I loved traveling abroad until my 30s and didn’t even pay attention to domestic travel.
I visited Southeast Asia, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, enjoying tours of World Heritage sites.
However, about 20 years ago, a friend from the UAE whom I met while staying in the United States pointed out, “I understand Japanese religion better than you do.”
That comment has stuck with me.
This was the trigger for me to take the interpreter guide exam.
Now, when I travel domestically, I always make sure to visit shrines and temples. I almost always sneak a goshuin book into my bag.
On this post, I would like to introduce one of my hobbies, collecting goshuin.
A goshuin is a seal and its impression that is mainly stamped for worshippers at shrines and temples in Japan.
Originally, it was a receipt as proof for submitting a written copy of a sutra to a temple. There are still temples where you cannot receive a goshuin unless you make a sutra offering or recite a sutra.
However, in modern times, goshuin has generally become a proof of visiting, regardless of whether a sutra has been offered.
A goshuin at a temple is a stamp that combines the temple’s treasure seal with the temple name and mountain name stamps, often with a sacred title or dharma phrases written in ink above.
It’s common for inscriptions to include not only the names of the shrine or temple and deities but also the date of the visit and words like “worship”.
Generally, this ink inscription is also referred to as a “goshuin”.
In addition, other stamps such as sanctuary number or festival may also be applied.
Normally, a special notebook for collecting the impressions of multiple goshuin, called a “goshuincho”, is brought to shrines and temples.
Goshuincho is sold at shrines, temples, religious goods stores, stationery stores, and bookstores.
However, unless you have a particularly favorite one, purchasing it at a shrine or temple will likely leave a deeper impression in your memory.
Many shrines and temples that issue goshuin also provide goshuin books. There are many shrines and temples that offer original goshuincho, and I collect these.
Bring your goshuincho to the shrine or temple, pay the designated fee, and receive your goshuin.
You will often be asked for 300 or 500 JPY.
Sometimes the amount is not specified, with a suggestion to “please offer your feelings.”
Japanese people fear that being stingy here may result in punishment. You should at least pay 300 JPY!!
Moreover, there are temples that will not respond unless you are dressed in a robe or a white garment, and there are temples and shrines where prior contact via phone or the internet is necessary.
(to be continued on my next post)
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