Kanji 御 honorable, manipulate, govern Related words 護符 specifically denotes a religious protective charm, while 符 is a broader, more abstract term that can also mean a tally, mark, or scoring unit.
護符 is a more formal, written-language term for a protective talisman, while お守り is the everyday word most people use.
Written forms 護符 Usage 94% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
御符 Usage 6% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
rarely-used kanji form
御封
rarely-used kanji form
ごふう
Etymology Compound of 護 (go, 'protect') and 符 (fu, 'charm' or 'symbol'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word has been used in Japanese religious and folk contexts for centuries.
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