| Metropolitan Community Church |
MCC |
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| Mi- |
Honorific prefix sometimes translated 'august'. Japanese terms often prefixed with the honorific mi- may be listed under their main word in this dictionary. E.g. for mi-tama see Tama |
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| Mi-itsu |
Also shin'i. The "prestige" or 'lofty authority' or "virtue" belonging to a kami. It may be absorbed by the worshipper by, for example, eating the food previously offered to the kami. See |
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| Mi-ko-gami |
"Honourable offspring kami'—the kami who are "children" of the principal kami worshipped at a shrine. They are part of the of a major kami. SusanO-o at the Jinja (Gion, gozu tennO) has eight mi-kogami who are worshipped with him |
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| Mi-kuruma-yama matsuri |
Kuruma-yama ('wheeled-mountains') are single-storey festival floats, some carrying mechanical puppets, topped with hokodome, a latticed umbrella-shaped decoration representing the sun and its rays. The Mikuruma-yama festival takes place on May 1st at the Kanno jinja in Toyama prefecture. The floats are notable for their large black-lacquered wheels embellished with intricate metalwork |
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| Mi-megumi |
Megumi means a blessing, grace or favour. The honorific form mi-megumi is used when referring to a blessing from the kami or a superior. Cf. mitama no fuyu |
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| Mi-tama |
Tama has two meanings, depending on the character with which it is written. One character for tama also pronounced "gyoku" means precious jewel, as in the "jewel-fence" surrounding a shrine or a branch offering. The more common meaning of tama in a Shinto context is the tama also pronounced "rei" meaning soul or spirit. Tama is an entity which resides in something to which it gives life and vitality, whether this is human, animal, or a natural feature etc. Disembodied, the tama may be a kami or aspect of a kami, or a spirit of an ancestor or other dead person. The honorific form is or go-rei. Tama is a key and variously interpreted term in the spiritual psychologies related to Shinto, and various kinds and functions of spirit have been distinguished. Shikon, the 'four tama" for example are (1) ara-mitama, a violent or coercive spirit and (2) nigi-mitama, a gentle and pacifying spirit which has two aspects, namely (3) saki-mitama which imparts blessings and (4) kushi-mitama which causes mysterious transformations. Mitama-shiro is the representation or seat of a spirit, i.e. a sacred object through which a kami is worshipped, a Tama-furi refers to spiritual exercises. is a ceremony to prevent the soul from leaving the body. Tama-yori-hime is a maiden in whom the spirit of a kami dwells. Kuni-tama is the spirit of the land. See also |
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| Mi-tama no fuyu |
The blessing of a kami, or spirit (tama) of a kami; literally, the return of a request for favour. Also |
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| Mi-tarashi |
The honorific term for 'hand-rinsing [water] it refers to the pure water, preferably from a running source such as a clear river (mitarashi-gawa or harae-gawa) used for rinsing the hands and mouth before entering a shrine or participating in a rite. See |
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| Mi-taue |
Rice (trans) ceremony |
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| Midnight Cry Ministries |
MCM |
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| Midway Jewish Center |
MJC |
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| Mighty Gospel Outreach |
MGO |
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| Mighty Man Of God |
MMG |
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| Mighty Soul |
MS |
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| Mighty Spirit |
MS |
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| Mikado |
A traditional name for "Emperor'. The etymology could be 'August Gate' or 'Great Place'. In the period it was replaced by Chinese-derived terms such as Tenshi (son of heaven) or ten'o (Heavenly emperor) and Shujo 'supreme Master" |
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| Miki |
The special name for when prepared in various special ways, at some shrines in a special sakadono or sake-hall, and offered to the kami (see Shinsen) It is drunk by the participants at the close of a ceremony as part of the "feast" to receive the of the kami |
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| Miki, Tokuharu |
The founder in 1931 of Hito no Michi (The Way of Man) a Buddhist-Shinto religious movement derived from the mountain sect Mitake-kyo and its associated movement Tokumitsu-kyo. Miki's teachings derived from his mystical experiences of the deity Amaterasu, whom he equated with the Buddhist divinity nyorai Members were taught to transfer their sufferings to the founder, seen as a From the 1930's Hito no Michi took on a "state Shinto" identity but was persecuted nevertheless, accused of worshipping the sun rather than the sun goddess. After the war the movement under the direction of Miki's son Tokuchika was revived with the American-sounding name of P.L.Kyodan (the religion of Perfect Liberty) which teaches a positive approach to creativity and 'living life as art', asserting that human beings are essentially divine. Tokuharu is venerated by the sect at his tomb under his posthumous kami-name of Amamizu-umihi-arawaru-hiko-no-mikoto |
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| Miko |
A term used for female shamans (also fujo) spirit-mediums or diviners, from ancient Japan to the present day. In modern times miko of this shamanic type (kuchiyose miko) operate largely outside the shrines as independent religious practitioners. Miko in a shrine context (jinja miko) now means an assistant priestess or "shrine-maiden" (see Shinshoku) often the unmarried daughter of a priest or parishioner. Her duties include taking care of visitors, helping the priest with ceremonies and performing miko-mai or dances. A moderately prosperous shrine may employ several part-time miko. Shrine miko are usually dressed in red and white blouse, or in pure white for special occasions. It seems that today's miko, even the kuchiyose type, only faintly resemble the powerful women shamans such as princess Himiko or Pimiko mentioned in ancient Chinese accounts of Japan who acted as oracular guides to the ruler and communicated with the kami on behalf of the community. The closest equivalents to these women are probably the powerful founders of new religions, such as Miki, Nakayama of TenrikyO, Nao, Deguchi of Omoto-kyO, Kotani, Kimi of Reiyukai or Kitamura, Sayo of KOtai Jingu-kyO |
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