A yorishiro in Shinto terminology is an object capable of attracting spirits called kami, thus giving them a physical space to occupy during religious ceremonies.
The most common yorishiro are swords, mirrors, ritual staffs decorated with paper streamers called gohei, comma-shaped beads called magatama, large rocks, and sacred trees. Yorishiro can also be persons, in which case they are called yorimashi.
Yorishiro are used during ceremonies to call the kami for worship. Once a yorishiro actually houses a kami, it is called a shintai.
As they passed the kitchen, the sweet smell of pumpkin pie entered Zhu Leizu’s huge nostrils, and he turned into the dining room, completely forgetting about the monks. But Soliang, keeping his mind clear, followed the abbot to the secret yorishiro storeroom.