Nathan Algren (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
shiroi_tiger) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2010-01-25 06:04 am
shiroi_tiger) wrote in fandomhigh2010-01-25 06:04 am
Entry tags:
Japanese Etiquette & Tradition, 1/25/10, Period 5
"Easy class," Algren announced as the students filed into the Danger Shop today. "We're going to be covering proper etiquette when entering a Shinto shrine."
As he spoke, the danger shop shifted, so that the students were standing in a wooded area with a building set in the middle, a series of gates, stairs, lanterns, and fountains leading up to it.
"Before we actually get to exploring the shrine, a quick explanation of its purpose is probably in order," he continued. "A Shinto shrine exists for the purpose of housing a Shinto Kami, essentially a spirit or deity. When you're walking into a Shinto shrine, you're walking into a sanctuary for these Kami, and you're expected to show the respect due to such a place." He cracked a bit of a smile. "I'm certain it won't surprise you by now that the Japanese have a set way of conducting themselves when they visit such places."
Walking up the stairway, Algren gestured to different areas in the courtyard as he spoke.
"As you're walking through the main gate, or torii, it's polite to bow, and then walk along the left of the path on your way to this- The fountain, or chozuya- where you'll wash your hands. It's a purification sort of thing. Just go with it." He demonstrated, lifting a ladle that was resting nearby in his right hand, pouring water over his left hand, and then repeating the process again in reverse. Next, he poured some water from the ladle into his palm, put that water into his mouth, rinsed, and spat.
... Not back into the fountain, no.
After rinsing the ladle off in the remaining water and putting it back where he found it, he turned to look back at the class.
"After you've purified yourself, make your way to the sanctuary, bow, and ring the bell to get the Kami's attention. Toss some money into the offertory box, bow twice, clap twice, and bow again." After some time spent in Japan, Algren had finally gotten to the point where he could demonstrate this without feeling vaguely as though he was performing the newest steps to the Hokey Pokey. "Clap again, this is a purity thing, too, and then put your hands together. From here, you can make your wishes, or do your praying, or whatever it is that you've come to the shrine for. When you're finished, bow, take three steps backward, and bow again. You can leave, but don't show your back to the Kami."
Presumably so that they wouldn't kick you in the behind on the way out. He'd never really asked why. It was just the way of things.
"A few other things to keep in mind before I let you poke around, here. First, respect. I can't stress that much enough. You're in the sanctuary of a deity, behave with the same consideration that you would expect from somebody visiting your place of worship. When you ring the bell, ring it just once. You're not here to make music, and I'll give you dirty looks if you try." His dirty looks could be downright terrifying. It was absolutely a valid threat. "If you're ill or in mourning, it's generally a bad time to visit a shrine. Illness and extreme grief are considered impurities, and you could risk tainting the location. If they're selling incense, it's good form to buy some and light it. The smoke supposedly possesses healing powers. Which might come in handy after a weekend of battling ugly, scaly green things."
Algren hadn't really noticed any great improvement in his general health since the Danger Shop program kicked in, so he had his doubts as to the validity of that statement.
"No real assignment, today. Just look around the shrine. Feel free to give purifying yourself at the fountain a try, or to just nap on the steps. After the past few days, I won't hold it against you."
[OCDon the way up!]
As he spoke, the danger shop shifted, so that the students were standing in a wooded area with a building set in the middle, a series of gates, stairs, lanterns, and fountains leading up to it.
"Before we actually get to exploring the shrine, a quick explanation of its purpose is probably in order," he continued. "A Shinto shrine exists for the purpose of housing a Shinto Kami, essentially a spirit or deity. When you're walking into a Shinto shrine, you're walking into a sanctuary for these Kami, and you're expected to show the respect due to such a place." He cracked a bit of a smile. "I'm certain it won't surprise you by now that the Japanese have a set way of conducting themselves when they visit such places."
Walking up the stairway, Algren gestured to different areas in the courtyard as he spoke.
"As you're walking through the main gate, or torii, it's polite to bow, and then walk along the left of the path on your way to this- The fountain, or chozuya- where you'll wash your hands. It's a purification sort of thing. Just go with it." He demonstrated, lifting a ladle that was resting nearby in his right hand, pouring water over his left hand, and then repeating the process again in reverse. Next, he poured some water from the ladle into his palm, put that water into his mouth, rinsed, and spat.
... Not back into the fountain, no.
After rinsing the ladle off in the remaining water and putting it back where he found it, he turned to look back at the class.
"After you've purified yourself, make your way to the sanctuary, bow, and ring the bell to get the Kami's attention. Toss some money into the offertory box, bow twice, clap twice, and bow again." After some time spent in Japan, Algren had finally gotten to the point where he could demonstrate this without feeling vaguely as though he was performing the newest steps to the Hokey Pokey. "Clap again, this is a purity thing, too, and then put your hands together. From here, you can make your wishes, or do your praying, or whatever it is that you've come to the shrine for. When you're finished, bow, take three steps backward, and bow again. You can leave, but don't show your back to the Kami."
Presumably so that they wouldn't kick you in the behind on the way out. He'd never really asked why. It was just the way of things.
"A few other things to keep in mind before I let you poke around, here. First, respect. I can't stress that much enough. You're in the sanctuary of a deity, behave with the same consideration that you would expect from somebody visiting your place of worship. When you ring the bell, ring it just once. You're not here to make music, and I'll give you dirty looks if you try." His dirty looks could be downright terrifying. It was absolutely a valid threat. "If you're ill or in mourning, it's generally a bad time to visit a shrine. Illness and extreme grief are considered impurities, and you could risk tainting the location. If they're selling incense, it's good form to buy some and light it. The smoke supposedly possesses healing powers. Which might come in handy after a weekend of battling ugly, scaly green things."
Algren hadn't really noticed any great improvement in his general health since the Danger Shop program kicked in, so he had his doubts as to the validity of that statement.
"No real assignment, today. Just look around the shrine. Feel free to give purifying yourself at the fountain a try, or to just nap on the steps. After the past few days, I won't hold it against you."
[OCD
Sign In
Lecture
Look Around
Talk to The TA
Talk To Algren
OOC
See? She has toes!
Awwwww.
Re: Sign In
Re: Lecture
Re: Sign In
Re: Look Around
When she wished, it was for a bit of peace for Jono. The rest of the island, too, anyone hurting -- but especially him.
Re: Sign In
Re: Lecture
Maybe.
Yeah, she was still tired from the weekend, even after all the coffee in Mitchell's class.
Re: Sign In
Re: Sign In
Re: Lecture
Unfortunately, she kept dozing off anyway, so her notes read like shrine to the ka*scribble scribble line drifting off down the page*
Re: OOC
Re: Sign In
Re: Talk to The TA
...looking at the class, though, most of them looked like they'd rather sleep.
Re: Sign In
Re: Look Around
Re: Sign In
Re: Lecture
Re: Look Around
She felt much better for this and added a silent prayer for Algren-sensei's happiness in return.
Re: Talk To Algren
She was totally hoping that different universes didn't mean that the language would be too different.
Re: OOC
TOES!
KITTYTOES!!!!
Re: Talk To Algren
"/It was on the lesson plan,/" he explained, still in relatively good spirits. "/It had very fortunate timing, that way. You made it through the weekend whole, I see./"
[It's going on midnight and I absolutely need sleep. Revenge of the sloooowplay?]
Re: Talk To Algren
/Yes, thank you! My costume is going to be soaking forever trying to get the goo out, though. And I had some decisions I had to make that I didn't like, which is why I was so happy to be here today. I'm glad to see you made it through the weekend as well!/
[as always, slowplay is perfectly fine! I forgot the time :)]
Re: Talk To Algren
Nathan Algren, soldier, samurai, teacher, and professional burster of bubbles.
Re: Talk To Algren
Re: Talk To Algren
"/You know, this time last year, I would have probably found that statement to be... Very odd./"
Just saying.
Re: Talk To Algren
Re: Talk To Algren
"/Actually, I was talking about the flying./"
Odd and then some.
"/But the shrines probably wouldn't have occurred to me a year ago, either. A shame. They are peaceful./"
Re: Talk To Algren
"/Ah! Sorry! It's what I do when I get upset, at least since I got my powers. It's very relaxing and it clears my mind so I feel better about stuff. Why wouldn't you have thought of visiting a shrine a year ago? You're from Japan, right?/"
He certainly sounded like it.
Re: Talk To Algren
Or something like that.
"/America, actually. I spent a fair bit of time in Japan several months ago. What amounted to months for me was probably only about a week, here. I knew of shrines, of course, but I would have had problems telling you what they were for, beyond praying./"
Re: Talk To Algren
"/Wow! You speak very clearly!/" Momoko clapped her hands, proud of his skills.
"/I was back home in December and got to visit our local shrine for the New Year. Was that why you went? Did you get to see Tokyo City? Or, wait, I guess it wasn't Tokyo City for you, was it?/" Silly things, different worlds.
Re: Talk To Algren
Wasn't time travel fascinating?
"/I wouldn't know it to see it, if I were to visit there now, I know./"
[And now I sleep again! Revenge of the SP?]
Re: Talk To Algren
"/You'd like my Tokyo City. It's really pretty and nice and very different from here./" She looked around for a second, then smiled. "/Well, not here here, because, of course, this is just like home. So I really did mean it when I said thank you. Even if it was on the syllabus./"