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Updated: June 23, 2025
It is never placed so high as the kamidana, but seldom at a less height than three feet above the floor. In Mr. The sketch in question seems to have been made during the Festival of the Dead, for the offerings in the picture are those of the Bommatauri.
Ordinarily there will be found upon the kamidana nothing but the simple miya containing some ofuda: very, very seldom will a mirror be seen, or gohei except the gohei attached to the small shimenawa either hung just above the kamidana or suspended to the box-like frame in which the miya sometimes is placed.
But the popular notion on the subject is that because a dead person is buried with the head turned north, it would be very wrong to place a miya so as to face north since everything relating to death is impure; and the regulation about the west is not strictly observed. Most kamidana in Izumo, however, face south or east. Respect must be shown it.
Shinto kakemono, which are also of latter-day origin, representing incidents from the Kojiki, are much more common than Shinto icons: these usually occupy the toko, or alcove, in the same room in which the kamidana is placed; but they will not be seen in the houses of the more cultivated classes.
Before the miya, or whatever holy object of Shinto worship be placed upon the kamidana, are set two quaintly shaped jars for the offerings of sake; two small vases, to contain sprays of the sacred plant sakaki, or offerings of flowers; and a small lamp, shaped like a tiny saucer, where a wick of rush-pith floats in rape-seed oil.
The signification of the yuzuri-leaf I explained in a former paper. But the great domestic display of the festival is the decoration of the kamidana the shelf of the Gods. Before the household miya are placed great double rice cakes; and the shrine is beautiful with flowers, a tiny shimekazari, and sprays of sakaki.
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