Shimenawa

Shimenawa are ropes often adorned with white zigzag-shaped pieces and natural tassels. They are often seen hanging from toriis, wrapped around trees and sacred rocks or even attached to the waists of some sumo wrestlers. The three are known as “yorishiro”, meaning something that attracts gods or has a god living inside it. They are usually used to mark the boundaries of sacred space and ward off evil spirits.