Omikuji - Try your luck at the temple

Описание: It is likely that if you have visited a Japanese temple or shrine, you have come across omikuji, which are small strips of paper used for fortune-telling. These can be obtained from different sources such as staff members, vending machines, and other places, and are available at various prices, with differing levels of luck. The omikuji fortunes are categorised according to different levels of fortune or misfortune, which are:

aikichi（大吉）
– Great fortune

ichi（吉）
– Good fortune

huu kichi（中吉）
– Moderately good luck

hou kichi（小吉）
– Small luck

an kichi（半吉）
– Half-fortune

i kichi（末吉）
– Future fortune

i shou kichi（末小吉）
– Small future fortune

you（凶）
– Bad luck

hou kyou（小凶）
– Slightly bad luck

an kyou（半凶）
– Moderately bad luck

i kyou（末凶）
– Future bad luck

ai kyou（大凶）
– Very bad luck

What if I get a bad fortune omikuji?

In Japan, if you receive a bad fortune, there is a traditional practice where you fold the omikuji into a strip and tie it to a pine tree or designated place with other bad fortunes to prevent the bad luck from coming true. Later, the priests of the temple or shrine will burn the omikuji to eliminate the bad luck. Interestingly, pine tree in Japanese is “松” or “matsu,” which has the same pronunciation as “待つ” meaning “wait,” and placing the bad fortune on a pine tree is believed to make the bad luck wait and remain dormant.

When it comes to receiving a good fortune, people usually keep the omikuji in their wallets or attach it to a tree in their yard to enhance the potency of the predicted good luck. Omikuji can be found in almost every shrine and temple in Japan, and most people take advantage of the opportunity to obtain their fortunes when visiting these places.