Waniguchiwaniguchi / 鰐口

A flat, disc-shaped metal gong hung at temple entrances — the Buddhist equivalent of a shrine bell.

The waniguchi is a flat, circular bronze instrument with a horizontal slit across its face resembling a crocodile's mouth — hence the name. Where shrines use bells with a clear, high-pitched ring, the waniguchi produces a deep, resonant “gong” characteristic of Buddhist worship spaces.

Waniguchi spread widely during the Kamakura to Muromachi periods. During the era of combined Shinto-Buddhist worship, waniguchi were sometimes hung at shrines as well, and a few remain to this day. Noticing whether a bell or waniguchi hangs at the entrance can be a quick way to distinguish a shrine from a temple.

• Haiden haiden / 拝殿

  The outer hall of a shrine where visitors offer prayers, typically featuring a bell and offering box.

• Honden honden / 本殿

  The innermost sacred building of a shrine where the divine object (goshintai) is enshrined.

• Heiden heiden / 幣殿

  The hall between the haiden and honden where offerings are presented to the deity.

• Hondō hondō / 本堂

  The central building of a Buddhist temple where the principal image of Buddha is enshrined.

• Gohonzon gohonzon / 御本尊

  The principal object of worship in a Buddhist temple — a statue, painting, or mandala of Buddha.

• Saisen saisen / 賽銭

  A monetary offering tossed into the offering box as a token of gratitude to the gods or Buddha.

• Saisenbako saisenbako / 賽銭箱

  A sturdy wooden box placed before the worship hall for visitors to deposit monetary offerings.

• Suzu suzu / 鈴

  A large bell hung at the front of the worship hall, rung by visitors to announce their presence to the gods.

• Suzuo suzuo / 鈴緒

  The thick rope or cord used to ring the shrine bell before prayer.

• Waniguchi waniguchi / 鰐口

  A flat, disc-shaped metal gong hung at temple entrances — the Buddhist equivalent of a shrine bell.

• Nihai-Nihakushu-Ichihai nihai nihakushu ichihai / 二拝二拍手一拝

  The standard Shinto worship sequence: two deep bows, two handclaps, and one final bow.

• Kashiwade kashiwade / 柏手

  The practice of clapping hands together during shrine worship to show reverence and announce one's presence.

• Gasshō gasshō / 合掌

  The Buddhist prayer posture of pressing both palms together in front of the chest.

• Shōkō shōkō / 焼香

  The ritual of burning incense at a temple or funeral to honor Buddha or the deceased.

• Senkō senkō / 線香

  Thin sticks of incense offered before Buddhist altars to purify the space and nourish the spirit.

• Kōro kōro / 香炉

  A large incense vessel at temple entrances where visitors waft smoke over themselves for purification.