How to Write a Japanese Hiragana Prayer for a Wooden Shrine

Wood is considered a sacred element of nature in the Shinto religion. Many Shinto shrines, such as the Tokyo Daijingu and the Kotai Jingu, are constructed entirely of wood. These shrines are known for the paper prayers (known as “ofuda”) attached to wooden plaques that adorn the altar, each bearing different phrases and prayers in hiragana or kanji. Writing your own Japanese hiragana prayer for a wooden shrine, whether it is in Japan or in your home, is simply a matter of gathering the necessary material and knowing what you want to say.

Things You'll Need

• Wooden plaque
• Pen
• Hiragana chart
• Japanese translator or dictionary
• Paper (optional)

Instructions

1. Cut or buy the wooden plaque. There's no required size for an ofuda, although the standard size is slightly longer than the length of your hand and a little narrower than the width of your palm. If you plan on writing the prayer on a plaque at a Shinto shrine, plaques may be available for purchase right outside the gates.

2. Learn the hiragana alphabet. It's entirely phonetic and similar to English, with five vowels and a limited combinations of sounds, so learning the basics will take a short period of time if you set a little time aside each day for a week or two. Japan With Kids has a chart available online, along with a sound clip of each pronunciation. You can also find someone who's familiar with hiragana to write the prayer for you, but even if you choose this option, knowing the alphabet will allow you to more accurately read the prayer once it's written.

3. Translate the phrase you want to write on the ofuda into Japanese, if the phrase isn't written that way originally. The hiragana alphabet is designed for Japanese words, unlike its counterpart katakana, which is normally used for foreign words. If you're unsure of your wording, it may be a good idea to ask someone who speaks Japanese fluently to check your translation. There are no rules regarding what to write on an ofuda, but focusing on a single thought or prayer is recommended.

4. Write the prayer on a slip of paper, or directly onto the plaque itself. Write vertically, from top to bottom. It doesn't have to be sacred paper or blessed by a Shinto priest, but you can have it blessed if you like. If you decide to write on paper rather than the wood itself, you'll need to glue it to the wood after writing the prayer by spreading a thin layer of glue evenly across the board.

5. Place the ofuda on the altar. There's no specific place to do it, as long as it's either directly on the altar or placed upright nearby. The hiragana should be seen clearly, with nothing obstructing it.

References

• Japan With Kids: Hiragana Chart
• "The Essence of Shinto: Japan's Spiritual Heart"; Motohisa Yamakage; 2007.