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We’re going to look at two special places.
What do you think they are?
They are places of worship.
In Japan, there are two main religions:
Shinto and Buddhism.
Both Shinto shrines
and Buddhist temples are common sights in Japan.
People visit one or both on special occasions or festivals.
Let’s take a closer look.
Shinto is Japan’s own religion.
Shrines are called jinja.
This is where the gods, called kami, live.
There are entrance gates called torii.
They separate the everyday world
from the home of the gods.
These are shimenawa,
straw ropes to show that this is a sacred place.
Komainu, or lion-dogs,
are guardians who keep evil spirits away.
They have one difference - look closely.
Visitors should clean their hands and mouth here
before praying at the shrine.
Special objects are kept inside the shrine.
Normally, visitors can’t come in here.
These wooden boards are called ema.
Shrine visitors can write their wishes on the back.
People might wish for good luck in exams,
good health, or happiness.
Before leaving, visitors often buy omikuji.
It’s a fortune which tells you
what kind of luck you will have.
Some people tie it up and leave it behind.
Now we’ve seen a shrine
let’s visit a temple.
Buddhism came to Japan from India and China.
Buddhist temples are called otera.
The entrance is a big wooden gate called sanmon.
You can tell it’s a temple by some of the statues.
There is usually a large bell called bonsho.
On New Year’s Eve it will be rung 108 times,
which is believed to drive away negative feelings.
This is a large incense burner,
where visitors can offer incense before praying.
Objects of worship, like this statue,
are displayed in the main hall.
Visitors here also make a small offering before praying.
Both shrines and temples
sell all kinds of good luck charms.
They make good presents for friends and family.
They sell unique stamps as souvenirs too.
This temple worker adds the date
and name of the temple to the stamp.
Some people collect stamps
from each shrine or temple they visit.
Now you’ve seen both a shrine
and a temple,
how do they compare
to other religious places you’ve been to?
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