Japanese

Noun

縁起物 ‎(shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai kanji 緣起物, hiragana えんぎもの, romaji engimono)

1. a talisman, a lucky charm

   Examples include the rope ties or pine boughs used for decoration at New Years, a 招き猫 ‎(maneki neko, literally “beckoning cat”), a 達磨 ‎(Daruma, “Dharma doll”), or an ornamental 熊手 ‎(kumade, “bamboo rake”) as sold in winter holiday markets in November and December.

Related terms

• 護符 (ごふ, ​gofu): a protective charm issued by a Shinto shrine
• 神札 (しんさつ, ​shinsatsu): a protective charm issued by a Shinto shrine
• 御守, お守り (おまもり, ​omamori): a protective charm issued by a Shinto shrine
• 破魔矢 (はまや, ​hamaya): a decorative arrow used as a ward against evil
• 御札 (おふだ, ​ofuda): a protective charm

References

1. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. ↑ 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9