Why Not Knot?

In the environs of any temple or shrine, pretty strips of paper are tied onto tall, wire racks, or, sometimes, around tree trunks.  These are omikuji- bad fortunes received by worshippers- and the papers are tied at the shrine in the hope of weakening the recipient's impending bad luck. Omikuji are often printed with little flowers and patterns...it's always been hard for me to believe that such delicate items harbor such unpleasantness.  

Omikuji are tied onto wires at Hodosan shrine, in Saitama Prefecture.

In one of the tea ceremony procedures that we study, the bamboo tea scoop is kept in a brocade "envelope" of sorts.  After removing the scoop from its slender, fabric bag, we tie the bag into a small knot and put it away.  "This looks like those papers tied at the shrines," I mused to our instructor.

"This type of knot was very popular during the Heian Period," she replied. "The court lords and ladies would tie their love letters into this same type of knot.  It was believed that the knot had power to make their love come true." This is why I love tea class...random, Japanese history lessons!

In keeping with the habits of the grand, Heian lords and ladies, modern-day Japanese continue this ancient tradition and tie their  bad fortunes into knots. Rather than the bad luck following the recipient home, the knot's power will hopefully keep it at the shrine for a deity to deal with, instead!

Disclaimer:  I do my best to make sure all my information is accurate.  However, details may change or I may just be flat-out wrong.  Please let me know if something needs a correction.  Thank-you!