What is the appropriate amount for an offering? Are there specific etiquette rules?

Surprisingly Unknown! What’s the Best Amount for an Offering?

When visiting a shrine or temple, you may wonder about the appropriate amount to put in the offering box. Some amounts are said to bring good luck, while others may bring the opposite, which can make it a bit confusing. In this article, we’ll introduce you to recommended offering amounts, proper ways to give, and how to handle situations when there are multiple offering boxes.

What Exactly is an Offering?

An offering, or osaisen, refers to the money given when visiting a shrine or temple. Its meaning and origins are subject to various interpretations.

The character '賽' in osaisen carries the idea of 'expressing gratitude by offering gifts in appreciation for the blessings received from deities or Buddhas.' In ancient times, people offered rice or cloth as tokens of gratitude to the gods. Over time, this tradition shifted to monetary offerings.

The act of giving an offering is also believed to purify one’s spirit and cleanse away impurities.

How Much Should You Give as an Offering?

So, what amount should you give as an offering?

You might feel that a small amount won’t help your wishes come true, but the amount itself actually doesn’t matter. There’s no need to strain yourself by giving a large offering just for the sake of blessings.

That said, some amounts are considered lucky or unlucky for offerings, based on wordplay.

Amounts Considered Lucky for Offerings

5 yen (May you have a good connection)
2 coins of 5 yen (May you have a strong and lasting connection)
11 yen (May you have a great connection)
15 yen (May you have a sufficient connection)
20 yen (May you have a double connection)
4 coins of 5 yen (May you have a good connection)
25 yen (May you have a double connection)
6 coins of 5 yen (May you have a stable and harmonious connection)
8 coins of 5 yen (May you have a growing connection)
41 yen (May you always have a good connection)
45 yen (May you always have a connection)
50 yen (May you have tenfold the connection)
115 yen (May you have a good connection)
125 yen (May you have a connection in abundance)
415 yen (May you have a good connection)
485 yen (May you have connections from all directions)
500 yen (May you have a hundredfold connection)
10,000 yen (May all things go smoothly and harmoniously)

Amounts Considered Unlucky for Offerings

10 yen (En of "distant connection")
33 yen (San-san-en, sounds like "sanzan" meaning "disastrous connection")
13 coins of 5 yen (Rokuna go-en ga nai, meaning "no good connection")
71 yen (Nai-en, sounds like "no connection")
15 coins of 5 yen (Nan no go-en mo nai, meaning "no connection at all")
79 yen (Naku-en, sounds like "crying connection")
17 coins of 5 yen (Yappari go-en ga nai, meaning "still no connection")
19 coins of 5 yen (Kore demo go-en ga nai, meaning "no connection even then")
105 yen (Tōbun go-en nashi, meaning "no connection for a while")
500 yen (Kore ijō no kōka/kōka wa nai, meaning "no further effect / coin left")

How to Offer an Offering: Etiquette and Ritual

Now, let's look at the proper way to offer an offering. The method can vary depending on the shrine or temple, so here is a general guideline.

Etiquette at Shrines
Place your offering and stand up straight.
Ring the bell if there is one near the offering box.
Perform two bows, two claps, and one final bow to complete your prayer.

Etiquette at Temples
Place your offering and bow in front of the offering box.
Ring the bell or gong if available.
Place your hands together in prayer at chest height, and if there is an incense offering station, you may offer incense.
Bow once more to complete your prayer.

What to Do When There Are Multiple Offering Boxes?

At some shrines, in addition to the main hall (honden), there are smaller shrines called sessha (摂社) and massha (末社), each with its own offering box.

While you may choose to visit each one and make offerings at all the boxes, it is perfectly fine to make an offering only at the main hall.

The Amount of the Offering is Up to You! Cherish the Feeling of Gratitude for the Blessings of the Deities and Buddhas

In this article, we discussed the amounts for offerings and the proper etiquette. We also introduced amounts considered lucky or unlucky, but it’s important to remember that these are simply based on wordplay. The amount of your offering is entirely up to you, so visit with a sincere heart and express your gratitude for the blessings received from the deities and Buddhas.