御幣

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 御幣(ごへい) refers to a ritual object bearing paper streamers and used in Shinto ceremonies.
• Basic usage: It appears in descriptions of shrine rites, altars, and purification ceremonies. Typical patterns are 祭壇に御幣を置く and 神職が御幣を手にする.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Notice the ritual context
  • It is not an ordinary paper decoration but a ritual object associated with Shinto ceremonies.
• Difference from 紙垂
  • 紙垂(しで) refers to the folded paper streamer itself, while 御幣 is used for the ritual object as a whole that bears such streamers.