A very much belated Happy New Year...! 2012 has arrived all around the world, so what’s your New Year’s resolution for the special year? There’s this rumour that the year 2012 is the apocalypse of the world according to Mayan Prophecy. This reminds me of the Nostradamus hysteria in 1999 that the world is doomed and destined to end, according to some interpretations of his Prophecies. Well, believe the bit-scary tale or not, don’t you worry. Okinawa has various protections against the evil spirits, such as Muchi (please go to the previous article about Okinawan traditional rice cake) and Shisa (a lion-dog guardian figurine, usually in pairs) for starters. Here I’ll introduce you to another tip from our evil-proof line-up and a unique custom handed down today on the island.
San, a knotted Japanese silver grass, is a tool believed to ward off the evil and bad fortune since ancient times. The main use of this special grass knot is to be put up at the gate/entrance/door of the house, guarding the family inside from misfortune and bad spirits. You can spot it in local areas on the island.
Some people put a tiny san on food and dish to fend off hungry stray spirits, on the way they bring the share to their relatives and friends. In that case, various materials can make the little amulets.
a white ribbon san on the food from my aunt
a tiny grass san on Somen noodles from my neighbour
Another use of san is seen at mabuigumi. Mabuigumi is one of Okinawa’s spiritual folk remedies, and the word mabui means ‘soul’, gumi ‘to put into’ in Okinawan language. As the name could indicate a psychotherapeutic act, this folk remedy is practiced to put your ‘missing soul’ back into the body when you have an accident, no matter how serious or trivial it was. Okinawan locals have long described the mind state of being shocked and blank by accidents as ‘mabui otoshita’(dropped the soul). To get the missing soul back into its owner’s body, a person (usually mother or grandmother of the soul-lost) who does the therapy pats the owner’s body swith the grass several times . The proper procedure requires quite a lot of preparation, so Okinawan people have made it simple for quick use whenever they think they have to retrieve the missing spirit. The instant method can vary from region to region, household to household.
The instant version of Mabuigumi would be done mostly when you fall over, since your soul could be thought to pop out of the body by the bang. Usually it includes some simple spells in the local language and most Okinawans have experienced the remedy, especially in their childhood (easily guessed; children fall over, which is their character trait).
When you have a chance to come staying with the local people, you might come across the mabuigumi occasion. There are lovely amulets and accessories with san motif at gift shops in Okinawa, good for a small gift for your family and friends back home to spend the year free of bad lucks…!
nariko
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