Since the Meiji Restoration in Japan, although the New Year has been changed from Spring Festival to New Year's Day, the customs of the year have been passed down very well!
Ringing the bell to pray for blessings is an essential New Year's Eve ritual in Japan. Tokyoites' favorite place to go is Zōjoji under Tokyo Tower. The New Year's bell rings 108 times, which means to drive away 108 kinds of worries and eliminate the old year. The bad luck brings the best start to the year.
△ Zojoji Temple, the grandest bell-ringing ceremony in Tokyo
Hatsuachi
The first worship on the first day of the new year
Visiting a shrine on the first day of the new year is an indispensable custom for Japanese New Year . It is called "chusachi" in Japanese. Express your gratitude to the gods for the past year and pray for peace and health in the new year.
There are many ways to choose the first pilgrimage of the New Year . Some people go to Zojoji Temple for the first pilgrimage directly after the countdown, some wait until midnight at Sensoji Temple, and some go to Meiji Jingu Shrine early the next morning for the first pilgrimage.
And more people choose to participate in the Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage early the next morning. The "Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage" that originated in the Edo period is a Japanese folk tradition. It is said that if you visit the seven gods during the first month, you can get the most blessings!
The Seven Lucky Gods come from different religious sects such as Shinto, Buddhism, Taoism, and Brahmanism, and there is also a goddess among them.
△ Among the Seven Gods of Luck, only Ebisu is a native Japanese god.
The Seven Gods of Luck are worshiped from New Year's Day to the 7th. There are various shrines to the Seven Gods of Good Luck, and the "Seven Gods of Good Luck Pilgrimage Route" has been developed as a tourist route.
The most worth visiting is the Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage Route near Nihonbashi in Tokyo. This road is full of Seven Lucky Gods composed of shrines. It is rare in the whole of Japan, so it is very popular with locals.
These shrines vary in size and are hidden among residential buildings. There are also century-old shops and delicious restaurants passed down from the Edo period nearby. It is an excellent way to walk through the streets and alleys to see Tokyo and feel the people in the city.
△ Nihonbashi sign
The entire Seven Luck Gods pilgrimage itinerary can be easily completed in two or three hours. Many locals in Tokyo will get up early on New Year’s Day to worship the Seven Luck Gods because they all believe that gathering the Seven Luck Gods can start a whole new year. Year of good luck.
△ Attached is the Seven Lucky Gods Pilgrimage Route
Xiaozuna Shrine
Fukusushi and Benzaiten
Xiaozuna Shrine enshrines the two gods "Fukushou" and "Benzaiten" at the same time. "Fukushou" is naturally responsible for good fortune and longevity. Although this shrine is small, it has a history of more than 540 years. Many people pray here to eliminate bad luck and increase wealth.
Benzaiten, commonly known as the God of Fortune and Freedom, is the only goddess among the seven gods of good fortune. Legend has it that she is proficient in music and a goddess who is good at eloquence. She is the first goddess revered in India and is the god who blesses good management and academic achievements.
Chanoki Shrine
Budai Zun, Hongfu Jixiang
Chanoki Shrine was named after the tea trees that grew around it in the old days. It is loved by the villagers as "Chanoki-sama". The main worshiping deity is the Fushimi clanInari god.
The shrine also protects the surrounding forests from fires, so it is regarded as the god of fire. In Showa 60, Hotei moved to the shrine, which is Maitreya Buddha, and became the Nihombashi Seven Lucky Gods.
Suitengu
Benzaiten, the god of good fortune
Suitengu is dedicated to Benzaiten and is a shrine dedicated to blessing safe childbirth. It is said that coming here to pray for blessings is very effective for smooth childbirth, seeking a child, and avoiding floods.
The most famous thing about Suitengu Shrine is the Zibo Inu. If you are a fan of Japanese dramas and a "newcomer" who has watched Abe Hiroshi , you will not be unfamiliar with this shrine! The Zibao dog can pray for the well-being of the child, and every mother with a child will let the child touch it.
According to Japanese custom, the day of Xu (once every 12 days in the order of the twelve earthly branches) is the most effective day to pray for the safety of mother and child. Therefore, the incense in Shuitian Temple is extremely prosperous on Xu's day, and even the number of people entering the temple needs to be restricted.
Everyone who comes to pray has to scoop a ladle of water for the kappa here and pour it on the kappa's head. It is said that the kappa cannot be allowed to dry up and must be kept moist at all times, so that the kappa will bless the people who come to pray. .
Matsushima Shrine
Mahakala, good luck and good fortune
Matsushima Shrine is dedicated to Mahakala, which ensures a good harvest. It is hidden on the first floor of an office building. The area around the shrine has been a commercial and entertainment district lined with shops since ancient times. Artists and ordinary people are I like to come here to worship.
Suehiro Shrine
Bishamonten, Wisdom
Suehiro Shrine is dedicated to Bishamonten, the god of victory and defeat, and is worshiped as the god of merit.
Bishamonten is also known as Duowenten. Yes, he is the northern one among the four heavenly kings of Nantianmen in Chinese mythology. He is also the only military commander among the Seven Gods of Fortune.
Kasama Inari Shrine
Shou old man, longevity and immortality
Kasama Inari Shrine is dedicated to Shou old man, who is regarded as the god of luck by the people of Shitamachi. When he can't see the way forward, he often comes to ask Shou old man for guidance.
Kasama Inari Shrine also has a group of cute fox statues. This is because in Inari Shrines, in addition to human gods, fox gods are enshrined. The most famous one is Fushimi Inari Shrine.
Sugimori Shrine
Ebisu, business is booming
Sugimori Shrine is probably the second most popular shrine after Suitengu. It is an ancient shrine with a history of a thousand years, enshrining the god Ebisu who blesses business, so it is very popular. exuberant.
Takarada Ebisu Shrine
Ebisu, wealth comes in
Takarada Ebisu Shrine enshrines the God Ebisu. It is said that the sculpture of the God Ebisu in the shrine was made by a famous artist and has a very elegant shape.
When traveling to Japan in the new year, you may wish to arrange a tour of the Seven Lucky Gods of Kichijoji . In addition to visiting major shrines and temples and collecting royal seals, it can also help you bring good luck!
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