Impaling the Sin

Impaling the Sin "So, they were offering their sin to that other world." Kanji 咎穿ち Location Mountains of Northeastern Japan Participants Villagers Frequency Once a year. Purpose To dispel misfortune. Game Fatal Frame III

A custom mentioned by Kei Amakura. It was practised by villagers in the area around the Kuze Shrine. The custom had its origins in the Impalement Ritual and bore similarities to the rituals mentioned in the document Skewered Dolls.

Preparation

Villagers would put their own clothes on a straw doll.

The Ritual

They would impale the straw doll on a sacred tree in the mountain forests using Shinue Stakes.

Result

Sin and misfortune were symbolically impaled and offered to the Other World, and thus dispelled for another year.