Wiktionary
n. A type of talisman or amulet issued by a Shinto shrine.
Wikipedia
is a type of household amulet or talisman, issued by a Shinto shrine, hung in the house for protection, a . It may also be called . It is made by inscribing the name of a kami and the name of the Shinto shrine or of a representative of the kami on a strip of paper, wood, cloth, or metal.
It is to be renewed yearly, typically before the end of a year, and attached to a door, pillar, or ceiling. It may also be placed inside a private shrine ( kamidana). It is believed to protect the family in residence from general harm, such as a disease. A more specific o-fuda may be placed near particular objects such as one for kitchen to protect from accidental fire. A popular o-fuda called jingū-taima (神宮大麻) or simply taima (大麻) is issued by Ise Shrine. It is made from hemp cloth (taima) that is blessed and replaced every year — as the use of hemp as a material was common from antiquity.
A portable form of o-fuda, commonly called omamori (お守り or 御守, o-mamori) is typically given out wrapped in a small bag made of decorated cloth. This originates from Onmyōdō and Buddhism, but was subsequently adopted by Shintoism. Both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines give out these o-mamori. While an o-fuda is said to protect a whole family, an o-mamori offers support for personal benefits.
Usage examples of "ofuda".
When Akiko Ofuda saw Nicholas walk in through Jan Jan's high Edo period portals she turned her head partly away into the shadows.
Akiko Ofuda wore a snow-white kimono, heavy with hand-stitched brocade.
While Akiko's parents were dead, the name Ofuda still ranked as most prestigious, tracing its origins all the way back to the time of leyasu Tokugawa.
It was not as if Akiko Ofuda looked like Yukio: a family resemblance, a sister even.
Now, staring hard at Akiko Ofuda, Nicholas wondered wildly whether Saigo had lied that one last time.
Akiko Ofuda Sato felt the press of her husband's hand in the limo on the way home from the reception.
And finally on the horizon of his imagination he came to the citadel of the unnameable emotion that had been haunting him from the moment Akiko Ofuda Sato slipped her fan away from her face and revealed herself to him.
It was not as if Akiko Ofuda looked like Yukio: a family resemblance, a sister even.