also: もりしお
small pile of salt placed at an entrance for good luck
A traditional Japanese custom where a small cone or pile of salt is placed near the entrance of a shop or restaurant to ward off evil and attract prosperity. Often seen at the sides of doorways.
I put a small pile of salt at the entrance of the shop.
盛り塩は商売繁盛の縁起物だ。
A pile of salt is a lucky charm for business prosperity.
Standard kanji spelling; the reading もりじお is the most common pronunciation.
Alternate reading もりしお; less common than もりじお.
Variant spelling without okurigana; less common but still seen.
Compound of 盛り (mori, 'piling up') + 塩 (shio, 'salt'). The custom originates from the belief that salt has purifying powers and can drive away evil spirits.