{{Short description|Shinto ritual object}} {{italic title|reason=Japanese words and phrases}} {{Multiple image | image1 = Masakaki with Sword.jpg | alt1 = ''Masakaki'' at Yasaka Shrine featuring a sword | caption1 = ''Masakaki'' featuring a sword hung on its left side | image2 = Masakaki with Mirror and Jewel.jpg | alt2 = ''Masakaki'' featuring a mirror and ''magatama'' | caption2 = ''Masakaki'' featuring a mirror and ''magatama'' hung on its right side | header = Masakaki at Yasaka Shrine }} A '''''masakaki''''' ({{langx|ja|真榊}}) is an object used in Shinto rituals.<ref name="d-2015a" /><ref name="Masakaki">{{Cite web |title=What is a Masakaki Offering? |url=https://www.jiaponline.org/2016/10/what-is-masakaki-offering.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Sakaki-2021">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title=Sakaki {{!}} 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム |url=https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=9610 |access-date=2023-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921215257/https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=9610 |archive-date=2021-09-21 }}</ref> It is put on both sides of a table where the event takes place. A ''masakaki'' is made with the branches of a sakaki tree. These branches are attached to the top of cloth banners, which come in five colors - green, yellow, red, white, and blue.<ref name="d-2015a" /><ref name="Sakaki-2021" /> These five colors stand for the ''wuxing'' (five elements). At funerals, ''masakaki'' with yellow and white banners are used.<ref name="d-2015a">{{Cite web |last=D |first=John |date=2015-04-05 |title=The Colours of Shinto (masakaki) |url=https://www.greenshinto.com/2015/04/05/the-colours-of-shinto/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=Green Shinto |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Special treasures are hung on these branches. On the left side, a sword is hung. On the right side, a mirror and a ''magatama'' are hung. The three of them symbolize the Imperial Regalia of Japan.<ref name="d-2015a" /> This configuration is sometimes referred to as a ''masakaki-dai''. A ''masakaki'' offering involves donating two such ''masakaki-dai'' to a shrine or at a ''jichinsai''.<ref name="Masakaki" />
They were mentioned in the ''Kojiki'' and ''Nihon Shoki'' as implements used to get Amaterasu to leave the cave.<ref name="Sakaki-2021" />
In 2016, Shinzo Abe caused a controversy for making a ''masakaki'' offering to Yasukuni Shrine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-17 |title=Abe sends ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/10/17/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-sends-ritual-offering-yasukuni-shrine-name-prime-minister/ |access-date=2023-11-30 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}</ref> It was incorrectly reported as being a small tree by some sources.<ref name="Masakaki" /> In early 2023, Fumio Kishida ran into a similar controversy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Japan PM sends offerings to controversial Tokyo shrine |url=https://apnews.com/article/japan-yasukuni-kishida-offering-militarism-china-korea-0a875a9251a8e1cc488fbfa6a8a3c251 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kishida donates spring offering to contentious shrine in Tokyo {{!}} The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis |url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14890805 |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Asahi Shimbun |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Japan PM sends offerings to controversial Tokyo shrine |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/china-ap-fumio-kishida-yasukuni-shrine-tokyo-b2324414.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
== See also == * ''Tamagushi''
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [https://archive.today/20230630012635/https://hirutabutsuguten.shop/?pid=136761056 Image of Masasaki] * [http://www.t-carry.com/image/syouhin/shinden/masakakiA_L.jpg Masakaki] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319154252/http://www.t-carry.com/image/syouhin/shinden/masakakiA_L.jpg |date=2007-03-19 }} * [http://www.yoshihira.co.jp/sakaeru/sougon.html Masakaki installation example]
{{shinto shrines}}
Category:Shinto religious objects Category:Plants in religion