omikuji
Random fortunes written on strips of paper at Shinto shrines in Japan.
The short messages that may be found on them follow below, ordered tentatively from worst to best:
- 大凶 (dai-kyou), Great Curse
- 末凶 (sue-kyou), Future Curse
- 半凶 (han-kyou), Half-Curse
- 小凶 (shou-kyou), Small Curse
- 凶 (kyou), Curse
- 末小吉 (sue-shou-kichi), Future small Blessing
- 末吉 (sue-kichi), Future Blessing
- 半吉 (han-kichi), Half-Blessing
- 吉 (kichi), Blessing
- 小吉 (shou-kichi), Small Blessing
- 中吉 (chuu-kichi), Middle Blessing
- 大吉 (dai-kichi), Great Blessing
The temples and shrines across Japan do not have a unified system for their omikuji. Some places do not offer the full range of fortunes, and a few offer an additional fortune rank:
- 平 (hira), Neutral
How the unmodified "Blessing" ranks compare to Small and Middle blessings also varies.
Tying these strips of paper to trees or wires is a common custom, especially when receiving a negative fortune.
