Mitamashiro: The Sacred Heart of Japanese Shinto
When travelers visit a Shinto shrine in Japan, they often marvel at the vermilion torii gates, the meticulously raked gravel, and the distinct architecture of the main hall (honden). However, unlike Western cathedrals or Buddhist temples where statues of deities are prominently displayed, the central object of worship in a Shinto shrine is almost always hidden from view. This hidden heart is the Mitamashiro.
Also known as Shintai (body of the Kami), the Mitamashiro is one of the most profound and mysterious concepts in Japanese culture. It serves not as a depiction of a god, but as a physical vessel where the spirit resides. For the cultural traveler, understanding this concept transforms a shrine visit from a mere sightseeing stop into a deep encounter with the unseen.
Origins: From Nature to the Vessel
The concept of Mitamashiro dates back to the dawn of Japanese civilization and the roots of animism. In the earliest forms of Shinto, there were no shrine buildings. Ancient people believed that Kami (spirits or deities) resided in awe-inspiring natural formations—massive cedar trees, distinct waterfalls, or majestic mountains. These were the original vessels.
As society evolved and permanent structures were built to honor these spirits, the need arose for a tangible object to house the Kami within the sanctuary. The term Mitamashiro translates literally to “honorable spirit substitute.”
Historically, three types of objects became the standard vessels for these spirits:
- Mirrors: Representing truth and the sun.
- Swords: Representing valor and resolution.
- Jewels (Magatama): Representing benevolence and the soul.
However, a Mitamashiro can also be a simple stone, a wooden wand, or even a painting. The object itself is not worshipped for its material value; it is revered solely because it anchors the divine energy of the Kami to the physical world.
Legend: The Mirror of the Sun Goddess
The most famous legend regarding a Mitamashiro is recorded in Japan’s mythological texts and concerns the Imperial Regalia of Japan. It tells the story of Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Goddess.
According to mythology, Amaterasu, angered by her brother’s violent behavior, hid herself inside a cave, plunging the world into eternal darkness. To lure her out, the other gods gathered outside. They hung a mirror (Yata no Kagami) and jewels on a tree and performed a raucous dance. Piqued by the noise and told that a goddess more beautiful than herself had arrived, Amaterasu peeked out and saw her own brilliant reflection in the mirror. Fascinated, she was drawn out of the cave, restoring light to the world.
When Amaterasu later sent her grandson, Ninigi-no-Mikoto, to rule the earth, she gave him this very mirror, saying, *”Regard this mirror exactly as if it were my august spirit, and reverence it as if reverencing me.”
This mirror is believed to be enshrined today at the Ise Grand Shrine as the ultimate Mitamashiro, never to be seen by the public, ensuring the spiritual continuity of the Japanese Imperial line.
Modern Culture: The Hidden God
In modern Japan, the reverence for the Mitamashiro dictates the architecture and rituals of Shintoism. The honden (main sanctuary) of a shrine is essentially a vault for the Mitamashiro. The doors are kept tightly closed. In many cases, even the chief priests have never seen the object wrapped deep within layers of silk brocade.
The Mobile Spirit
The concept of the spirit substitute comes alive during Japanese festivals (Matsuri). You will often see a Mikoshi—a portable shrine carried on the shoulders of chanting locals. Before the festival begins, a solemn ritual takes place where the Kami is transferred from the main Mitamashiro in the shrine to a temporary Mitamashiro inside the Mikoshi. This allows the deity to travel through the streets, blessing the community, before returning to the sanctuary.
Respectful Secrecy
This culture of secrecy adds to the mystique. By keeping the object hidden, Shinto emphasizes that the divine is something to be felt rather than scrutinized. It preserves the sanctity of the spirit, protecting it from the impurities of the outside world.
Traveler’s Tips: How to Engage with the Unseen
Visiting a shrine requires a shift in perspective. Since you cannot see the object of worship, you must focus on the atmosphere and the ritual.
- The Approach: When you bow at the Torii gate, imagine you are entering the home of the spirit housed in the Mitamashiro.
- The Prayer: When you stand before the offering box (saisen-bako), you are facing the closed doors of the inner sanctum. Perform the standard ritual: Bow twice, clap twice, and bow once. The clap is intended to signal your presence to the spirit within the vessel.
- No Photos: Never attempt to take photos of the interior of the main sanctuary if the doors happen to be open during a ceremony. It is considered highly disrespectful to try and capture the image of the divine vessel.
- Ise Jingu: If you visit the Ise Grand Shrine, note that you cannot even get close to the main hall. You worship from behind a fence. This is the ultimate expression of the distance required to maintain the sanctity of the Mitamashiro.
Sources & Further Reading
For those interested in delving deeper into the mythology and history of Japanese spirit vessels, the following classical texts and resources are essential:
- The Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters): Japan’s oldest historical record (712 AD), detailing the creation myths and the origin of the Imperial Regalia.
- The Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): Completed in 720 AD, this text provides a more detailed historical account of the lineage of the gods and the establishment of shrines.
- Shinto: The Kami Way by Sokyo Ono: A comprehensive guide to understanding the structures and beliefs of modern Shintoism.