Masakaki: Difference between revisions

| image1 = Masakaki with Sword.jpg

| image2 = Masakaki with Mirror and Jewel.jpg

| footer = Masakaki at [[Yasaka Shrine]][[ja:真榊]]

'''''Masakaki''''' ({{lang-ja|真榊}}) is an object used in [[Shinto]] rituals.<ref name="d-2015a" /><ref name=":0Masakaki">{{Cite web |title=What is a Masakaki Offering? |url=https://www.jiaponline.org/2016/10/what-is-masakaki-offering.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1Sakaki-2021">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=Sakaki {{!}} 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム |url=https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=9610 |access-date=2023-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921215257/https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=9610 |archive-date=2021-09-21 }}</ref> It is put on both sides of a table where the event takes place. Masakaki is made with branches of a tree called [[Cleyera japonica|Sakaki]]. These branches are attached to the top of colorful cloth banners. The banners are in five colors - green, yellow, red, white, and blue.<ref name="d-2015a" /><ref name=":1Sakaki-2021" />

They were mentioned in the [[Kojiki]] and [[Nihon Shoki]] as implements used to get [[Amaterasu]] to leave the cave.<ref name=":1Sakaki-2021" />

Special treasures are hung on these branches. On the left side, a sword is hung. On the right side, a mirror and a [[magatama]] are hung. The three of them symbolize the [[Imperial Regalia of Japan]].<ref name="d-2015a" /> Sometimes, people call the whole setup with a special name, Masakaki-dai. A masakaki offering involves donating two such Masakaki to a shrine or [[Jichinsai|construction ceremony]] with the three treasures.<ref name=":0Masakaki" />

In 2016, [[Shinzo Abe]] got controversy for making a Masakaki offering to [[Yasukuni Shrine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Author |first=No |date=2016-10-17 |title=Abe sends ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/10/17/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-sends-ritual-offering-yasukuni-shrine-name-prime-minister/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> It was incorrectly reported as being an entire tree by some sources.<ref name=":0Masakaki" /> In early 2023, [[Fumio Kishida]] ran into a similar controversy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Japan PM sends offerings to controversial Tokyo shrine |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-yasukuni-kishida-offering-militarism-china-korea-0a875a9251a8e1cc488fbfa6a8a3c251 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kishida donates spring offering to contentious shrine in Tokyo {{!}} The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14890805 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Asahi Shimbun |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Japan PM sends offerings to controversial Tokyo shrine |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/china-ap-fumio-kishida-yasukuni-shrine-tokyo-b2324414.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

== See Alsoalso ==

* ''[[Tamagushi]]''