Shiminawa

At a Shinto shrine, you will notice a large rope that hangs from the torii shrine gate and the entrance. The large rope is called Shimenawa rope. The rope is made of rice straw material that is twisted and braided into thick rope. After the twisting and braiding, a string is bound to the straw then wood or wire that helps keep the Shimenawa's shape. No one knows for sure on who created the first Shimenawa or when, but people have the theory that the Shimenawa was for marking possessions.

There are many different origins on how Shimenawa was created. In mythology, the origin connects to either Susanoo or his sister, Amaterasu, who were powerful beings. In Amaterasu's story, she hides in a cave, engulfing the world in darkness for she is the goddess of sun. She is pulled out by a Kami while another Kami use the rope across the entrance of the cave, stopping Amaterasu from reentering. For Susanoo, a story that makes a little bit more sense, he taught a local elder how to make a rope, purify it to stop diseases. Suprisingly, Amaterasu's story is more well-known. Today, a Shimenawa marks the spot where a Kami (god) lives, but in the story it tries to stop the Kami from entering the place the rope blocks.

Today, the Shimenawa is sacred and represents purity, which is why most of them are found in front of entrances to shrines. During and a little after New Years, people can buy their own smaller Shimenawa to bring home. The small Shimenawa is to be hung and protect the household.