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- Shinto Worship in the Home
Shinto rituals are often performed every morning in front of miniature or household shrines (kamidana) in the homes of ordinary people. Some people have small shrines in their gardens, but in most cases they are placed on a clean elevated altar-shelf in an honoured and convenient location in the house. The shrines vary from little, plain wooden boxes to intricate and stunning building models, depending on the financial status of the family. These shrines vary in size and quality, but are usually made of wood and are occasionally ceramic. Smaller versions of sacred symbols and objects, found at the full- sized shrines, can be seen in front of these miniature shrines. One finds lanterns, guardian lions, a sacred straw rope with small paper pendants and vases with a sprig of the sacred sakaki tree. Sometimes a small mirror, as well as memorial tablets of the ancestors, are placed near the miniature shrine. A talisman of paper from the Grand Shrine of Ise is usually placed inside the little shrine. Often small statues of Daikoku and Ebisu are placed in the household shrine. Daikoku is the deity master of the great land, the guardian of farmers and the god of wealth, while Ebisu is the god of honest dealing, the patron of fishermen and the god of food.
Worship in front of the shrine is very simple. After awakening, the individual washes the hands, rinses the mouth, presents small offerings of food, tea or sake before the shrine and then bows and claps the hands. Later in the day, the food and offerings are taken and eaten at the meal. Before eating, the partici�pants bow and clap hands to show their gratitude to the kami of the shrine.
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