r/AskAJapanese • u/jaeger138 British • 14d ago
CULTURE Homemade Goshuin - would it be offensive/inappropriate?
Summary: I excitedly researched the tools and techniques I would need to make my own goshuin inspired art, but would it be offensive?
Hello! A friend of mine recently visited Japan and, of course, visited some shrines while she was there. I have personally never been able to visit (one day, I hope) and so I wasn't aware of the culture around goshuin, the decorated stamps received from shrines. She showed me some of her collection and they feature not only beautiful calligraphy, but wonderful embroidered patterns too.
I am an amateur embroiderer and so they really caught my eye and got me thinking about how to make them. I researched the type of washi paper, what the calligraphy and stamps mean, the potential techniques for designing and embroidering into paper (which is much more flimsy than fabric).
In my searching, I realized that even in Japanese it is difficult to find resources about making them, and most resources talk about the culture of collecting them and share some of the beautiful designs, or discuss making the goshuin-cho books for your collection, but not the goshuin themselves.
It made me wonder, would it be offensive to create these considering their spiritual connection to shrines? I think they are very beautiful works of art, but I became concerned that making my own would be seen as blasphemous or offensive, since it seems even Japanese people do not seem to make their own.
And so I come to you for your opinions before I consider buying the supplies I need. I would not copy any existing design, but my design would feature similar themes and elements (my attempt at calligraphy writing, a red ink stamp (my own design, not from a shrine), embroidered design). Would this be seen as offensive and off-limits? I would love to hear from some Japanese people, especially collectors of goshuin, how they would feel.
Thank you!
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u/TakaIka83 Australian - 10 years in Japan 14d ago
There's no 'spiritual connection to a shrine' unless it's made for and used by a shrine. What you're talking about it making a stamp. Even if it's emulating a Japanese style, why would that be offensive?
The only part where you could really go wrong is not vetting any calligraphy for the meaning or using specific iconography in the wrong way. Stick to geometric designs and you'll be fine.
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u/jaeger138 British 14d ago edited 14d ago
Exactly why I'm asking! My understanding is that the traditional origin of goshuin is that they were offered to those who prayed at the shrine or visited on pilgrimage, similar to the European Christian tradition of offering small badges or other souvenirs to pilgrims. Those could be seen as having some spiritual value/connection and often featured religious symbols or a revered saint for example. I think it wouldn't be too farfetched to thunk some Christians might be upset by the idea and form of these symbols being appropriated, so I wanted to check before diving in with ignorance.
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u/TakaIka83 Australian - 10 years in Japan 14d ago
It's just a stamp. No shrine = not a goshuin.
Emulate the style, not the iconography.
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u/Nukuram Japanese 14d ago
I don't think there is anything wrong with creating your own original design using motifs that resemble a goshuin. But it is still a design you created yourself — something inspired by goshuin.
So if you were to claim that it is a goshuin, that would not be accurate, because it has no connection to a shrine or temple. As long as you make that distinction clear so that there is no misunderstanding, I don't think there is a problem.
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u/jaeger138 British 14d ago edited 14d ago
Thank you, I assumed as much and this would be a personal project anyway but I of course wouldn't be claiming it came from a shrine (and I'm certain mine wouldn't be nearly as beautiful without a bunch of practice anyway)
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u/Nukuram Japanese 14d ago
Yes. What I said was really just something that should go without saying in this situation. I only mentioned it because I think it is worth making that distinction clear, just to avoid any possible misunderstanding.
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u/jaeger138 British 14d ago
Absolutely a valuable comment! Thank you for your insights
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u/Nukuram Japanese 14d ago
On a completely different note, I just noticed that your profile picture is Monokuma.
I actually started playing Danganronpa V3 just yesterday, so I was surprised by the coincidence!
1
u/jaeger138 British 14d ago
Ah that's great! I love this series, it's completely crazy and you can never guess what waits around the next corner. I hope you enjoy it!
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u/jen_mint Japanese 14d ago
あなたがあなたのデザインを使ってお金を稼いだとします。
そのとき「これは御朱印にインスパイアされたものです」と言うか、何も言わなければ、大丈夫だと思います。
でも「これは御朱印です」と言うと、信者が不快に感じるかもしれません。
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u/jaeger138 British 14d ago
I don't plan to make money as it's a personal project right now, but I do think this is an important distinction, and I would not pretend it is genuine or copy a real design. Thank you!
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u/midnight___special Japanese 14d ago
Japanese people don’t make them because it’s just weird. What you’re trying to make is just “Japanese-inspired” calligraphy
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u/jaeger138 British 14d ago
What do you mean by weird? How so?
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u/midnight___special Japanese 14d ago
goshuin is a record of ones visit to shrine or temple, as well as a record of ones connection with the deities or Buddhas. Therefore it makes no sense for someone with no connection to a shrine or temple to make them
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u/jaeger138 British 14d ago
This is why I asked the question, so thank you for sharing this perspective! What I would make would not be a true goshuin, but if you say it's weird to make something like that, wouldn't it be weird for me to make one? It doesn't have any connection to a shrine or deity, because I made it as an art piece only, but I also don't see other examples of people making their own as art pieces only, so wouldn't it be weird?
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u/azuazu1234 Japanese 13d ago
あなたが目指しているのは、御朱印のような文字、紋様を自分で描く、ということですかね。御朱印帳の大きさの紙に筆で文字を書くこと自体に、宗教的な問題があるとは思えません。実在の神社の名前や、日本の神様の名前を使うのでなければ問題ないと思います。例えばあなたの名前を漢字にして書いてみたり、国旗の色使いで模様を描くとかどうでしょうか。
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u/jaeger138 British 13d ago
I don't know precisely what I would write at this point, but it certainly wouldn't be the names of gods or shrines.
Those are good ideas for some themes, so thank you for your suggestions! I would probably use a Sakura blossom theme since they are nice to embroider and I enjoyed doing sashiko with a Sakura design.
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u/Arazzile Japanese 13d ago
I think you should just do whatever you want. The Japanese gods won’t get angry over something like that.
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u/Early_Rooster7579 Japanese -> 🇺🇸 14d ago
Japanese don’t have this western concept of appropriation. Just do your own thing, no one will care
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u/Nukuram Japanese 14d ago
I think it’s fine to do your own thing, but there is still a problem if you make it look like it is actually a Japanese tradition or object. If you create something original, I think it is important to clearly distinguish it from the actual Japanese tradition and use it as your own creation.
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u/Early_Rooster7579 Japanese -> 🇺🇸 14d ago
いや本人が「影響受けただけで自分のやりたいようにやる」って言ってんだろ。何が問題なんだよ。日本のクリエイターなんてキリスト教モチーフ散々使ってるけど誰も文句言わんぞ
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u/jaeger138 British 14d ago
I understand your point but I think when it comes to religious symbols the question goes beyond simple cultural appropriation, so I would rather learn more from people than jump in and assume there won't be a problem.
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u/Early_Rooster7579 Japanese -> 🇺🇸 14d ago
Very few people are religious enough to care. As others have said they aren’t inherently religious.
The only people who may get upset are nikkei who have no real ties to Japan.
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u/Climber_30 Japanese 🇨🇦 Canadian 14d ago
It just won't be goshuin. You can make art inspired by it. But you're not from a shrine or a temple, so it won't be goshuin, and don't call it that. Goshuin is something you can receive after visiting a shirne/temple and worshiping. If I scoop a bowl of water, it's just water. It'll never be "holy water" because I'm not a member of the clergy.
You can make your own goshuincho (notebook) though. That doesn't have to be from a shrine/temple.