divination equipment
- Museum number
- As2001,16.178.a-n
- Description
-
Divination slips (omikuji) made of paper contained in twelve envelopes (a-l), each printed in particular with an animal, one for each sign of the zodiac (Chinese calendar), and a blood group. All envelopes are closed, except the ones for those born in the year of the snake and with blood group B which has been opened and includes two slips of paper (m-n) with Japanese printed text, yellow for love predictions and pink for general advice.
- Production date
- 2000
- Dimensions
-
Height: 10 centimetres (envelope a)
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Height: 10 centimetres (envelope b)
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Height: 9.30 centimetres (envelope c)
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Height: 9.80 centimetres (envelope d)
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Height: 9.80 centimetres (envelope e)
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Height: 10 centimetres (envelope f)
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Height: 9.80 centimetres (envelope g)
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Height: 10 centimetres (envelope h)
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Height: 9.40 centimetres (envelope i)
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Height: 9.40 centimetres (envelope j)
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Height: 9.70 centimetres (envelope k)
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Height: 9.40 centimetres (envelope l)
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Height: 8.80 centimetres (pink slip n)
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Height: 8.80 centimetres (yellow slip m)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope b)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope c)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope d)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope e)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope f)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope g)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope h)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope i)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope j)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope k)
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Weight: 3 grammes (envelope l)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope a)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope b)
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Width: 7.10 centimetres (envelope c)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope d)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope e)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope f)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope g)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope h)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope i)
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Width: 7.20 centimetres (envelope j)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope k)
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Width: 7 centimetres (envelope l)
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Width: 21 centimetres (pink slip n)
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Width: 21 centimetres (yellow slip m)
- Curator's comments
- Omikuji are slips of paper available in most shrines and selected on a variety of criteria (lucky draw, blood group, year of birth, age, name, etc.). They include extensive text with predictions for the individual in all aspects of life. If the predictions are favourable, the slip is kept, if unfavourable, they are tied to a branch or a frame within the shrine's grounds to ensure bad luck is not carried away. As most predictions contain some element of warnings, omikuji are usually left at the shrine. Some omikuji now include a charm that can be taken by the individual to promote good luck.
These omikuji are chosen on the basis of an individual's blood group and year of birth.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Good. One evelope opened and slightly torn.
- Acquisition date
- 2001
- Acquisition notes
- Acquired for the BP Showcase Exhibition on 'Souvenirs in Contemporary Japan'. British Museum Department of Ethnography; field collection.
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- As2001,16.178.a-n
