noun
sakaki tree; Cleyera japonica
An evergreen tree sacred in Shinto, often used in rituals and planted at shrines. The specific species Cleyera japonica is the most common reference.
神社の境内には榊が植えられている。
Sakaki trees are planted within the shrine grounds.
神棚に榊を供える。
Offer sakaki branches at the household Shinto altar.
noun
sacred evergreen; shrine evergreen
A broader sense referring to any evergreen tree planted or used at a Shinto shrine, not limited to Cleyera japonica. Often used in ritual contexts.
祭りのとき、榊の枝で清める。
During the festival, they purify with branches of the sacred evergreen.
Ateji spelling used in classical literature and poetry; not common in modern writing.
神木 refers to any sacred tree in general, often a large, ancient tree at a shrine, while 榊 specifically denotes the sakaki species or evergreens used in Shinto rituals.
玉串 is a ritual offering consisting of a sakaki branch decorated with paper streamers (shide), used in Shinto ceremonies. 榊 is the tree itself.
The kanji 榊 is a kokuji (Japan-made character) combining 木 (tree) and 神 (god), reflecting its sacred use. The reading さかき is of native Japanese origin, possibly related to 栄える (sakaeru, 'to prosper') or 境 (sakai, 'boundary'), but the exact derivation is uncertain.