Shimenawa

The shimenawa, also known as the purification rope, is a special type of rope made for events to symbolize "without demonic evil." It is mostly used in building openings, official sumo wresting matches, and in Shinto temples and landmarks. If put onto a special variation of tree, it would that a Japanese mythical creature inhabited the tree, know as a Kadama, or the spirit of the tree. Cutting down the tree with a shimenawa was said to bring misfortune to the person would did the deed.

Apperance
The shimenawa is know for being made out of rice-straw rope and on the bottom various items dangling from it. The items are to show ownership of something if not used for true Shinto reasons. Paper streamers are another item that could be hung from it as it is used for multiple rituals. A shide, or a zigzagged folded piece of paper, is the most common of the three, however, there is not a real meaning to them other than decoration. If the shimenawa has a variety numbers labeled to the sides, they are to show restriction. However, the numbers can be also to describe how the rope was braided.

Uses
The most known use for the shimenawa is it's importance to their New Year's. The Japanese believed as the shimenawa was the symbol for purity, in so on New Year's they would hang it on the top of the door. This was to prevent evil spirits from entering the household. The Japanese also would put it around the photo frames as decoration. From their, various festival items can be put on the shimenawa.

The second most known us is in the world of sumo wrestling.