Various talismans exist in Okinawa in addition to shisa.
A talisman is called a munnukimun, and what we are introducing here is
just one part of them.
First of all, a gen has a circular knot fashioned from susuki, or Japanese
pampas-grass. During the days of shibasashi (when evil is supposed to
appear), in August of the lunar calendar, a gen and a sprig of mulberry
are tied together and placed as talismans at the corners and entrances
of a house as well as all around its roof.
A sun is a small knot of susuki, straw and basho (Japanese banana) leaf
and the like. It is affixed to food that is taken out of a house, such
as a lunch or an offering for the departed.
Akufugeshi (sending back the evil wind) are spider conches hung from a
cattle shed that protect against livestock epidemics.
Shakogai, a giant clam, is a talisman when placed on a gate or stone wall.
It is also believed that there is a magical power in garlic, which is
hung on houses and pigsties to exorcise evil spirits with the intense
smell.
At an event called shimakusarashi a lanyard to which splinters of cow
and pig bone are attached is stretched across the entrance of a community.
This point is considered to be a boundary, and thus the spread of an epidemic
will be averted.
Often seen with shisa are ishiganto. Chinese characters, or kanji, are
carved on a flat stone that is inserted into a stone wall at a T-intersection
or placed in front of it. It is believed that evil spirits congregate
at the end of a street, so the ishiganto stands as a talisman against
them.
A wall-like a screen standing between a gate and a main building is known
as a himpun, which not only keeps the house out of sight, but also prevents
an invasion of evil spirits from without.
Incidentally shisa, ishiganto and himpun are talismans introduced from
China. Such foreign talismans easily became established in Okinawa since
a belief in talismans already existed at the heart of Okinawan culture.
This resulted in the shisa culture coming into full bloom at a later date. |
