About the Goshuin Database
A canonical catalogue of goshuin, the calligraphy-and-vermilion-seal records given at Japanese temples and shrines. Built to be permanent, citable, and never lose data.
What this catalogue is
Each entry is a distinct goshuin design: a real-world seal tied to the temple or shrine that issues it. The catalogue records what a goshuin is (its temple, type, season, and provenance) independently of any one person’s collection. It is a reference layer, like a library catalogue, over the wider atlas of temples.
Permanent, citable IDs
Every record has a stable catalogue ID such as gsn-3ndftk3. IDs are opaque (they encode no meaning), non-sequential, and include a check character that catches typos. An ID is never reused or reassigned, so it is safe to cite, bookmark, or print. It will always resolve to the same record.
Verification and provenance
Records carry a verification tier so you can weigh how well-sourced each one is.
- Curator verified:
- reviewed and confirmed by the catalogue’s editors.
- Temple confirmed:
- confirmed against the issuing temple or shrine.
- Community:
- corroborated by multiple community submissions.
- Unverified:
- recorded, but not yet independently checked.
Records are merged, never deleted
When two entries turn out to describe the same goshuin, they are merged rather than deleted, and every change is kept in the record’s revision history. The superseded ID keeps working. It permanently redirects to the surviving record, so a citation never breaks.
How to cite a record
Each record page gives a ready-to-copy citation in this form:
Goshuin Database. “Hydrangea”, Hase-dera (gsn-0zc1jp3). database.goshuin.com/stamp/gsn-0zc1jp3
Coverage
The catalogue currently holds 350 goshuin across 219 temples and shrines, of which 260 are verified. It grows as records are added and reviewed.