noun
small purification wand
Archaic Shinto ritual object; a small wand used in purification ceremonies. Rare in modern language, mostly encountered in historical or religious texts.
古い神社の記録に、小幣を用いた祓いの儀式が記されている。
In the records of an old shrine, a purification ritual using a small wand is described.
noun
thinly cut hemp or paper mixed with rice (scattered as an offering)
Refers to the material itself: finely cut hemp or paper mixed with rice grains, scattered as an offering to the gods. Related to 切麻. Also archaic and limited to ritual contexts.
See also: 切麻
神事では、小幣と呼ばれる細かく切った麻や紙を米と混ぜて撒くことがあった。
In Shinto rituals, finely cut hemp or paper called konusa was sometimes mixed with rice and scattered.
Compound of 小 (small) and 幣 (Shinto offering wand). The alternate spelling 小麻 reflects the use of hemp (麻) in the ritual object. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is firmly rooted in ancient Shinto practice.