Polite to Stranger
Cultural · Religion
お寺と神社の参拝の仕方は、どのように違うのでしょうか？ — How does the way of worshipping at temples differ from at shrines? (Cultural · Religion, Polite to Stranger, JLPT N3)
You
お寺と神社の参拝の仕方は、どのように違うのでしょうか？
おてらとじんじゃのさんぱいのしかたは、どのようにちがうのでしょうか？
How does the way of worshipping at temples differ from at shrines?
Romaji: Otera to jinja no sanpai no shikata wa, dono you ni chigau no deshou ka? / Reply Romaji: Hai, otera wa te o awasete shizuka ni inori, jinja wa nirei-nihakushu-ichirei desu.
Reply
はい、お寺は手を合わせて静かに祈り、神社は二礼二拍手一礼です。
はい、おてらはてをあわせてしずかにいのり、じんじゃはにれいにはくしゅいちれいです。
At temples, place hands together and pray silently. At shrines, it's two bows, two claps, one bow.
Gesture & etiquette
Calm respectful tone — these are sacred topics. Listen attentively. If at the location, look toward the relevant element (gate, main hall) while explanation is given. A small bow of thanks (15 degrees) after receiving the explanation. Practice the gesture if invited.
Temples (otera) are Buddhist; shrines (jinja) are Shinto. Worship differs: at temples, place palms together silently in front of chest, bow head, no clapping (clapping calls attention — appropriate for Shinto gods, not Buddhas). At shrines, perform 'ni-rei ni-hakushu ichi-rei' (two bows, two claps, one bow). The architectural signals also differ — torii gate = shrine; sanmon gate = temple.