Gohei

File:Shinto gohei.jpeg

in front of Shinto shrine

, , or are wooden wands, decorated with two (zigzagging paper streamers) used in Shinto rituals. It may be considered an Ōnusa with only two Shide.

The streamers are usually white, although they can also be gold, silver, jade, or a mixture of several colors, and are often attached as decorations to straw ropes () used to mark sacred precincts.

The shrine priest or attendants () use the to bless or sanctify a person or object in various Shinto rituals. The is used for some ceremonies, but its usual purpose is to cleanse a sacred place in temples and to cleanse, bless, or exorcise any object that is thought to have negative energy. In addition to its use in purification rituals, it may be included in an (wooden wand with many ), and serve as the object of veneration () in a Shinto shrine.

A type of food called Goheimochi is thought to have been named after the staff.

See also

• Flail
• Glossary of Shinto for an explanation of terms concerning Japanese Shinto, Shinto art, and Shinto shrine architecture.
• , wooden wands used in Ainu rituals
• Ruyi (scepter)
• Hossu

References

Bibliography

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