Basic Terms of Shinto 神道基本用語集

詳細表示 (Complete Article)

Title
Tama
たま Aramitama, Nigimitama,Chinkon,"Ikutama, Tarutama",Ireisai,Kushimitama,Mitamashizume,Mono,Sakimitama,Shikon,Tama matsuri,荒魂、和魂,鎮魂,生魂、足魂,慰霊祭,奇魂,みたましずめ,もの,幸魂,四魂,魂祭,霊祭
Text Spirit. Soul. Particularly, a pure, lofty soul. Tama matsuri is a festival held to pray to, give thanks to, and appease the souls of the dead. Ireisai is a ceremony held to console the spirits of the dead. Chinkon, also called tamashizume or mitamashizume, is a ritual conducted to prevent the soul from leaving the body. Aramitama is a spirit empowered to rule with authority. Nigimitama is a spirit empowered to bring union and harmony. Kushimitama is a spirit that causes mysterious transformations. Sakimitama is a spirit that imparts blessings. Together, these are called shikon or the four spirits. In ancient Japanese, the words mono and mi were also used to refer to spirit.

Mono seems to have been used to refer to the spirit of an animal, while mi seems to have been used to refer to objects or bodies viewed as spirits. In modern Japanese, however, mono simply means being or object, and mi means body, fruit, or container.