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:
- ε€§εΆ (dai-kyou), Great Curse
- ζ«εΆ (sue-kyou), Future Curse
- εεΆ (han-kyou), Half-Curse
- ε°εΆ (shou-kyou), Small Curse
- εΆ (kyou), Curse
- ζ«ε°ε (sue-shou-kichi), Future small Blessing
- ζ«ε (sue-kichi), Future Blessing
- εε (han-kichi), Half-Blessing
- ε (kichi), Blessing
- ε°ε (shou-kichi), Small Blessing
- δΈε (chuu-kichi), Middle Blessing
- 倧ε (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:
- εΉ³ (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.