依より代しろ

よ

り

し

ろ

Meanings

yorishiro; object housing a kami; spirit vessel

In Shinto, a physical object (tree, rock, pillar, animal, etc.) that serves as a temporary dwelling or medium for a kami or spirit. Often used in rituals and festivals.

神じん社じゃのご神しん木ぼくは、神かみ様さまの依より代しろとされています。
The sacred tree at the shrine is considered a yorishiro for the deity.
祭まつりのとき、依より代しろとして大おおきな岩いわにしめ縄なわを張はります。
During the festival, a sacred rope is hung around a large rock as a yorishiro.

Kanji

依reliant, depend on, consequently
代substitute, change, convert
憑depend, rely, evidence

Related words

神しん体たい
神体 is a permanent object of worship enshrined in a shrine, while 依代 is a temporary vessel or medium for a kami.
御ご神しん体たい
御神体 is a more formal term for the sacred object of worship, often kept hidden; 依代 is broader and can be any object a spirit temporarily inhabits.

Written forms

依より代しろUsage100%
Standard kanji spelling in Shinto contexts.
依より代しろ
Variant with okurigana; less common but still seen.
憑より代しろ
Alternate kanji emphasizing the 'possessing' aspect.
憑より代しろ
Rare variant with okurigana.

Etymology

From 依る, here “to approach and possess,” and 代, “substitute or representative.” It denotes a material object serving as the temporary seat through which a deity or spirit manifests.