Shuin

The title of this article is ambiguous. For the Japanese commercial sailors see Shuinsen .

Temple temple and calligraphy of Ginkaku-ji ,
October 2nd Heisei 28

Opened Goshuinchō (honorable red book of seals) with some blotting sheets

Collection by Shuin of the 88 Stations of Shikoku Junrei , 2017

Goshuin of the 88 Stations of the Shikoku Pilgrimage on a Hakui, 2016

Scroll with Shuin des Saigoku Sanjūsansho (Eng. "Pilgrimage along the 33 places in the western countries"), 2016

A Shuin ( Japanese 朱 印 , dt. "Red seal") is a calligraphic annotated seal stamp imprint that pilgrims and visitors can get in many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines in Japan . Since they are viewed with reverence, the honorary prefix Go- can also be called Goshuin ( 御 朱 印 ).
Often the Shuin are collected by the pilgrims in special books called Shuinchō ( 朱 印 帳 ) / Goshuinchō ( 御 朱 印 帳 ) or Nōkyōchō ( 納 経 帖 ). There is also the possibility of collecting the Goshuin on the white pilgrim's robe called Hakui or Oiziru ( ).

meaning

Shuin have been collected in Japan since the Edo period and may initially have been confirmations for copied sutras , a pilgrim prayer exercise and also personal travel documents for the pilgrimage.

The collected Shuin can be shown unfolded on the open coffin of the deceased to show the spiritual merits of the pilgrim.

On special Buddhist pilgrimage routes such as the 33-station Saigoku pilgrimage route or the 88-station Shikoku pilgrimage route , Nōkyōchō were and are consciously used for the Shuin.

It is possible that more than one shuin can be created at a temple if several holy sites or different Buddha statues are venerated in that temple. There is also its own shuin at certain pilgrimage times.

However, temples of Jōdo-Shinshū reject the creation of Shuin.

The beginning of the Reiwa period ( Japanese 令 和 時代 , Reiwa-jidai) on May 1, 2019 was a reason for many Japanese to go to a shrine and ask for a shuin. This sometimes led to long queues.

Creation

In 2016 (Japanese Heisei 28 ), visitors could ask for a shuin to be created in the temple office, usually for a donation of 300 yen, now some temples have raised their prices, partly due to increased inquiries.

A shuin is created at a temple by Buddhist monks or at a Shinto shrine by Kannushi or Miko .

They are given the Shuinchō and usually given a waiting number. At some temples you can watch the creation of the Shuin, although photography is usually not desired.

In addition to mostly red imprints of one or more stamps, the creator writes further names of the temple, the day of the visit and a blessing formula on the white paper of the Shuinchō in black calligraphy . The side opposite the fresh entry is then protected by a piece of blotting paper . This can be printed with further blessings, an explanation of the Shuin and / or a translation.

Sometimes pre-printed / prescribed loose sheets are also available that can be glued into the Shuinchō. It is appropriate to thank the return of the Shuinchō for the creation of the Shuin.

See also

• Japanese book stamps

Individual evidence

1. ↑ [1] Japan Online Travel Guide, accessed October 21, 2016
2. ↑ Henrō-tabi or “How to be a Perfect Pilgrim” ( Memento from October 21, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) English-language website on Japanese Buddhism, accessed on October 21, 2016
3. ↑ [2] English blog entry on Japan and Go-Shuin-Cho, accessed on October 21, 2016
4. ↑ [3] a Japanese page of Shin Buddhism, sermon reflection, accessed on October 21, 2016
5. ↑ Happy Reiwa! People celebrate the first day of a new era around Japan 【Pics & Videos】. SoraNews24, May 1, 2019, accessed on May 10, 2019 (English). 
6. ↑ Four hours of waiting time & video: I'll wait 10 hours. meganedene on twitter, via SoraNews24, May 1, 2019, accessed May 10, 2019 (Japanese). 
7. ↑ as an example: Asakusa Shrine: Japanese notice on the price change on January 1, Heisei 29, ( memento of February 17, 2017 in the Internet Archive ) accessed on March 7, 2018 (Japanese)