Praying for a safe birth and first visit of a new baby to a shrine

Nakayama-dera Temple is famous for being the place of praying for a safe birth in the Kansai area. It is one of a few temples which have elevators and escalators for visitors, and its buildings are magnificent and not old, so it looks glorious. Despite of the early morning and the rainy day there were many couples and families with pregnant women or babies, and it made a happy mood.

Praying for a safe birth

A pregnant woman wants a safe birth of her baby, it must be a common wish for pregnant women around the world. In Japan the wish made the common custom of praying for a safe birth. This custom was made by some Japanese fundamental thoughts during ancient times and some Japanese spells. So I want you to know the Japanese thoughts and spells.


Firstly, a fetus in its mother’s womb gets its spirit approximately 9 weeks after the pregnancy and the fetus’s mother gets her morning sickness, it is Japanese spiritual thoughts. And five months after pregnancy the spirit of the fetus and the mother’s spirit are harmonious.


Secondly, each day of twelve days has an animal name that is sequentially rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and boar. Of those animals the birth of dogs is the safest. So the first dog day of the month after five months since pregnancy a family with a pregnant woman visit a shrine or a temple for praying for a safe birth.

They have an exorcism for a safe birth and receive “iwataobi”, a sash for guarding the womb.


The pregnant woman puts it on her body for guarding her fetus after her visiting. It is the important spell. This spell comes from a great story of an ancient empress.


In the 4th century Jingu Empress of Chuai Emperor attacked three countries on the Korean Peninsula with, Jingu from Fukuoka on Kyusyu Island. Despite that Jingu was already pregnant she bravely battled against the enemy. At last Japan conquered the countries, and after that, she had a baby, Ohjin Emperor, in Fukuoka. The thing that saved Jingu and Ohjin in her womb while sailing on the sea and battling on the land was a white sash. So pregnant women have put

Iwataobi on their bodies sharing the safeness and braveness of Jingu.


Finally, Shintoism puts significance on the marriage and the birth after the marriage. The fundamental significance must have gathered spells and sharing of the historical safeness.

First visit of a new baby to a shrine

Couples or families with babies first visit a shrine firstly after about a month after the birth. They pray for the safety and the healthy growth of their babies. They wear good clothes, it is the custom. So many mothers put beautiful gowns on their babies.


The atmosphere of Nakayama-dera Temple had elegance and the both of wishes to the safe birth and happiness of the safe birth. Incidentally, Nakayama-dera Temple is not a shrine of Shintoism but a temple of Buddhism, but it is not relevant out. Temples in Japan are brothers of Shrines. It is the Japanese style.


What do you think about this custom? Please compare it to the custom of a safe birth in your country. You may find something different between your country and Japan. The Japanese custom is wondrous, mysterious, spiritual, or is it non-sense? In any case, it’s good to find the differences and it’s better to research the differences. At least knowing the differences between you and others is the first step to understanding and recognizing others, furthermore coexisting with others. Conversely, trying not to know others is a backward step toward hating others. Of course, it’s wonderful to love others unconditionally, and it is supreme. However, humans have very various feelings and if you don’t resolve your physically negative feelings depending on your old habits of thinking and your physically direct feelings from others, you can’t harmonize with others by love beyond your physical feelings. Only to know others can transfer you to the place of recognizing each other. Thus, you should know others as the first step. For you Japan might be a odd land, but please know Japan more.

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