Reishu Sakuma

sakaki 榊

An evergreen tree of the family Pentaphylacaceae (formerly placed in the tea family) used in Shinto rites. The character 榊 is a kokuji, created in Japan. In this article, I understand it as a marker of the boundary between the realm of the kami and that of people.

Articles using this term

Oct 16, 2026Prayer Rooted in Daily Life

Why Sakaki Belongs on the Kamidana — Its Origin in the Kojiki and How to Care for It at Home

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