The Sacred Knot: Understanding Musubidokoro in Japan
If you have ever visited a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple in Japan, you have likely witnessed a striking visual phenomenon: rows of strings, wires, or wooden racks adorned with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of folded white paper strips. From a distance, they can look like white flowers blooming out of season or a flurry of snow suspended in mid-air.
These designated areas are known as Musubidokoro (結び所), literally translating to “tying place.” They serve as the final destination for Omikuji, the written fortune slips drawn by hopeful visitors. While it may look like a simple disposal method to the untrained eye, the act of tying these fortunes is a profound ritual deeply rooted in Japanese linguistics, animism, and the desire to shape one’s destiny.
The Origins: A Pun on the Pine
To understand why Japanese people tie their fortunes, one must look at the etymology of the action. The word Musubu (結ぶ) means “to tie” or “to connect.” In the Shinto worldview, this concept is sacred; it relates to Musubi (产霊), the spiritual power of creation and growth that connects the universe.
Historically, fortunes were not tied to metal racks but to tree branches. This practice stems from a clever linguistic pun. In Japanese, the word for “pine tree” is Matsu (松). This is a homophone for another word, Matsu (待つ), which means “to wait.”
By tying a fortune to a pine tree, the worshiper was essentially asking the spirit of the tree to “wait” with the fortune—holding onto the bad luck so it wouldn’t follow the person home, or anchoring a good wish so it would come to fruition. Over centuries, as the popularity of shrines grew, the sheer volume of paper tied to trees began to stunt their growth and damage the bark. Consequently, the designated Musubidokoro—often racks made of wood or metal—were invented to protect the sacred nature of the shrine grounds.
Legend and Belief: To Tie or Not to Tie?
There is often confusion among travelers regarding which fortunes should be tied and which should be kept. The protocol varies by region and specific shrine tradition, but there is a prevailing legend regarding the efficacy of the Musubidokoro.
The Bad Luck Exorcism
The most common belief is that if you draw a fortune classified as Kyo (Curse/Bad Luck), you must tie it at the Musubidokoro. By using your non-dominant hand to tie the knot (a feat requiring focus and struggle), you are symbolically overcoming the hardship predicted in the fortune. Leaving the paper at the shrine entrusts the bad luck to the Kami (deities), who have the power to purify it, effectively leaving the negativity behind within the sacred precincts.
The Good Luck Connection
Conversely, if one draws Daikichi (Great Blessing), many people choose to keep the fortune in their wallet as a charm. However, a different school of thought suggests tying good fortunes as well. In this context, the knot represents a binding agreement—a Musubi—between the worshiper and the deity, ensuring that the good fortune remains “tied” to the person’s fate.
Modern Culture and Aesthetics
In contemporary Japan, the Musubidokoro has evolved beyond a mere ritual necessity into a cultural aesthetic. Shrines act as sanctuaries of silence and nature, and the sight of thousands of fluttering white papers adds a layer of mystical atmosphere.
Modern shrines have adapted the Musubidokoro to fit their specific branding. For example, shrines famous for En-musubi (love and marriage matchmaking) might feature racks shaped like hearts or use pink-tinted paper for the Omikuji. This transforms the collective hopes of visitors into a collaborative art installation.
Furthermore, the environmental aspect is taken seriously. Once a Musubidokoro is full, the priests do not simply throw the papers in the trash. They are collected and ritually burned in a ceremony to release the prayers to the heavens, ensuring that the cycle of respect is maintained to the very end.
Traveler’s Tips for Musubidokoro
Participating in this tradition is a highlight for many visitors. Here is how to do it respectfully:
- Check the Fortune: First, determine if you want to keep it or tie it. If it is bad news, definitely tie it. If it is good, you have the choice.
- Find the Designated Spot: Do not tie your paper to live tree branches unless you see explicit signage allowing it. Look for the ropes or metal wires set up specifically for this purpose.
- The Vertical Fold: Fold the strip lengthwise into a thin, long ribbon. This makes it easier to manipulate.
- The Knot: Loop the paper around the wire and tie a simple overhand knot. Do not pull too hard, or the paper will tear.
- Be Gentle: Avoid knocking off other people’s fortunes while tying yours. The rack is a shared space of collective prayer.
Sources & Further Reading
For those interested in the deeper theological roots of Musubi and Japanese mythology, the following historical texts provide essential context:
- The Kojiki (Records of Ancient Matters): Contains the earliest references to Kami-musubi, one of the primal creation deities, highlighting the spiritual significance of “binding” or “creation.”
- The Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan): Offers further elaboration on Shinto rituals and the relationship between nature (trees) and the divine.
- Norito (Shinto Prayers): Various translations of ancient prayers illustrate the concept of purification and the transfer of impurity, which is central to the practice of leaving bad fortunes behind.