恵え方ほう参まいり

え

ほ

う

ま

い

り

Meanings

1

noun

New Year's shrine/temple visit in a lucky direction

A traditional practice of visiting a shrine or temple that lies in the year's auspicious direction (恵方) to pray for good fortune.

今年ことしの恵え方ほうは南なん南なん東とうなので、恵え方ほう参まいりに

行い

く

なら

その

方ほう

角がく

の

神じん

社じゃ

を

選えら

び

ます

。

This year's lucky direction is south-southeast, so if we go for an ehōmairi, we'll choose a shrine in that direction.

正しょう月がつに家か族ぞくで恵え方ほう参まいりをして、一いち年ねんの無ぶ事じを祈いのった。

On New Year's, the family went on an ehōmairi and prayed for safety throughout the year.

Kanji

恵favor, blessing, grace
方direction, person, alternative
参nonplussed, three (in documents), going
詣visit a temple, arrive, attain

Related words

恵え方ほう
恵方 refers to the lucky direction itself, while 恵方参り is the act of visiting a shrine or temple in that direction.
初はつ詣もうで
初詣 is the first shrine or temple visit of the new year, not necessarily tied to a lucky direction. 恵方参り specifically involves visiting a place in the year's auspicious direction.

Written forms

恵え方ほう参まいり
Standard kanji spelling.
恵え方ほう詣まいり
Variant spelling using 詣り; less common but seen.
恵え方ほう詣まいり
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; the reading remains えほうまいり.

Etymology

Compound of 恵方 (ehō, 'lucky direction') and 参り (mairi, 'visiting a shrine or temple'). The practice is based on the traditional belief that the year's fortune comes from a specific direction.