Himorogi (神籬;lit. "divine fence") inShinto terminology aresacred spaces oraltars used toworship.[1] In their simplest form, they are square areas with green bamboo orsakaki at the corners withoutarchitecture. These in turn support sacred ropes (shimenawa) decorated with streamers calledshide.[1] A branch ofsakaki or some other evergreen at the center acts as ayorishiro, a physical representation of the presence of thekami, a being which is in itself incorporeal.[1][2]
During the Aoi Festival inKyoto thehimorogi is a square space surrounded by green branches with anevergreen tree at the center as ayorishiro.[1] A more elaboratehimorogi can also be made with a straw mat on the ground with on it a ceremonial 8-legged stand called anhassoku-an (八足案; eight leg an) decorated withshimenawa and sacred emblems.[1]
The etymology of the word is unclear, but it appears already in theNihon Shoki and in theMan'yōshū.[1] The term "himorogi" refers equally to the focal point "tree" and to the sacred space, both of which are deemed to be purified or "unpolluted".[3]
Himorogi in Japan are most commonly seen atconstruction sites, where after use they stand for a while before actual work begins. They are built for aShinto priest, who comes tobless the site during a ground-breaking ceremony calledjichinsai (地鎮祭)
