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Collection type
Object
Description
Amulet. Ritual purification wand of wood [.1] in stamped and inscribed kite-shaped folded paper envelope [.2]. [SM 13/11/2008]
Long description
Amulet. Ritual purification wand of wood [.1] in stamped and inscribed kite-shaped folded paper envelope [.2]. The piece of wood has a thin strip of paper bound around it at one end. The envelope has two square red stamps. On has an inscription and images of corn, grass or similar plant inside it, the other just has an inscription. [SM 17/10/2008]
Geographical reference
Honshu, Ise Mie Prefecture (ken) , Toyouke-daijingu
Person
Field collector Basil Hall Chamberlain
PRM source Basil Hall Chamberlain
Date / Period
Date made: Before 1892
Date collected
Before 1892
Acquisition information
Donated: 1892
Materials and processes
Material Paper Plant, Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Material Glue, Process Stamped, Process Printed, Process Glued, Process Bound
Dimensions
Width: max 6 mm, Width: max 72 mm, Length: max 169 mm, Length: max 190 mm
Object numbers
Accession number: 1892.29.18.1 Accession number: 1892.29.18.2
Research and responses

This object was examined by Professor Itaru Chijiwa during his research visit in November 2008. He stated that this object is a ritual purification wand "onusa". These wands were presented when praying the the Kami or exorcising imperfections He stated that the wand was from Ise-jinja, from the outershrine "Geku" also known as "Toyouke-daijingu". [SM 13/11/2008]

The inscription on this object was transcribed and translated by Fusa McLynn who volunteered at the Museum in 2009 as: “Toyouke daijingu” - Toyouke shrine. [SM 10/02/2009]

Associated publications
This object is illustrated in an article by Basil Hall Chamberlain, Notes on Some Minor Japanese Religious Practices, The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol. 22 (1893), pp. 355-370, plate XXV. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2842134 [El.B 06/06/2012] Referenced as footnote 16 on page 74 in 'Chamberlain and his collection: Ofuda and maps from Meiji Japan' by Fusa McLynn in the volume 'Ofuda - On Japanese Charms' proceedings on an international conference on Ofuda held in Paris on the 1st and 2nd March 2012 where Fusa McLynn presented her paper. [FB 14/11/2014]

Search terms: Religion, Dwelling, Writing, Ornament, Amulet, Building Part, Print, Inscription, Envelope