About 500 years ago, Goshuin already existed. It is believed that back then a Goshuin was an official stamp that was used at shinto shrines and temples, and that it was also an official stamp used by the shogun and daimyo. By sometime during the edo era the system had changed though, and common visitors can now receive goshuin for a small fee. To those visitors a goshuin was like an amulet blessed by the holy spirit that they received and treated with gratitude and respect. In Japan today, there are many people especially women who collect goshuin. Here are some things that you should keep in mind if you want to receive goshuin. 1. You should purchase a goshuin-cho. This is a notebook to receive a goshuin. 2. If you are planning on receiving goshuin from both shrines and temples, you should have a separate goshuin-cho for each. You should not mix shrines and temples. 3. You should properly pray first before you ask for a goshuin. 4. This is not just a hobby or pastime. It is believed that the spirit of god or Buddha is always present in Goshuin. So treat them with respect. There are some shrines and temples that no longer give away goshuin due to the bad manners of the visitors. Some goshuin look so cute, and I can understand that people want to collect them as a hobby, but please understand the true meaning of goshuin.
