What Is a Nōsatsu?
During the Shikoku Pilgrimage, you may notice small boxes placed in front of temple halls. Pilgrims quietly insert a white slip of paper into these boxes. That slip is called a nōsatsu — a votive name slip offered to mark one’s visit.
Traditionally, one slip is placed at the Main Hall and another at the Daishi Hall, making two per temple. Completing all eighty-eight temples means offering 176 slips in total. A nōsatsu is both proof of worship and a declaration: “I am here now, as a pilgrim.”
At the moment you place it into the box, your name and wish blend into the memory of the place, forming invisible layers of prayer that accumulate through generations.
How to Write It
On the front of the slip, pilgrims write the date, their name, and their address (usually up to the city or town). On the back, they write a single wish — simple ones such as “family safety” or “heart’s desire fulfilled” are enough.
It is common to prepare a bundle before departure and write only the date on-site. Looking into the box or touching other people’s slips is strictly avoided; the act of quietly offering your own is itself part of the prayer.
Colors and the Passage of Time
The color of the nōsatsu changes according to how many times a pilgrim has completed the circuit:
White: 1–4 times
Green: 5–6 times
Red: 7–24 times
Silver: 25–49 times
Gold: 50–99 times
Brocade: 100 or more
These colors do not indicate rank but represent the long years of walking made visible through color. When the slip changes from white to green, or red to silver, the pilgrimage evolves from a journey into a lifelong practice.
Beyond Offering: The Slip as a Gift
A nōsatsu is not only for offering at temples — it is also a medium of connection between people. Pilgrims often exchange them when meeting on the road or give them in gratitude when receiving Osettai (acts of hospitality).
Because each slip carries a name, place, and wish, it becomes a kind of calling card that silently expresses “who you are and why you walk.” It expects nothing in return; it is a gesture of gratitude, a quiet exchange passed down through the centuries.
Shape and Etymology
The phrase “to strike a temple” originally came from the old practice of nailing wooden slips to temple pillars. Until the Edo period, nōsatsu were made of wood or metal. Later, for the protection of temple buildings, they changed to paper slips placed in boxes.
Today, paper or cloth nōsatsu, roughly the size of a business card, are common and can easily be purchased at temple offices or supply shops. Many are pre-printed, prepared as part of the pilgrim’s journey.
Although the sound of “striking” has faded, the quiet act of “offering” remains, carrying the same meaning in a gentler form.
Practical Tips and Etiquette
Bring enough slips for the number of temples you plan to visit — two per temple, plus extras. Keep them organized in waterproof pouches in case of rain.
At each stop, place one slip at the Main Hall and one at the Daishi Hall. Follow the proper order, bow lightly, and insert the slip with calm hands. Writing only one wish and limiting your address to the city or town shows respect for other pilgrims and the temple.
Common Misunderstandings
The nōsatsu and the goshuin (temple seal or stamp) are often confused but are completely different acts. A nōsatsu is something the pilgrim writes and offers — a sign of devotion given outward.
A goshuin is something the temple gives in return — a record of acceptance. Together, they form a dialogue of faith: the act of offering and the act of receiving, delivering prayers and welcoming blessings.
Carrying on the Tradition
The custom of the nōsatsu remains the same even for additional sacred sites or sectional pilgrimages. Recording dates and sections helps preserve one’s personal travel history.
For those who walk repeatedly, the color and handwriting of their slips become a mirror of their life’s passage. In each thin piece of paper lies a blend of prayer, gratitude, and human connection — the cultural essence of the nōsatsu.
More Than Just a Piece of Paper
A nōsatsu is proof of worship, but also a bridge connecting pilgrims to society. Its color marks the years walked; its ink traces the pilgrim’s heart.
And when handed to another, it transforms into a new prayer within someone else’s memory. The Shikoku Pilgrimage is built upon these small exchanges — acts of giving and receiving that transcend words.
The humble nōsatsu is perhaps the quietest form of communication, turning a solitary journey into a shared culture of prayer.
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