charm or incantation to calm a child; traditional remedy for colic or tantrums
A folk practice, historically used to ward off 'insects' believed to cause illness or fussiness in children. Now rare and mostly of historical or cultural interest.
In the old days, people placed a 虫封じ charm under the pillow of a baby who cried a lot at night.
This shrine performs prayers for calming children.
Compound of 虫 (mushi, 'insect') and 封じ (fūji, 'sealing'), from the verb 封じる. The 'insect' refers to a folk belief in a malevolent creature causing illness or bad behavior in children.