Talismansthe gallery← talismans.guru
Japan & Korea · c. 300 BCE – today

Omamori

Meaning

An omamori ('protection') is a brocade pouch from a shrine or temple holding a blessed slip of paper or wood with a prayer or the deity's name. It carries the kami's or buddha's protection. The pouch must never be opened, or the protection escapes.

Intent

Each has a named purpose: kōtsū anzen (traffic safety), gakugyō jōju (study and exams), en-musubi (love and marriage), anzan (safe childbirth), kenkō (health), shōbai hanjō (business). It is carried on a bag, phone or in the car, and returned after a year to be burned.

Significance

Omamori are one of the most visible parts of Japanese religion, bought by millions each New Year, and a remarkable example of religion and design meeting everyday needs. Shrines now issue them for football, computers and anime.

History

Protective charms from shrines and temples are recorded from the Heian period. The modern brocade omamori developed in the Edo period (1603–1868) and boomed in the 20th century.

Making yours
About 4×7 cm silk brocade sewn into a pouch with a decorative knot cord. Embroider the shrine name, and put a folded blessing slip inside.
Japan & Korea: the tradition

Japanese protective objects are issued by Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples: omamori, ofuda and ema, each for a named purpose and renewed each year, with old ones returned for ritual burning. Engimono (luck objects) such as maneki-neko and daruma dolls grew out of Edo-period popular culture. Ancient magatama link the modern imperial regalia to the Jōmon and Kofun eras. Korea's shamanic tradition produced bujeok paper talismans, and the norigae pendant turned protective charms into women's court jewellery.

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Amulet bagAmulet bagNetherlands · 0Miniatyrbok, omamori amulet from JapanMiniatyrbok, omamori amulet from JapanJapanAmulett in Gestalt eines Hundes; Inu MamoriAmulett in Gestalt eines Hundes; Inu MamoriJapanO-mamori sharms at a shrine in JapanO-mamori sharms at a shrine in JapanKanai AnzenKanai AnzenJapanAmulett in Gestalt eines Hundes; Inu MamoriAmulett in Gestalt eines Hundes; Inu MamoriJapanToji omamori - Kyoto - Nov 24 2019 21 28Toji omamori - Kyoto - Nov 24 2019 21 28Amulette-japonaiseAmulette-japonaiseGion mamori01Gion mamori01Hiromine Shrine Omamori displayed in SakurajimaHiromine Shrine Omamori displayed in SakurajimaKamon TachibanaKamon TachibanaOmamori - Hibisus, Stars & StripesOmamori - Hibisus, Stars & StripesOmamori Kinkaku-jiOmamori Kinkaku-jiOmamori Meiji ShrineOmamori Meiji ShrineOmamori of Dazaifu Tenman-guOmamori of Dazaifu Tenman-guOmamoris - 御守Omamoris - 御守Tachiki-Kannon OmamoriTachiki-Kannon Omamoriプッチンプリン、3段重ね (3190044077)プッチンプリン、3段重ね (3190044077)柳守り 金柳守り 金自動販売機／櫻井神社 - Panoramio自動販売機／櫻井神社 - Panoramio赤と黄色 (33944003762)赤と黄色 (33944003762)August 2009 Nara tourism -38976August 2009 Nara tourism -38976HouinmamoriHouinmamoriIchō Mamori (Gion Ichō) invertedIchō Mamori (Gion Ichō) invertedJidai Matsuri 2009 168Jidai Matsuri 2009 168Jindaiji and sando (39423664801)Jindaiji and sando (39423664801)Narikoma-ya Gion-mamori invertedNarikoma-ya Gion-mamori invertedOmacole2Omacole2Omamori Ginkaku-ji boyOmamori Ginkaku-ji boyOmamori Kitano Tenman-gū 1Omamori Kitano Tenman-gū 1Omamori Meiji Shrine 2Omamori Meiji Shrine 2Omamori of Sanjusangen-doOmamori of Sanjusangen-doOmikuji cats (14208782051)Omikuji cats (14208782051)休憩 サンスポ (2225291693)休憩 サンスポ (2225291693)Inage-sengenjinjaInage-sengenjinjaOmacole5Omacole5Omamori Heian Shrine 1Omamori Heian Shrine 1Omamori Kiyomizu-deraOmamori Kiyomizu-deraOmamori Sensō-ji 2Omamori Sensō-ji 2OmamoriesOmamoriesSayamasanfudoji omamoriSayamasanfudoji omamoriShibuya 20191214134746 (49845004842)Shibuya 20191214134746 (49845004842)VariousomamoriVariousomamori台灣花蓮縣吉安鄉慶修院 (3)台灣花蓮縣吉安鄉慶修院 (3)東郷神社 勝守東郷神社 勝守龍勢祭り (15508018556)龍勢祭り (15508018556)Kukuhi-jinja 0383Kukuhi-jinja 0383Lucky charms on sale in Meiji Jingu shrineLucky charms on sale in Meiji Jingu shrineOmacole1Omacole1Omamori Amulet Lucky Charm - Flickr - timtakOmamori Amulet Lucky Charm - Flickr - timtakOmamori Meiji Shrine 1Omamori Meiji Shrine 1Omamori of Fujisan Hongu Sengen TaishaOmamori of Fujisan Hongu Sengen TaishaSANY0337 (3157190197)SANY0337 (3157190197)四国第二十三番札所 薬王寺 お守り四国第二十三番札所 薬王寺 お守り20240414 Kokujinjya Omamori20240414 Kokujinjya Omamori300 yen Yasukuni Sakura-mikuji with Omamori in Nov 2013300 yen Yasukuni Sakura-mikuji with Omamori in Nov 2013A shrine maiden distributes charms Omiya Hachimangu Shrine in Suginami, TokyoA shrine maiden distributes charms Omiya Hachimangu Shrine in Suginami, TokyoGion Mamori InvertedGion Mamori InvertedOmamoriOmamoriOmamori Heian Shrine 2Omamori Heian Shrine 2

More from Japan & Korea: Ofuda & paper charms · Ema votive plaques · Magatama · Engimono lucky figures · Korean bujeok & norigae
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Anything in the gallery can be made, by hand, in the prescribed metal or yours and, where the tradition names an hour, at that hour or with a plain note that it was not. Numbered. Price on commission, quoted first. I reply within one business day.