1.
offertory box; donation box at a shrine or temple
Found at the front of Japanese shrines and temples for monetary offerings.
Composed of 賽銭 (monetary offering) + 箱 (box). The large wooden box placed in front of the main hall at Japanese shrines and temples where visitors toss coins as part of their prayer or wish.
Common collocations
- 賽銭箱にお金を入れる: to put money in the offertory box
- 賽銭箱の前で手を合わせる: to put hands together in front of the offertory box
- 賽銭箱泥棒: offertory box thief
Cultural note
The standard worship procedure at a Shinto shrine is to toss a coin into the 賽銭箱, ring the bell, bow twice, clap twice, pray, and bow once more. Five-yen coins (五円玉) are popular because 五円 sounds like 御縁 (divine connection). At Buddhist temples, the procedure differs slightly, with no clapping.