Chōzuya

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A Chōzuya (手水舎, Chōzuya^?), also known as a Temizuya, is a Shinto ablution pavilion for ceremonial purification.

Water-filled basins are used by worshipers for rinsing the mouth and pouring water over the fingertips to purify themselves before approaching the main shrine or shaden (Japanese: 社殿). This symbolic purification is considered indispensable before worship and all shrines have this facility.

The temiyuza is usually an open area where clear water fills one or various stone basins. Wooden dippers are usually available to worshippers.

Originally, this purification was done at a spring, stream or seashore and this is still considered the ideal. Worshippers at the Inner Shrine at Ise still use this traditional way of ablution.

[edit] References

• Sokyo Ono, Shinto the Kami Way, 1962, Charles E Tuttle Co Inc, Singapore, ISBN 0-8048-1960-2
• Kazuo Nishi, 1995, What Is Japanese Architecture?, Kodansha Europe ISBN 978-4770019929