DECEMBER calendar

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. Kigo Calendar - the 12 Months .

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- January - / - Feburary - / - March -

- April - / - May - / - June -

- July - / - August - / - September -

- Ocotber - / - November - / - December -


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December - juunigatsu 十二月　






.................... 01 .................................................................................

. Year End Sales and Markets begin ichi 年の市 .

. World AIDS Day .

boosai yoohin tenken no hi 防災用品点検の日
day of general checkups for disaster goods
advocated by disaster and catastrophy adviser 山村武彦 Yamamura Takehiko.
Not only on the Day of the Great Kanto Earthquake (September 01), but four times a year, including the first day of March and June.

chakushin merodi no hi着信メロディの日
day of the ringing tone melody (for telephones)
On this day in 1999 the first melody for telephones was introduced in the world by 株式会社フェイス (Faith fo Face).

deeta sentaa no hi データセンターの日 day of the data center
created by データセンター運営会社, softbank ソフトバンクIDC.
goroawase. The initials of DataCenter look like "DeCember".

dejitaru hoosoo no hi デジタル放送の日 day of digital broadcasting
created in 2006 by デジタル放送推進協会.

eiga no hi 映画の日 day of the cinema
created in 1896. In Kobe, the first movie was played in a public place.
At that time a キネトスコープ Kinetoscope invented by Edison was used.

fuyu no shoo ene sootenken no hi 冬の省エネ総点検の日
day of general checkups for winter energy saving
created in 1980 by 資源エネルギー庁 Agency for Natural Resources and Energy.
Every month on the 1st is 省エネの日 Day of Energy Saving.

inochi no hi いのちの日 day of life
created in 2001 by 厚生労働省 Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
To protect the life of workers.

kairo no hi カイロの日 day of disposable warmers
created in 1991. When it gets colder, people use the small heating patches to keep the body warm. hokkairo　ホッカイロ　

techoo no hi 手帳の日 day of the pocket notebook
created by 日本能率協会マネジメントセンター, which invented the
nooritsu techoo 能率手帳 "efficient notebook" - Notizbuch

tetsu no kinenbi 鉄の記念日 day of iron
created in 1958. In 1857 in Kamaishi (Iwate) the history of modern iron processing started at 釜石高炉, now 新日鉄釜石製鉄所.


.................... 02 .................................................................................

anzen kamisori no hi 安全カミソリの日
day of a safe razor
In 1901 the American King C. Gillette ( ジレット) introduced the first safety razor with exchangeable blade 替え刃式の安全カミソリ.

genshiro no hi 原子炉の日 day of the nuclear reactor
In 1942 on this day, the first small nuclear reactor (Chicago Pile-1 (CP-1) was introduced in America at Chicago University under the supervision of Enrico Fermi.

Nihon Aruzenchin shuukoo kinenbi 日本アルゼンチン修好記念日
day of friendship relations between Japan and Argentina
Since 1898


.................... 03 .................................................................................

. World Handicap Day, Black Day for the Blind .


. Day of Saint Xavier 聖ザビエルの日 .
Saint Francis Xavier

hittsumi no hi ひっつみの日
day of vegetable soup with handcut noodles, Iwate
goroawase. 　hi tsu mi 「ひっ(1)つ(2)み(3)」

karendaa no hi カレンダーの日 day of the calendar
created in 1872. On this day, the new Gregorian calendar was introduced.
The day 1872(明治5)年12月3日 became 1873(明治6)年1月1日.

kijutsu no hi 奇術の日 day of magicians
created in 1990
goroawase - １（ワン）２（ツー）３（スリー）
look closely ! One Two Three -

kojin takushii no hi 個人タクシーの日
Privately Owned Taxi Day
created in 1959

koodores denwa no hi コードレス電話の日
day of the cordless telephone
created in 1979. The first service of this kind was introduced to all 23 wards in Tokyo.

mikan no hi みかんの日 day of the mikan fruit
also on November 3. goroawase with 3 mi.

pureisuteeshon no hi プレイステーションの日 day of playstation
created in 1994, on the first day of selling playstation

puremama no hi プレママの日 day of "pre-mama" pregnant women
goroawase. 「いいにんぷさん」ii nin pu san

tsuma no hi 妻の日 day of the wife
created in 1995 by 凸版印刷.
goroawase. bening thankful 3 san .. Thanks
on the last 03 day of the year, giving thanks to one's wife


.................... 04 .................................................................................

ii tii no hi E.T.の日 day of E.T. (movie)
created in 1982. First performance of ET in Japan.

hashoofuu kessei ryoohoo no hi 破傷風血清療法の日
day of tetanus anti-serum
In 1890. see Emil Behring エミール・ベーリング


.................... 05 .................................................................................


bamyuuda toraianguru no hi バミューダ・トライアングルの日
day of the Bermuda triangle
created in 1945. 魔の三角海域


.................... 06 .................................................................................

. Santa Claus Day サンタクロース.
St. Nicholas Day. Father Christmas Day

imoto no hi 姉の日 day of the younger sister
created in 1992 by the manga painter Hatada Kunio 畑田国男 (1944 - 1996).
according to a legend about Saint Nicolaus and the three sisters.

oto ni hi 音の日 day of sound
created in 1994 by 日本オーディオ協会.
in 1877, Edison invented the gramophone.

rajioaisotoopu no hiラジオアイソトープの日

shinfonii kinenbi シンフォニー記念日 day of the symphony
In 1914, fists performance of the symphony
Kachidoki to heiwa かちどきと平和 "Triumph and Peace"
by 山田耕筰 Yamada Kosaku (1886 - 1965)



.................... 07 .................................................................................

. taisetsu 大雪 "Big snow" .
one of the 24 solar sections 二十四節気

. Day of the Christmas Tree クリスマスツリーの日 .
since 1866

Kobe Kaiko Kinenbi 神戸開港記念日 Memorial Day of Kobe Port
in 1867 the port was opened to foreighn ships (lunar calendar (慶応3)年12月7日).
Now it would be the first of January.


.................... 08 .................................................................................

. Rohatsu Zen Meeting 臘八会 .
the day of the Buddha's enlightenment

. Needle ceremony 針供養 hari kuyoo .

. Day of the Immaculate Conception 聖胎節 .
Virgin Mary

. Last Ceremony for Yakushi Nyorai 納薬師.
and more last ceremonies for Buddhist deities

haburashi no kokanbi 歯ブラシの交換日 Day for a New Toothbrush
every month on the 8th. Since 1997, created by Sunstar company サンスター.
Old things should be exchanged for new ones for the New Year.

renon dii レノンズデー Day of John Lennon
He was shot to death on this day in 1980. ジョン・レノン


.................... 09 .................................................................................

. Memorial Day for Natsume Soseki 夏目漱石 .

kokusai fuhai booshi dii 国際腐敗防止デー
International Day against Corruption
created in 2003

shoogaisha no hi 障害者の日 day of the handicapped
created in 1981 by 厚生省


.................... 10 .................................................................................

aroe yoogurto no hi アロエヨーグルトの日
day of Aloe yoghur
created in 1994 by the Morinaga company 森永乳業. They sold this for the first time.

sekai jinken dii 世界人権デー day of international Human Rights
since 1950


.................... 11 .................................................................................

. hyakuendama no hi百円玉の日 day of the 100 yen coin .
created in 1957

ichoo no hi 胃腸の日 day of stomach and intestines
goroawase. 「いに(12)いい(11)」 i ni ii (i ni yoi 胃に良い)
created in 2002

kokusai yama no hi 国際山岳デー(国際山の日)International Mountain Day
since 2003

UNICEF ユニセフ創立記念日 UNICEF Creation Day
United Nations Children's Fund
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !



.................... 12 .................................................................................

. Jamhuri Day, Republic Day - Kenya .

batterii no hi バッテリーの日 day of the battery
created in 1991.
In 1985, カーバッテリーの日 the day of the car battery had been created and then replaced.

dazun roozu dii ダズンローズデー Dozen Rose Day
created by 桂由美 and 内田和子 for the brides. 12 roses to show your love.

kanji no hi 漢字の日 day of the Kanji characters
created in 1955 by 日本漢字能力検定協会
goroawase. ii ji ichi ji 「１（いい）２（じ）１（いち）２（じ）」＝「いい字１字」



.................... 13 .................................................................................

. Geminid Meteor Shower .

bitamin no hi ビタミンの日 day of vitamins
created in 2000. In 1910 professor 鈴木梅太郎 Suzuki Umetaro has started to promote vitamins to prevent beriberi (vitamin B deficit). He called his pills Orizanin オリザニン.
Oryzanin (brand-name vitamin B1; extracted from rice)

biyoshitsu no hi 美容室の日 day of the beauty parlor (haircut)
created by 正宗卓 in 2003. Many ladies visit a beauty parlor in December.
If 1 and 3 are written close together, it looks like the letter B for Beauty.

futago no hi 双子の日 day of twins
created in 1874. It was decided that the child first born before one, two or more siblings was to be the first-born.


.................... 14 .................................................................................

. Festival of the 47 Ronin 忠臣蔵　 Chushingura .
赤穂浪士討ち入りの日

Nankyoku no hi 南極の日 day of the South Pole
In 1911 on this day four people with Roald Amundsen (1872 - 1928) reached the South Pole.



.................... 15 .................................................................................

. Munakata Shrine Festival 宗像祭 .

kanko basu no hi 観光バス記念日 day of the tourist bus
created in 1925. The 東京遊覧自動車会 started on this day.


.................... 16 .................................................................................

. Memorial Day for Priest Roben 良弁僧正.
Founder of Temple Todai-Ji 東大寺, Nara

denwa soogyoo no hi 電話創業の日
day of the establishment of the telehone service
in Tokyo and Yokohama, in 1890. 155 telephones in Tokyo, 42 in Yokohama.

kami no kinenbi 紙の記念日 day of paper
created in 1987 by a paper company in Hachioji, Tokyo 抄紙会社.

nenbutsu no kuchidome 念仏の口止め "no more nenbutsu prayers"
Since the deity of the New Year (Toshigamisama 年神様) does not like this prayer, it is now forbidden to utter it until January 16.
- see "Deity of the Year" toshitokujin 歳德神 in the WKD


.................... 17 .................................................................................

raito kyoodai no hi ライト兄弟の日 day of the Wright Brothers
(Wilbur and Orville Wright.
In 1903 they made the first flight in America.


.................... 18 .................................................................................

. Eating Rice Gruel Ceremony 十八粥 .
Memorial day for Chisha Daishi 智者大師忌

kokuren kamei kinenbi 国連加盟記念日 Day of the United Nations
Established in 1945, the UN-section of Japan started work on this day in 1956.

osame no kannon 納めの観音 last ritual for Kannon Bosatsu

Tookyoo eki no hi 東京駅の日 day of Tokyo Station
established in 1914.


.................... 19 .................................................................................

nihon hatsu hikoo no hi 日本初飛行の日
day of the first flight in Japan
created in 1910. The first pilot was 徳川好敏工兵大尉, starting his flight in Yoyogi Park, flying for 4 minutes, hight of 70 meters and covering 3000 meters during his flight.


.................... 20 .................................................................................


. buri no hi 鰤の日 day of the yellowtail .


depaato kaigyoo no hi デパート開業の日 day of the department store
created in 1904. Mitsukoshi Store at Nihonbashi Tokyo opened 三越呉服店.
. Echigoya 越後屋 and Mitsui　三井 .

hate no hatsuka 果ての二十日 the final day 20
An evil day, to avoid angering the Kami of the Mountains, people should not enter a mountain.
..... the 20th day of the 12th lunar month, the day when all Oni become free,
. Inozasa-O 猪笹王 Wild Boar became an Oni Demon .


muteki kinenbi 霧笛記念日day of the ships's fog horn (whistle)
Nebelhorn
created in 1879．The first lighthouse in Aomori, Tsugaru straight at 尻屋崎灯台, used it.

shiirakasu no hi シーラカンスの日 day of the Coelacanth fish
created in 1938
- see wikipedia


.................... 21 .................................................................................

. Last Ceremony for Kobo Daishi Kukai 納めの大師 .

enkyori renai no hi 遠距離恋愛の日 day of long-distance relationships
Two lovers could meet before Christmas to reconfirm their love.
goroawase. 1221 - 1 lonely person at each end of the date, 22 : the two have met in the middle

kurossu waado no hi クロスワードの日 day of the crossword puzzle
in 1913 the first had been printed in the New York World.
in 1924 the first book with crossword puzzles has been published.


.................... 21/22 .................................................................................

. tooji 冬至 winter solstice .
one of the 24 solar sections 二十四節気


.................... 22 .................................................................................

roodoo kumiaihoo seitei kinenbi 労働組合法制定記念日
day of the Labor Union Law establishment
created in 1945.

.................... 23 .................................................................................

. Emperor's Birthday 天皇誕生日 .
Emperor Akihito was born on this day in 1933.

terehon kaado no hi テレホンカードの日
day of the telephone card
created in 1982, when people still used public telephones and the handy/smartphones had not been invented . . .

tookyoo tawaa kansei no hi 東京タワー完成の日
day of completion of the Tokyo Tower
in 1958.

.................... 24 .................................................................................

. kurisumasu ibu クリスマスイブ Christmas eve .
seiya 聖夜（せいや）Holy Night

osame no Jizoo 納めの地蔵 last rituals for Jizo Bosatsu


.................... 25,26 ...............................................................................

. kurisumasu クリスマス Christmas .


.................... 25 .................................................................................

. Memorial Day for Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 .
Shunsei Ki 春星忌

shoowa no hi 昭和の日 Showa Day
(now April 29)

shimai tenjin 終い天神 last Tenjin rituals

sukeeto no hi スケートの日 day of ice skates
created in 1982.


.................... 26 ...............................................................................

puro yakyuu tanjo no hi プロ野球誕生の日
day of professional baseball
Since 1934. 大日本東京野球倶楽部

bokushingu dii ボクシングデー Boxing Day
(public holiday in the UK, Aus., Canada, etc.)


.................... 27 ...............................................................................

. Day of Saint John 聖ヨハネの日 .
John the Apostle

asakusa nakamise kinenbi 浅草仲見世記念日
day of the Nakamise Shopping Street in Asakusa/Tokyo
created in 1885 with 139 shops. Rebuilt after the 1923 earthquake.

piitaa pan no hi ピーターパンの日 day of Peter Pan
in 1904 the first performance of Peter Pan took place in London.


.................... 28 ...............................................................................

. Last Ceremony for Fudo Myo-O 納不動 .

diskujokkii no hi ディスクジョッキーの日
day of the Disc Jockey

shinematogurafu no hi シネマトグラフの日
day of the cinematograph
in 1895. First performance in Paris.


.................... 29 ...............................................................................

shanson no hi シャンソンの日 day of the chanson
created in 1990

国際生物多様性の日
International Day for Biological Diversity

清水トンネル貫通記念日
Shimizu Tunnel penetration memorial day
in 1929


.................... 30 ...............................................................................

chikatetsu kinenbi 地下鉄記念日 day of the underground train
in 1927. The first underground from Ueno to Asakusa opened.

shoogatsu kazari no hi 正月飾りの日 day of the New Year decoration



.................... 31 ...............................................................................

. Last Day of the Year (oomisoka 大晦日) .
striking the temple bell 除夜の鐘 joya no kane
and more rituals in Japan

. Shrine visit at the last night 除夜詣 .

. toshikoshi soba 年越し蕎麦
buckwheat noodles to cross over into the New Year .
Silvester-Buchweizennudeln

. Ooji no kitsunebi 王子の狐火 "fox fire" at Oji Inari Shrine .

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. December, Month of Kagura Dance 神楽月 .


. WKD : December - a Haiku Month .


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. WKD : World Days in December .

. Ceremonies, festivals, rituals - December .

. Memorial Days of Famous People - December .



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For the worldwide approach to kigo,
we must differentiate between the "Haiku Season" and the natural phenomenon and human activites occuring at a certain season at a certain place.

To complicate our endeavor, we also have to deal with the Asian Lunar Calendar and the 24 seasons (periods), which were applied in Japan before the introduction of the Western Calendar, when kigo were already used in Japanese poetry.

Study the details here, please:

. The Japanese Haiku Calendar.


. Seasons beginning .

. Seasons ending .


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. WKD : the complete SAIJIKI list .


. WKD Kigo Calendar - the 12 Months .
- TOP -


- reference : hukumusume.com/366

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. goroawase　語呂合わせ　wordplay with numbers .




. Japanese Calendar Days .

- Join the friends on facebook
for the whole year ! -
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Itsukushima Shrine Miyajima

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Sanki Daigongen 三鬼大権現 . see below
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Itsukushima Shrine (Itsukushima Jinja)

***** Location: Miyajima, Japan
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation



厳島神社

quote
A Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (popularly known as Miyajima 宮島) in the city of Hatsukaichi in Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan.
The shrine complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The shrine is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano-o no Mikoto, Shinto deity of seas and storms and brother of the great sun deity, Amaterasu (tutelary deity of the Imperial Household). Because the island itself has been considered sacred, in order to maintain its purity commoners were not allowed to set foot on Miyajima through much of its history. In order to allow pilgrims to approach, the shrine was built like a pier over the water, so that it appeared to float, separate from the land, and therefore existed in a liminal state between the sacred and the profane.

The shrine's signature red entrance gate, or torii, was built over the water for much the same reason. Commoners had to steer their boats through the torii before approaching the shrine.

The first shrine buildings were probably erected in the 6th century, and the shrine has been destroyed many times, often by typhoons.
In 1168, Taira no Kiyomori　平清盛 had it rebuild.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


I visited many times, is is truely an amazing place.
The reflections of the shrine in the water on a bright evening or moonlit night are superb.

There are many shrines of this name in other parts of Japan.



source : facebook - Japan Dream


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. The White Shrine Horse at Miyajima 宮島白馬　 　

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kigo for the New Year

Itsukushima jinja no toshikoshi sai 厳島神社の年越祭
(いつくしまじんじゃのとしこしさい)
Crossing into the new year at Itsukushima shrine

January 6
One of the three great ceremonies at the shrine.


People involved in farming come to the shine to pray for a good harvest.
Ritual dance performance and later a feast and talks about farmwork and crop prices held.

.................................................................................

Itsukushima no on yumi hajime
厳島の御弓始 (いつくしまのおんゆみはじめ)
first shooting with bow and arrow at Itsukushima

kisha 鬼射（きしゃ）"hitting the demon"
onyumi shinji 御弓神事（おんゆみしんじ）
honorable ceremony of the bow

On January 20



The target with the character 鬼, called the "demon target" 鬼的 and shot at with bow and arrow to prevent evil for the coming year.

Now held at the shrine Oomoto Jinja at Miyajima
宮島の大元神社 Omoto shrine ceremony
Oomotesai 大元祭.


.................................................................................


Itsukushima Shrine New Year Ceremonies
Jan 1
御神衣献上式 Go Shin-i Kenjo-shiki Ceremony (offering new clothes to deities)
歳旦祭 Saitan-sai Festival Ceremony starts at noon. Bugaku traditional dance performance starts at 5:30am.
Jan 2
二日祭り Futsukasai Ceremony 09:00 Bugaku performance 13:00
Jan 3
元始祭 Genshisai Ceremony 09:00 Bugaku performance 13:00
Jan 5
地久祭 (Chikyuusai) Chikyusai Ceremony and Bugaku performance 05:30 Includes Batoh (Sunrise Dance) only performed once a year on this day.

source :　eventful.com/events



source :　fb
cap for bugaku dance


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kigo for late summer

Itsukushima matsuri 厳島祭 (いつくしままつり)
Itsukushima festival
Itsukushima kangensai 厳島管絃祭（いつくしまかんげんさい）
17th day of the sixth lunar month.
Now on the 17th day of July.

The main festival of the shrine.



Special gozabune ships are made for the procession toward the gate in the water.

Bugaku dance performance and gagaku tradtional music are part of the festival.


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kigo for early autumn

Itsukushima Ennen sai
厳島延年祭（いつくしまえんねんさい）
Ennen Festival at Itsukushima
Ennen "life prolonging" dance performances are held at many shrines in Japan.



tamatori matsuri 玉取祭 (たまとりまつり)
"festival of grabbing the bead"

On the 14th day of the seventh lunar month, now in mid-August on a Sunday of high tide.
On a boat in front of the main hall is a boat with a large rosary and young men of the island try to grab a bead of about 20 cm diameter for good luck.


clay bell replica of the TAMA bead

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kigo for early winter

Itsukushima chinza sai
厳島鎮座祭 (いつくしまちんざさい)
Shrine dedication festival
oshimeshi, o shime shi 御燈消（おしめし）"turning off the lights"

yamaguchi toji no matsuri 山口閉の祭（やまぐちとじのまつり）
"closing down mountain roads" festival
After the shrine is closed down for the winter, it will be re-opened the next year for "openening the mountain road" 山口開. Loggers are not allowed to go to the forest and cut down trees during the closed time.

On the ten days from the first day of the wild boar in the tenth lunar month to the day of the monkey in the eleventh lunar month.
Nowadays on the first day of the monkey in November.

During these 10 days it is not allowed to make a loud noise on the island.
Things that produce lound and high noises are covered with blankets to keep them quiet. The lids of rice cookers had to be closed especially carefully.
On the last day, the day of the monkey, all lanterns and lights on the island are turned off and rituals are carried out in the dark.

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Miyajima in the snow


夏の月 Summer Moon at Miyajima
- reference : Tsuchiya Koitsu 　土屋光逸　(1870-1949) -


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quote
Sato Masato writes:
Due to belief in the "Three Female Kami" (sanjoshin) of Munakata at Itsukushima Jinja, the Itsukushima kami was worshipped as a protector of fishermen and boats.
Itsukushima is also known as a "military kami" (gunshin), as seen in this passage from the Ryōjin hishō:
"To the west of the [Ōsaka] checkpoint (seki) is the kami of the battlefield, Ichibon Chūsan (Kibitsu Shrine) and Itsukushima in Aki ..."
After becoming governor of Aki (Aki no kami 安芸守) in 1146, Taira no Kiyomori (1118~1181) often visited the shrine. Upon Kiyomori's recommendation, Goshirakawa-in and Kenshunmon-in visited the shrine in the third month of 1174, and Takakura Jōkō visited twice.

At the end of the Heian Period Itsukushima was worshipped by the entire Heike clan, and in 1168 the shrine's shaden structure was restored and expanded. This connection to the Heike clan may have originated in the trade and shipping in the Inland Sea that had flourished since the days of Taira no Tadamori (Kiyomori's father).

Due to Heike devotion, the Heike Nōkyō scrolls 平家納経 (a National Treasure) were originally donated to the shrine in 1164. In the medieval period Itsukushima was supported by the Ōuchi and Mōri clans, and the Shingon temple Suishōji 水精寺 became the shrine's administrative temple.

Also a legend began that Kūkai founded (kaisan) the temple Misen. The "original Buddhist deity" (honji) of Itsukushima was believed to be the Eleven-faced Kannon (Ekadasamukha Avalokitesvara) or Mahâvairocana.
Among commoners, a cult of Ebisu-gami developed, and Itsukushima was also worshipped by fishermen and merchants.
source : Kokugakuin University. 2006



. Shrine Munakata Taisha 宗像大社 .
Fukuoka

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The Deer are seen as messengers of the deity of Miyajima and roam freely, sometimes as a nuisance for the tourists.

Legend knows that when Mori Motonari and Sue Harukata fought their battle in 1555, Harukata had his troops near the shrine, while Motonari landed on the other side of the island, trying to get over the mountains and through the dense wild forest to make a surprize attack.
His troups almost lost their way in the dark night, but then a deer showed them the small path.
(The deer was MAYBE the priest of the shrine,　disguised as a deer, trying to help his friend and sponsor Motonari.)


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way

Miyajima hariko 宮島張子 papermachee dolls


CLICK for more images !

. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .


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. WASHOKU
Anagomeshi あなごめし Rice with eel
Station lunchbox from Miyajima
The great rice paddle shamoji in Miyajima 宮島しゃもじ



The island is also famous for its red maple leaves in autumn.



. momiji manjuu もみじ饅頭
rice dumplings in the form of red maple leaves 　

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Festivals calendar at Miyajima

Most rituals are accompanied by bugaku dance on the stage above the water.
厳島神社舞楽




. . . . . January
Shin-i Kenjo-shiki Ceremony (offering new clothes to deities)Saitan-sai Festival
Futsukasai
Genshisai
Chikyusai
Momotesai

. . . . . February
Setsubun Festival
Miyajima Oyster Festival

. . . . . March
Memorial Service for Kitchen Knives
Kiyomori Shrine Festival
Miyajima Hina Doll Presentation

. . . . . April
Hiwatari . Walking Over Fire Ceremony
Toukasai
Satsuki Festival

. . . . . May
Memorial Service for Empress Suiko

. . . . . June
Japan's Ancient Martial Arts Performance
Kobo Daishi's Birthday Celebration
Great Benzaiten Festival of Itsukushima
(Daiganji Temple)
. Itsukushima Hime 厳島姫命
as Benten, Benzaiten 弁財天 　


. . . . . July
Seven Gods of Fortune Festival (Daishoin Temple)
Itsukushima Shrine Kangen Festival

. . . . . August
48,000-day Kannon Festival
Miyajima Floating Fireworks Festival
Kinseki Jizo - son Festival (Tokujuji Temple)

. . . . . September
Tanomosan (small boats filled with dolls and fruit that are set adrift from Itsukushima Shrine to sail toward the Otorii Gate.)
Mantoo-e . candle light memorial

. . . . . October
Akiyo Tomoeda Noh Performance
Kikkasai
Sanno Shrine Festival
Tea Dedication Ceremony, Omote Senke

. . . . . November
Fudo Myo-o Festival, including
Walking Over Fire Ceremony (Daiganji Temple)
Maple Festival . Momiji Matsuri

. . . . . December
Tenchosai
Chinka-sai (Festival for prevention of fire disaster)

http://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/event/calendar01.html



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HAIKU

Matsuo Basho wrote (Nozarashi Kiko)



年暮れぬ 笠きて草鞋はきながら
. toshi kurenu kasa kite waraji hakinagara .

wearing my travelers hat
and my straw sandals
the year comes to an end

(Other sources place this haiku in 1684,
when he returned to his home village in Iga Ueno.)


source : 宮島かわら版


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行く春や経収めにと厳島
yuku haru ya kyoo osame ni to Itsukushima

spring is passing -
I bring copied sutras
to Itsukushima

Natsume Soseki 夏目漱石


Heike Nokyo 平家納経
The famous sutras copied by the Heike




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Related words

***** WKD : Copying sutras (shakyoo)


. Hiroshima Prefecture Festivals 　

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. Tengupedia - 天狗ペディア　- Tengu ABC-List.

Sankiboo 三鬼坊 Sankibo, Sanki-Bo
厳島三鬼坊 Itsukushima



Sanki Daigongen 三鬼大権現
The local people call them 三鬼さん Sanki San.
Sanki Daigongen are three fierce guardian gods of 弥山 Mount Misen.

- 追帳鬼神 Tsuicho Kishin ：福徳 Good Fortune - 大日如来 Dainichi Nyorai
- 時眉鬼神 Jibi Kishin：知恵 Wisdom - 虚空蔵菩薩 Kokuzo Bosatsu
- 魔羅鬼神 Mara Kijin ：降伏 Surrender - 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O



- - - - - Amulet bell of Sanki-Bo


With the separation of Buddhism and Shinto during the Meiji period, they were moved to the 三鬼堂 Sankido Hall from their shrine 御山神社 Miyama Jinja.


source : amakara tosan
- 徳、智恵、降伏 -

大小の天狗 Big and small Tengu, long-nosed goblins, are their servants. Many people visit here to pray for the happiness of their family and the success of their business.
The first Prime Minister of Japan, 伊藤博文 Ito Hirobumi is said to have been an earnest devotee. He contributed a large amount to construct the climbing path.
A special hall is dedicated to this deities:
Sankodoo 三鬼堂 Sankido



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Needle ceremonies (hari kuyo)

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Needle services (hari kuyoo)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Winter and Spring
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

kigo for mid-winter in Kansai

hari osame 針納（はりおさめ） "end of the needlework"
hari yasumi 針休み（はりやすみ） "resting the needles"
hari osame 針納（はりおさめ） putting away the needles
hari matsuri 針祭（はりまつり）needle festival

haki kuyoo 針供養 (はりくよう) Hari Kuyo
(this word is also used for the spring ceremony)

Memorial service for used needles and pins





In the Kanto region, it is practised on February 8,
in Kyoto and Kansai on December 8.


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kigo for early spring in Kanto

Needle Memorial Service (hari kuyoo 針供養)
February 8

This is the day when Buddhist masses are sung for needles broken during the past year since it is thought that the needles' lives were sacrificed in service.

A small three-step altar is set up and hung with a sacred rope and strips of cut white paper which indicate a sanctified area. On the top step are offerings of fruit and sweet cakes. On the middle step is a cake of tofu and on the bottom step are various sewing accessories.

On this day, the seamstresses take a holiday and bring their old needles to the temple to stick them in a piece of tofu or konnyaku. Threads of the five Buddhist colors were used with the needles.



www.joy.ne.jp/kyoto/doc/saijiki/9912.htm



quote
Well, the priest is incanting a sutra which reflects the passage of the needles from usage and invoking some kind of Buddhist blessing which would then be passed on to the ladies themselves. Because as they show respect to the needles of last year, they're really saying to them, you know, 'Thank you very much for what you've done, and please give us your power and your energy for the coming year so that our sewing skills can become improved.'
(c) 2002 Jim Metzner Productions


. shitateya 仕立屋　/ 仕立て屋 tailor, seamstress in Edo .

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In times of old, fishermen used this day to appease the Sea Gods by sinking broken fishhooks onto the ocean bed. The tradition is now a refined ceremony practiced by housewives, clothmakers and even fashion students, who take a day off work to show their gratitude. They do this by placing their old needles and pins into a Japanese sambo navel orange, while their broken counterparts are stuck into some tofu or konnyaku jelly - a somewhat bizarre, though well-respected, memorial service for little bits of metal.
source : 　guides.hotelbook.com


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kigo for the New Year

nuizome 縫初 (ぬいぞめ) first sewing
..... nuihajime 縫始（ぬいはじめ）
hatsuhari, hatsu hari 初針（はつはり）"first needle"
.... hari okoshi 針起し（はりおこし）
tachizome 裁初（たちぞめ）
This was done on the second of January. Usually a small bag was sewed.


. First Work - New Year Kigo .


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Things found on the way

nuibarishi, nuibari shi 縫針師 needleworker
People who did needlework were called
saihooshi 裁縫師 saiho-shi
Those who worked for the Samurai were called
nuibarishi 縫針師　or omonoshi　御物師 .
According to the garment they made the price for their work varied.



Since the Nara period, needles were made from iron, silver or copper. There are five needles in the 正倉院　Treasure House of the Shoso-In in Nara.

Many low-ranking Samurai made sewing needles as a side job. Thin pieces of metal were cut in the appropriate length and then filed to the best sharpness.


To make the hole in the needle (called the mimi　耳 "ear"), a special tool was used
maigiri 舞錐 "dancing drill" (mawashigiri 回し錐).

The hole was then smoothed with a very small and fine file.
After the needle was finished like this, it was once more heated in fire and then cooled quickly to make it strong.
The final check included to see it the needle was really straight, otherwise it was hit with a hammer to ajust the shape and then a final polish was applied.
Despite all this detailed work needles were rather cheap on the market, for about 50 Yen in our modern currency.
There were special vendors of sewing needles
nuibashi uri 縫針売.

Needles were also used to prick a finger and write a love-letter in blood, as told by Ihara Saikaku, Ibara Saikaku 井原西鶴.

. Edo shokunin 江戸の職人 Edo craftsmen .


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HAIKU

- - - - - MATSUO BASHO - - - - -

針立や肩に槌打つから衣　
haritate ya kata ni tsuchi utsu karakoromo

an acupuncurist
pounding into my shoulder;
the cast off robe
Tr. Barnhill

Written in 延宝3年 , Basho age 32.
The word haritate here refers to the tools of an acupuncturist.
karakoromo is a pun with a "Chinese robe"唐衣 or a cast-off robe 空衣, meaning a naked body.
The accupuncturist uses a small hammer to drive the needle into the skin. So Basho has his shoulder exposed to the doctor.


- This one about a needle is also about acupuncture:

月花の愚に針立てん寒の入り　
. tsuki hana no gu ni hari taten kan no iri .


. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .

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秋の夜や旅の男の針仕事
aki no yo ya tabi no otoko no harishigoto

autumn evening--
a traveling man busy
stitching
Tr. Lanoue


. Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶 in Edo .



- haiga by Nakamura Sakuo -


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enshrined broken needles
my grandmother and me
a memory of my mind

Etsuko Yanagibori

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針納めちらつく雪に詣でけり
hari osame chiratsuku yuki ni moodekeri

putting away the needles -
I walk to the temple
in lightly falling snow

Takahashi Awajijo 高橋淡路女
(1890 - 1955)
her teacher was Iida Dakotsu. She belonged to the 雲母 Unmo group.


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haribako 針箱 sewing box "box for needles"


source : upp.so-net.ne.jp/kyoudoningyou/sagara...

In the tradition of 堤人形 Tsutsumi Ningyo, the eyes are almost triangular.

. Sagara tsuchi ningyoo 相良土人形 clay dolls from Sagara .
Yamagata


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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

In 神奈川県 Kanagawa 横浜市 Yokohama
Once upon a time in a village there lived a beautiful young girl and every night, a handsome young man with carefully combed hair passed in front of her home. And as things go, one day the young girl was pregnant! The young man still did not say who he was and where his family lived.
So one night she stuck a sewing needle into his hair and from that day on, he never came back.
The people around her begun searching in the neighborhood and found a hole with a snake and a needle stuck in its head. For snakes the iron of a sewing needle is poison and the snake was already very weak. It just managed to tell them to prepare a bath with iris for his pregnant lover, so she would loose the baby of the huge serpent.


In 滋賀県 Shiga, 西浅井町 Nishiazai
there is the custom that a pregnant woman should not take part in a funeral. If for some reason she has to participate, she should carry a mirror and place a sewing needle in the hem of her robe, with the tip showing to the earth.

- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -


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Related words

***** . WKD : KIGO CALENDAR .


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Chishaku-In Kyoto

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Temple Chishaku-In 智積院

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: See below
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Chishakuin rongi 智積院論義 (ちしゃくいんろんぎ)
public ceremonial debate at temple Chishaku-In
kigo for early winter

from December 10 to 13, sometimes only for 2 days

rongi is difficult to translate into English. They were ritual formal ceremonial Buddhist public debates (disputes, disputations, discussions), where the monks had to show their understanding of the Buddhist sutra scriptures.
Now also called
fuyu hoo-on koo 冬報恩講 debates in winter
"honorable preaching ceremony" in winter

During the two or three days, torches are put up from the entrance to the main hall. Many priests come from all the affiliated temples in Japan to take part in the rituals.



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quote
Chishaku-in is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism Chizan Sect.
It is the first temple on the Kyoto Jusan Butsu pilgrimage.


painted by Hasegawa Kyuzo

This temple is less popular among tourists but it has excellent Shoheki-ga (fusuma-e) paintings on the sliding paper doors that are National Treasures, as well as a very good garden.



Chishaku-in was founded in the 14th century as a sub-temple of Daidenpo-in that was established in Koyasan, Wakayama Prefecture by Priest Kakuban (1095-1144), in the year 1130. The mother temple then moved to Negorosan in Wakayama prefecture ten years later.

In the year 1585, Daidenpo-in, including its sub-temples, was totally destroyed by the actual ruler of the country, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598). Chief Priest of Chishaku-in, Genyu (Gen'yu, 1529-1605), who fled from the assault, had to wait until the Toyotomi family was destroyed and the Tokugawa family came to power. In the year 1601, the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu (1543-1616) gave a place to Genyu to revive Chishaku-in. Then, in the year 1615, Ieyasu gave them neighboring Shounzen-ji temple that had been founded by Hideyoshi in memory of his son Sutemaru who died in 1591 at the age of three.

The extant Shoheki-ga (or Fusuma-e) paintings (national treasures) were those displayed in Kyakuden building of Shounzen-ji. Chishaku-in suffered from several fires during its history and about half of the paintings were lost.
source : kyoto.asanoxn.com


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Vegetarian meal served at the temple lodgings.


. Vegetarian Temple Food
(shoojin ryoori 精進料理) .

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Yearly festivals and ceremonies

Every month on the 21 is a meeting to copy the sutras
shakyoo no tsudoi 写経のつどい



１月 - January
1日 修正会
15日 新年祝祷会・お昆布式
21日 写経のつどい

２月 - February
3日 節分会 Setsubun
15日 常楽会
21日 写経のつどい

３月 - March
6日～12日 伝法大会／伝法灌頂（非公開）
春分の日 春季彼岸会法要
21日 正御影供
21日 写経奉納法要・写経のつどい
30日 得度式（非公開）

４月 - April
8日 仏生会（はなまつり）
21日 写経のつどい

５月 - May
21日 写経のつどい

６月 - June
15日 青葉まつり
21日 写経のつどい

７月 - July
21日 写経のつどい
31日 得度式（非公開）

８月 - August
12日 総本山施餓鬼会
21日 写経のつどい
24日 地蔵盆会 Jizo Bon
30日 永代・納骨・日月牌総供養法要

９月 - September
10日 運敞僧正忌
21日 写経のつどい
秋分の日 秋季彼岸会法要

１０月 - October
3日 戦没者慰霊法要
4日 玄宥僧正忌
21日 写経のつどい

１１月 - November
21日 写経のつどい

１２月 - December
8日 成道会
11日・12日 冬報恩講
21日 写経のつどい
31日 除夜の鐘




Homepage of the temple
source : www.chisan.or.jp


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

智積院論義すみたる掛うどん
Chishaku-in rongi sumitaru kake-udon

after the debate
at Chishaku-in
a bowl of udon noodles

Kawasumi Sugekatsu 川澄祐勝, priest of the Shingon sect
智山派別格本山高幡不動尊金剛寺




We can imagine the monks after the debate, sitting around the long tables and slurping their hot soup in silence.
Slurping noodle soup is customary in Japan, and considered good manners.

. Kake udon noodle soup .


quote
... the public rongi custom arose during the medieval period, when there were a lot of sects and doctrinal disputes arising within Shingon Buddhism and that the debates were aimed at overcoming misunderstandings of the "true" Shingon Buddhism of the founder, Kukai.
... in the medieval period a number of unorthodox monks were expelled from Mt. Koya, the Shingon headquarters, for doctrinal reasons. Probably there were all sorts of disputes, including material ones as well! I believe several monks were declared heretics, and one whole new sect of Shingon, the so-called Tachikawa Sect of left-handed Tantric Buddhists, was vigorously disputed and opposed, and its texts and mandalas were destroyed.

The secular warrior authorities also actively suppressed the "heretical" Tachikawa Sect. Like Tendai, Shingon is an older sect in Japan, so for a while it was a crucible of dissent and dissenting sects, so the 'rongi' at Chishakuin may reflect some of this very vigorous verbal disputation during the period when new sects were challenging orthodoxy and branching off.

'Rongi' also includes debates/doctrinal disputes between sects outside Shingon. The Lotus (Nichiren) sect and the Pure Land sect were noted for their strenuous debates and verbal disputes, which sometimes turned into fights. You can see a pale reflection of how vigorous 'rongi' were in the medieval period if you read the No play 'Sotoba Komachi' ('Komachi on the Stupa'), in which Komachi verbally defeats her Shingon monk challengers.

During the Edo period fighting (with either weapons or fists) between sects was no longer acceptable, so 'rongi' must have become more subdued, but it would be interesting to know just how disputational the present-day debates at Chishakuin are.
source : Chris Drake

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Related words

***** . hooonkoo, hoo-on koo 報恩講
Ho-onko, service for Shinran .


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　

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Shimada Candy Festival

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Shimada Candy Festival (Shimada ame matsuri)

***** Location: Taiwa, Miyagi
***** Season: Mid-winter
***** Category: Observance

*****************************
Explanation

quote
Shimada ame matsuri 島田飴まつり　
Shimada Candy Festival takes place every December 14th at Yoshioka-Hachiman Shrine in Taiwa-cho, Kurokawa-gun, Miyagi Prefecture.

Yoshioka-Hachiman Shrine is said to date back to 1618 when Date Munekiyo, the third son of Date Masamune, and founder of Sendai Clan, moved from Shimokusa to Yoshioka and the shrine was transferred as well and re-built in the current location.

The festival is said to have begun on December 14th sometime between 1615 and 1623 when the priest of the shrine fell in love with a bride with a Shimada wedding hairstyle and he became ill. Villagers, worried about the priest, donated candies in the shape of the Shimada hairstyle to the shrine, and that led to the priest recovering from his illness.


It is believed that the shrine makes love come true and many people, wishing for luck with love, visit the shrine to seek candies.
They sell 1000 pieces of this candy.

Shimada Candy Festival is a lively festival crowded with stores selling Shimada hairstyle candies and with many young people wishing for good matchmaking.
source : nippon-kichi.jp




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Yoshioka Hachiman Jinja 吉岡八幡神社



宮城県黒川郡大和町吉岡字町裏39

dondo matsuri どんと祭 Dondo festifal, January 14

wakuguri matsuri 輪くぐり祭り summer purification, July 31

Yabusame 流鏑馬（やぶさめ） archery on horseback, mid-September


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bunkin shimada 文金島田 bridal hair decoration


. Hanayome ningyoo　花嫁人形　 bride dolls .


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. WKD : Hachiman Shrines and their festivals .


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HAIKU


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Related words

***** . hatsu shimada 初島田（はつしまだ）
first Shimada hairstyle.


***** . OBSERVANCES – WINTER SAIJIKI .


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　

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