Mikoshi
/miːˈkoʊʃi/noun
A portable Shinto shrine carried in a festival procession, traditionally understood as temporarily conveying a kami.
Did you know?During a matsuri, the kami is traditionally invited into the mikoshi, transforming an ordinary procession into a temporary movement of divine presence through the community.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Japanese
Japanese
神輿
“A palanquin or carriage for a kami; the characters literally combine “deity” and “palanquin.””
Classical Japanese
Japanese
みこし
“A shrine vehicle or sacred conveyance used in ritual contexts.”
Medieval Japan
Japanese
神輿（みこし）
“A portable shrine carried during religious observances and processions.”
Edo Period
Japanese
mikoshi
“A portable Shinto shrine central to local festival processions.”
20th Century
Japanese to English
mikoshi
“A Japanese cultural loanword referring to a portable shrine carried at festivals.”
Modern English
English
mikoshi
“A portable Shinto shrine, especially one carried during a matsuri.”