Saga in Kyoto

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Saga　嵯峨 Spring Festivals

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

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Explanation

Saga is an area in Kyoto, Arashiyama Saikyo-ku district.
京都市右京区の嵐山.

There are many large temples in the area, which was used by the courtiers as a retreat after leaving politics.

Daikakuji 大覚寺 Temple Daikaku-Ji
see below


Seiryooji 清涼寺 Temple Seiryo-Ji, Shakado 釈迦堂
see below


. Tenryuuji 天竜寺 - 天龍寺 Temple Tenryu-Ji .
Rinzai Zen Temple


Daruma painted by Seki Bokuoo (1903 - 1991)
関牧翁の筆

- Shared by Charlie Smith at Kyoto.
Joys of Japan, March 2012



Many festivals of these temples are kigo.

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Emperor Saga

Emperor Saga (嵯峨天皇, Saga-tennō) (786–842)
was the 52nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. His reign spanned the years from 809 through 823.

Saga was a scholar of the Chinese classics. He was also a renowned as a skillful calligrapher.

According to legend,
he was the first Japanese emperor to drink tea.

Emperor Saga Tenno played an important role as a stalwart supporter of the Buddhist monk Kūkai Kobo Daishi. The emperor helped Kūkai to establish the Shingon School of Buddhism by granting him the Toji temple in the capital Heian-kyō (present day Kyoto).

Saga's grandson, Minamoto no Tōru, is thought to be an inspiration for the protagonist of the novel The Tale of Genji.
In ancient Japan, there were four noble clans, the Gempeitōkitsu (源平藤橘). One of these clans, the Minamoto clan are also known as Genji (源氏), and of these, the Saga Genji (嵯峨源氏) are descended from 52nd emperor Saga.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

. Saga Tenno 嵯峨天皇 and 弘法大師空海 Kukai Legends .

- 9 more legends to explore -

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kigo for mid-spring



Saga no hashira taimatsu
嵯峨の柱炬 (さがのはしらたいまつ)
Saga torch ceremony

..... Saga o-taimatsu 嵯峨御松明（さがおたいまつ）
..... hashira taimatsu 柱松明（はしらたいまつ）
..... o-taimatsu 御松明（おたいまつ）

In memory of the anniversary of Shakyamuni Buddha on March 15 at the temple Seiryo-Ji. (originally it was held on February 15.)

嵯峨御松明式
At about seven thirty at night, three torches of about seven meters length and 1.5 meters diameter are lit. From the power of the flames the good fortune and harvest of the coming year is divined.

One of the three famous fire festivals of Kyoto.

. . WKD : Fire Festivals of Japan 　


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kigo for late spring



Saga Dainenbutsu Kyoogen
嵯峨大念仏狂言（さがだいねんぶつきょうげん）
Amida Buddha Prayer Kyogen
..... Saga dainenbutsu 嵯峨大念仏 (さがのだいねんぶつ)
..... Saga nenbutsu 嵯峨念仏（さがねんぶつ）Saga nembutsu


One of the three most important prayer kyogen performances at the Shakado hall of temple Seiryo-Ji. This prayer ceremony is held in spring and autumn, but the spring one is the kigo.
It used to be on march 15, but now it is held for two days on a saturday and sunday in mid-april.
It was started by saint Engaku at temple Mibudera (Mibu Nenbutsu) in the year 1279., who prayed to see his deceased mother again.
It is now an intangible cultural folk property.
Like in the Mibu Nenbutsu, there are no words, but only the sound of the gong "kanden kanden" and the big drum. It is really quite a rural dance performance of Old Saga.

The various performances are called

Hana nusubito 花盗人
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Daibutsu kuyoo 大仏供養

Yo-uchi Soga 夜討曽我
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

and others.

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Saga men 嵯峨面 masks from Saga


Fudo Myo-O in red 不動明王面（赤）

Look here for more from the Fujiwara family masks:
source : fujiwara/


Originally the masks from the Shakado Kyogen were produced from papermachee and sold at the temple as amulets for the visitors. This custom was abolished during the Meiji period.
Now it has been picked up again by Fujiwara Fuseki 藤原孚石.
His son and grandson are now producing these simple, but charming masks.

They are made by plastering washi paper into the mold, then taking the mask out and coloring it. This is now the job of the second generation Fuseki. His son still has to learn how to plaster the masks.
The paper is taken from old books, since this is the strongest washi. He uses pages with Hiragana for female masks and pages with Kanji for male masks.
There are now about 30 different kinds made by the Fujiware family.


CLICK for more photos !



. Masks from Japan .


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. . WKD : Namu Amida Butsu, the Amida Prayer 　


. . WKD : Kyogen, kyoogen　狂言 and Haiku 　


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External LINKS

The Living Buddha – Seiryoji Temple, Kyoto
http://www.japannavigator.com/2007/04/13/the-living-buddha-seiryoji-temple-kyoto/


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


. WASHOKU
厄落としの大根焚き（お会式）Daikotaki
Cooking Radishes for Nichiren 　
at Temple Sanpo-Ji 三寳寺 （さんぽうじ）

with tofu from Saga 嵯峨豆腐.
Sagadoofu is the starting point of Kyoto Tofu, with its beans from the Saga plain and fresh water from the nearby forests.


mukashidoofu むかし豆腐 old-fashioned tofu (touhu)
Made by the shop Morika 森嘉（もりか）near Shakado Hall (Seiryo-ji Temple).
It is made with sumashi-ko すまし粉）, sekko, a kind of calcium sulfate instead of nigari. This dates back to a time after the war when they could not get any real nigari and had to find a substitute.
The store uses only the old equipment and all is made by hand.　Only a small amount of this tofu is made every day for sale.

Kawabata Yasunari was fond of this hard tofu.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Morika no karashidoofu からし豆腐 tofu with mustard flavor


. WASHOKU
Famous Dishes from Kyoto 　





松明の火の粉映して嵯峨豆腐
taimatsu no hi no ko terashite Sagadoofu

light up by the sparks
from the huge torch ...
tofu from Saga

Shimaoka Kaihyoo 島岡海豹
http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/people/morig191/haiku.html



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浅春の井水溢らせ嵯峨豆腐
senshun no seisui afurase Sagadoofu

overflowing with
well water from early spring ...
tofu from Saga

Hiko ヒコ
http://nashi.shashin-haiku.jp/node/71915





Daruma on a lantern at a shop in Saga



. WASHOKU
aburimochi, aburi mochi あぶりもち. のあぶり餅
slightly roasted dumplings 　
from Saga, Kyoto



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HAIKU

いざのぼれ嵯峨の鮎食ひに都鳥　
iza nobore Saga no ayu kui ni miyakodori

Let's go up to Saga,
You seagulls,
And eat trout!

Yasuhara Teishitsu 安原貞室 (1610-73)
Tr. Blyth


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Seiryooji 清涼寺 Temple Seiryo-Ji
Shakado 釈迦堂 The Shaka Hall


行秋やすでに御釈迦は京の空
yuku aki ya sude ni o-shaka wa kyoo no sora

autumn ends--
already the Buddha
fills Kyoto's sky
Tr. David Lanoue

or

autumn ends--
already the statue of Buddha Shakyamuni
is under the sky of Kyoto
Tr. Gabi Greve


In a prescript to this haiku, Kobayashi Issa alludes to a statue of Gautama Buddha being returned to its temple in Kyoto.

Seiryooji 清涼寺 Temple Seiryo-Ji in Saga, Kyoto, is quite famous for the sandalwood statue of Gautama Shakyamuni which is about 160 cm high and rather simple in a robe of Indian style of Gandhara Buddhas. It was made in China and had the intestines made of silk inside.



The statue had been shown at the temple Eko-In 回向院 (Ekooin) in Edo in 1810.

By using the expression sude ni Issa shows us that the Buddha statue is already back home, while he is still in Edo, trying to get his inheritage, to get back under his own sky in Shinano.


In 538 the very first Buddha image to arrive in Japan was a statue of Shakyamuni presented as a gift by a Korean king.
... in 1249 the priest Eison ordered a copy of the Seiryoji Shaka and installed it as the principal object of worship at the large Saidaiji temple in Nara.
... The Seiryoji Shaka is still shown on the 8th of each month.
source : www.taleofgenji.org


Seiryōjishiki Shaka 清凉寺式釈迦
LEGEND ABOUT SEIRYOUJI STATUE.
LEGEND ABOUT “UDAYANA” STATUE.
source : - Mark Schumacher -



. Tainai Butsu 胎内佛, 胎内仏 statue within the statue .


quote
Shaka Nyorai (Shakyamuni, Gautama Siddharta)
Die Verkörperung des Prinzen Shakyamuni Gautama (um 550 - 480), geboren in Kapila, Indien, der als Mensch tatsächlich gelebt, die Erleuchtung erlangt und diese Lehre dann verbreitet hat. Als Figuren des Religionsgründers waren Shaka-Statuen in der Asuka-Zeit in Japan zunächst besonders beliebt. Älteste Statuen in Indien aus Gandhara und Madura, um 100 v.Chr., in Japan aus der Asuka-Zeit, z.B. Shaka-Statue des Udenoo des Tempels Seiryooji in Kyooto mit fast noch indischem Faltenwurf.

Shaka-Statue des Udenoo
(Udenoo (Utenoo) Shaka, Zuizoo Shaka)
König Udayana (Udenoo, Utenoo) von Kausambii in Indien war ein Gläubiger, dessen Leben im Sutra Zooitsu Agonkyoo beschrieben wird. Nachdem Shakyamuni in den Tushita-Himmel einging, wurde der König sehr krank. Seine Minister waren sehr besorgt und fertigten einen Buddhastatue aus Sandelholz; daraufhin wurde der König wieder gesund. Diese Statue, angeblich die erste Buddhastatue überhaupt, heißt auch "Glückverheißender Shaka" (Zuizoo Shaka).

Der japanische Priester Choonen ließ eine Kopie dieser Statue anfertigen und brachte diese "durch drei Länder" (Indien, China, Japan) gewanderte Figur mit nach Japan (sangoku denrai). Diese Kopie existiert heute noch im Tempel Seiryooji in Saga, Kyoto. Figuren in diesem fremdartig anmutenden Stil werden Seiryoo-Figuren (Seiryooshiki) oder Saga-Figuren (Sagashiki) genannt.
Die Haare des Shaka sind dabei wie ein dicker Zopf um den Kopf gerollt. Diese Statuen waren in der Kamakura-Zeit sehr beliebt; es soll insgesamt in den großen Tempeln des Landes über 100 Stück davon gegeben haben.
Udenoo ist auch bekannt als einer der Gefährten des Monju in der Monju-Fünfergruppe.

- Buddhastatuen ... Who is Who
Ein Wegweiser zur Ikonografie
von japanischen Buddhastatuen
Gabi Greve, 1994

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Temple Seiryo-Ji is famous for the plum blossoms and early red momiji leaves.
source : niwa/seiryoji.htm



source : www.taleofgenji.org
Shakado in Autumn splendor





. Yuugiri Ki 夕霧忌 Yugiri Memorial Day .
A memorial service for Yugiri Tayu is held every November at Seiryoji Temple.
She was a high-ranking courtesan at the Shimabara quarters in Kyoto.
kigo for early spring


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O-Mi-Nugui 御身拭
ritual cleansing of the Amida Buddha statue
on April 19

A statue of Amida Nyorai is shown and special prayer chantings (insei nenbutsu 引声念仏) performed.
The statue is then clensed with a white cloth dipped in fragrant water. This white cloth, when used to cover a dead body, makes sure the soul will go straight to Buddha's paradise in the West.
This ritual is in memory of the Mother of Anki Monin 安喜門院 (1207 - 1286), wife of Emperor Gohorikawa Tenno 後堀河天皇.

observance kigo for late spring




御僧のその手嗅（かぎ）たや御身拭
gosoo no sono te kagita ya ominugui

the smell of the hands
of the honorable priests -
cleaning the statue
Tr. Gabi Greve

or

go-soo no so no te kagita ya omi-nugui

I want to smell the hands
of the honorable priest--
cleaning the Buddha statue.
Tr. Naotaka Uematsu


. Tan Taigi 炭太祇 .


. OBSERVANCES – SPRING SAIJIKI .


Ritual cleaning (Ominugui) of statues is also done at other tempels at other times.
- Reference -



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Daikakuji Dainichi E 大覚寺大日会
Ceremony for Dainichi Nyorai
at Temple Daikaku-Ji

At the Dainichi Hall of the Octagonal Hall
八角堂の大日堂の祭り
28 of October
observance kigo for late autumn


. Dainichi Nyorai 大日如来 .


quote
Daikaku-ji is a Shingon temple dating from the Heian period. It is famous for moon-viewing boat cruises on Lake Ōsawa. Shakyō (sutra transcription) lessons are held daily at the temple.
Daikaku-ji was founded in 876 by Empress Masako (810-879) on the site of the Saga-rikyū, a country villa built for her father, Emperor Saga Tenno (786-842). The temple kept a close relation with the Imperial family, and was actually a monzeki (門跡), i.e. a temple whose appointed abbot was an Imperial prince.

In the early 14th century, retired Emperor Go-Uda (1267-1324) conducted his cloistered rule from Daikaku-ji. A school of ikebana named after the emepror, the Saga Goryū, is still based in the temple.



The Shin-den Hall (宸殿) was transported from its original location in the Imperial Palace in the 16th century. It contains some valuable fusuma screens attributed to the Sengoku-period Kanō school, the most famous schools of Japanese painting.
source : japan-guide



- quote
Daikaku-ji (大覚寺 Daikaku-ji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Ukyō-ku, a western ward in the city of Kyoto, Japan. The main images are of the Five Wisdom Kings, centered on Fudō. It was a villa of Emperor Saga (785-842), and later, retired Emperor Go-Uda conducted his cloistered rule from here. A school of ikebana, the Saga Goryū, maintains its headquarters in the temple. The artificial lake of the temple, Osawa pond, is one of the oldest Japanese garden ponds to survive from the Heian Period
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

There are moonviewing parties on boat on the Osawa pond.




Fudo Myo-O as venerated in the Hall of the 5 Great Fudo
五大堂, now in the Museum of the temple.

. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja - Vidyaraja .







- Homepage of the temple - Daikaku-Ji Monseki　大覚寺門跡
- source : www.daikakuji.or.jp


The temple is also famous for its Chrysanthemums


Saga-giku 嵯峨菊
- source : ichinen-fourseasonsinjapan.

People learn how to grow them to have flowers in the numbers of shichi-go-san
three on top, five in the middle and 7 near the bottom.
Also some withered leaves near the ground - and all this at the same time.
It is a secret to study how to grow them - only at this temple.


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涼しさを絵にうつしけり嵯峨の竹
suzushisa o e ni utsushi keri Saga no take

coolness
portrayed in painting:
bamboos of Saga
Tr. Barnhill


Coolness.
Painted into a picture;
Bamboos of Saga.
Tr. Blyth


la fraîcheur peinte
dans une peinture ;
les bambous de Saga
Tr. Daniel Py

Matsuo Basho　松尾芭蕉
元禄7年 - 1694

Basho was staying at the home of Yamei 野明亭, a friend of Kyorai.

. Sakai Yamei (1662-1713) .

. Mukai Kyorai 向井去来 .


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

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Related words

***** Mibu Nenbutsu 壬生念仏
Invoction of Amida at Mibu Temple
Mibu Kyoogen 壬生狂言（みぶきょうげん）


***** Kyoto
. "capital of blossoms", hana no miyako 花の都 .


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. Arashiyama 嵐山 Storm Mountain .


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Kyoto Festivals in April

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Kyoto Festivals in April

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: April
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Annual Festival at Matsuo Shrine
松尾大社（まつおたいしゃ） (Reisai Matsuo Taisha, Matsu no O Shrine)
April 2
The deity of the shrine is known as a God of Japanese sake.
Visitors can enjoy a Kyogen performance by the Shigeyama Family and a Noh performance by the Kongo School.

Matsunoo omatsuri oide 松尾祭御出 まつのおまつりおいで
Come to the Matsunoo Festival

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Kangetsu Matsuri, kangetsumatsuri 観月祭
Moon Viewing Festival
On the Full Moon night in September or October

With a great performance of drums and other classical music and
an autumn moon viewing haiku meeting
観月　俳句大会.
The three gardens are lit up also.


. Matsuo Basho　松尾芭蕉 Haiku Poet


. Kangetsu 観月 Moon Viewing in Autumn



Details of the shrine
Matsunoo Taisha 松尾大社 Matsunoo Grand Shrine
Matsuno'o Taisha
Matsunoo Jinja 松尾神社 Matsunoo Shrine

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Other festivals in Kyoto in April


Go-o Taisai Festival
Apr 04
Go-o-jinja Shrine


Saga Dai Nenbutsu Kyogen
Apr 06
Seiryo-ji Temple


Shakuson Kotan Festival
Apr 08
Outdoor tea ceremony
Ryozan Kannon


. Hana Kuyo Festival - Apr 10 - Kurama-dera Temple 　



Cherry Blossom Festival
Apr 10
Hirano-jinja Shrine
Ketsugan ceremony April 24



Hoyoke-taisai
(Grand Festival for warding off misfortune associated with directions)
Apr 11
Ikebana flower arrangement display
Jonangu Shrine



Yasurai Festival
Apr 13
Straw hats are decorated with cherry blossoms and camellia flowers. Red small goblins play music and dance.
Imamiya-jinja Shrine, Genbu-jinja Shrine, Daijingu-sha Shrine



Taiko Hanami Gyoretsu Procession
Apr 13
in honor of Toyotomi Hideyoshi
Daigo-ji Temple



Kamo Kyokusui no En
Apr 13
Kamigamo-jinja Shrine



Jusan Mairi
Apr 13
People celebrate their children’s 13th birthday and pray that their adult lives will be healthy.
Kokuzo Horin-ji Temple



Flower Arrangement Festival
Apr 13
To commemorate the spirit of Emperor Saga.
Daikaku-ji Temple



Spring Reisai Festival
Apr 14
For the God of kemari kickball.
Shiramine-jinja Shrine



Chuyu Festival
Apr 15
Shrine Matsuo-taisha.



Spring Reisai Festival
Apr 17
to commemorate the anniversary of the death of Empress Jingu
Shrine Gokonomiya-jinja




Yoshida Festival
Apr 18
Yamato-mai special dance performance.
Yoshida-jinja Shrine



Gyokitai-e
Apr 18
To commemorate the spirit of the Buddhist saint, Honen.
Kaihaku Memorial Ceremony , Yoshimizu-ko , Hojo-kai
Chion-in Temple



Ominugui Ceremony
Apr 19
For honor the Shaka Nyorai, the Buddha.
Seiryo-ji Temple



Yoshino Tayu Memorial Hana Kuyo
Apr 20
Memoryal for the Buddhist monk Nikkan.
Josho-ji Temple



Shinko Festival
Apr 20
With 6 portabel mikoshi, across the Katsura river.
Matsuo-taisha Shrine



Inari Festival ＆Shinko Festival
Apr 20
Mikoshi procession to the Otabisho resting place.
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine　



Mibu Kyogen
Apr 21
For Buddhist Saint Enkaku.
Mibu-dera Temple



Sho Mieige-ku
Apr 21
Memorial for Buddhist monk, Kukai Kobo Daishi.
To-ji Temple　



Honen Shonin Memorial Service
Apr 23
Memorial for Saint Honen.
Chion-ji Temple


Kisshoin Rokusai Nenbutsu
Apr 25
Kisshoin Tenmangu Shrine



Kyokusui no Utage
Apr 29
Jonan-gu Shrine



Rokusai Dance
Apr 29
Buddhist monk Kuya started the Rokusai Nenbutsu Dance.
Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine


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Kyoto festivals for each month are listed here

source : www.kyotoguide.com


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Worldwide use


Annual Festival at Matsuo Shrine
Dies ist das bedeutendste Festival des Schreins Matsuo Taisha.
Für den Gott der Braukunst werden Kyogen und Noh aufgeführt.


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Things found on the way


. Matsuo Jinja 松尾神社 in Ishikawa .
this shrine is not related to the poet Matsuo Basho　松尾芭蕉.
It is in the compound of Shrine Tada Jinja 多太神社.


Tofukuji Temple (toofukuji 東福寺)
and master gardener Shigemori Mirei 重森三玲


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. hana no miyako 花の都 "capital of blossoms" .
- kigo from Kyoto -

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Shimabara

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Shimabara Procession

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: Late Spring
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation

Procession in the pleasure quarters of Kyoto

Shimabara no taiyuu no doochuu
島原の大夫の道中 (しまばらのたゆうのどうちゅう)
Shimabara taiyuu no doochuu 島原大夫の道中

On April 21.

Shimabara is the name of the famous geisha quarters in Kyoto.



Famous geisha in special dresses parade through the pleasure quarters of Shimabara. They are dressed in traditional robes for the occasion, with black brocade overcoats. They wear special wooden clocks with three steps on their bare feet.
They are accompanied by young girls, kamuro 禿 . The paper umbrellas held over their heads show the signs of their patrons.

The last person in the procession is the "final umbrella", kasadome dayuu 傘止太夫, a geisha of the highest rank.

Shimabara Dayu

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Worldwide use


Daruma and the Courtesans,
Onna Daruma, Oiran and Daruma
芸者,花魁とだるま、女だるま


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Things found on the way


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HAIKU

我も亦太夫待つなる人のかげ
ware mo mata tayu matsu naru hito no kage

me too, just
waiting for the Tayu,
just one of the crowd

Takahama Kyoshi
yoshi5.web.infoseek.co.jp

Tr. Larry Bole
Translating Haiku Forum

The yoshiwara maintained a hierarchy and strict ceremonial code. Its rules of etiquette and its established rituals imbued the quarter with an aura of refinement, mystery, and anticipation. The women there lived both at the extremes of poverty and enormous wealth and were ranked according to their beauty, character, educational level and accomplishments.

A courtesan of the highest ranking was designated a tayu, and she was worthy of being a companion to a daimyo, and was in fact known as daimyo dogo, or "daimyo's goods". A tayu received the education of a great lady, with emphasis on her calligraphy, poetry, and grammar, and was given an elegant name and addressed by her maids in the formal language of deference established at the court. A tayu did not meet her clients in the "green houses" but was summoned to a client's residence by formal invitation, sometimes for a duration of up to a week.

Her transit to her assignation was a matter of public display, as she formally processed through the streets accompanied by maids, kamuro, and parasol bearers. In many respects, a tayu was a cult figure in the yoshiwara and was the supreme ideal of femininity. Skilled in calligraphy, accomplished at poetry and the tea ceremony, witty and self-confident but also soft and yielding, innocent but experienced, available and faithful, a tayu was peerless and priceless.

Lust was never associated with a tayu; therein lay her value and the challenge. The hereditary names of the most famous tayu in a "green house" were often drawn from classical literature or from the names of famous locales, and were passed down only to succeeding generations of courtesans worthy of the name.
©　www.artgallery.sbc.edu




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Related words

***** Miyako Odori .. "Dance of the Capital" in Kyoto

***** Kamogawa Odori .. Kamogawa Dance in Kyoto

***** Naniwa Odori ... Naniwa Dance in Osaka

***** Azuma Odori .. Azuma Dance, Tokyo Dance


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Miyako Dance

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Miyako Dance (Miyako Odori )

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: Late Spring
***** Category: Humanity

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Explanation



Miyako Odori 都踊 (みやこおどり, 都をどり)
April 1∼30
Dance of the Capital


Miyako, this is the
"Flowering Capital of Kyoto" 花の都 Hana no Miyako.


It started in the times of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the dances of Higashiyama.

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History

In 1871 Kyoto Governor Nobuatsu Hase and Vice Governor Masanao Makimura, in a direct response to the Meiji Restoration (1862-69) and the official shift of the Court of Emperor Meiji from Kyoto to Edo (now Tokyo), planned Japan's first Exposition in Kyoto (no longer the "Imperial City") to counter the perceived loss of status as well as to showcase the Art, Culture and Industry still alive and thriving in the City.

Subsequently, Jirouemon Geiko Sugiura, Gions' Representative and owner of "Mantei" (still in existence today as "Ichiriki", then and now a popular "Private" House for Kyoto's Geiko and Maiko performances) received a request from the Prefectural Government to stage the 1st "Public" Dance performance by the nationally famous Geiko and Maiko. In collaboration with Yachiyo Inouye the III (the Master of the Kyomai Dance School), Mr. Sugiura conceived a tightly choreographed and highly stylized group performance of the "Kamenoko Odori" dance from Ise Furuichi.

In March of 1872 the "Miyako Odori Junicho", proposed by Vice Governor Makimura as an extension of the popular "Kamenoko Odori", was performed for the first time with a full chorus and traditional Japanese Orchestra in a grand, classically beautiful house named "Matsunoya" located in Gion. This Performance (affectionately referred to as the "Gion Kobu Dance") was the prototype of the "Miyako Odori" that continues to the present day.

Immediately following the triumph of the "Matsunoya" performance all parties involved swore an oath declaring that the "Gion Kobu Dance" must remain the exclusive domain of Inoue the III's Kyomai School and this solemn promise is honored to this day. In April of 1873 the "Miyako Odori" moved permanently to the more spacious confines of Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater. The originality, authenticity, beauty, quality and dignity of the "Miyako Odori" is now entrusted to the current Master of Kyomai Dance, Yachiyo Inouye the V and takes place each Spring in Gion Kobu Kaburenjo Theater.



© www.miyako-odori.jp
都をどり｜祇園甲部歌舞会


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Things found on the way

Miyako Odori

a BLOG with information and many photos about the good old times

source : miyako-odori.blogspot.com


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"long" bridge over the Kamo River 京師 Keishi
(a place where a lot of people walk)

Ando Hiroshige 1797-1858 安藤広重


This is the last of the 53 stations of the Tokaido.
This is the Sanjo Ohashi 三条大橋, which had been built as a stone bridge by Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
Here in the woodblock it is featured as a wooden bridge.
This gives doubt weather Hiroshige was acutally here to sketch the scene from real life or weather he painted from heresay and sketches of someone else.



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HAIKU

手真似して話は都おどりかな
temane shite hanashi wa miyako odori kana

imitating the movements ...
and talking all the time
about the Miyako Dance
Tr. Gabi Greve

© Haiku of the Blind



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Related words

Kamogawa Dance, Kamogawa Odori
鴨川踊 (かもがわおどり)
鴨川踊り
Kamo River Dance （加茂川)



This dance is performed by the maiko and geiko of Ponto-cho 先斗町（ぽんとちょう） Hanamachi in Kyoto.
From the first of May to the 14th.
It began in 1872 as a part of the Kyoto Exposition. Later it was established as an annual event. This refined stage performance enjoys a wide range of fans.

More Reference !


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***** Azuma Odori .. Azuma Dance, Tokyo Dance

***** Miyako Odori .. "Dance of the Capital" in Kyoto

***** Kamogawa Odori .. Kamogawa Dance in Kyoto

***** Shimabara Odori .. Shimabara Dance, Kyoto

***** Naniwa Odori ... Naniwa Dance in Osaka


"Flowering Capital of Kyoto" 花の都 Hana no Miyako.


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Godairiki Kyoto

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"Five Great Strength" (godairiki)

***** Location: Kyoto, Japan
***** Season: Early Spring
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Godairiki-San 五大力さん
At temple Daigo-Ji 醍醐寺 in Shimo Fushimi, Kyoto.
February 23.

This festival is a type of the Ninnoo-e 仁王会（にんのうえ） ritual, performed at the temple Daigoji. It shows elements of the rituals for the five gread Fudo godai myo-o 五大明王. The godairiki deities are depicted in their wrathful form. For more about the Godairiki Bosatsu, see the LINK below.
It has a history of more than 1000 years. It is a prayer for the prosperity of the state and the wellbeing of its people, banmin buraku 万民豊楽（ぶらく）.
The temple has been greatly revived by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who held his last great cherry blossom viewing party with about 1300 people there. A procession re-enacting this event is held evey year.


Now back to the big mochi rice cakes.



People struggle to lift the heavy auspicious kagami-mochi rice cakes, one in white and one in red 紅白の鏡餅.
The competition is called "mochi age riki hoonoo" 餅上げ力奉納.


. Temple Daigo-ji 醍醐寺 .


something different to eat :

. 三井寺名物「弁慶の力餅」
Benkei no Chikaramochi .

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Prior to "Godairiki-san" or Festival of the Five Powerful Deities, in which people measure their strength by lifting up "Kagami-mochi," or rice cakes, at Daigo-ji Temple in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, huge rice cakes of the same size used in the power contest are being showcased from February 10 at two locations, including JR Kyoto Station plaza in Shimogyo Ward.



The temple started the rice cake display last year to publicize its annual memorial service held on February 23. On the first day of display, red-and-white two-tiered Kagami-mochi, with a diameter of 80 centimeters and weighing 150 kilograms, were placed in the lobby of a hotel near the station, as well as in the station plaza.

Standing before the Kagami-mochi, 13 Buddhist monks dressed as mountain priests blew conch-shell horns and read Buddhist sutras aloud in the ensoulment ceremony as they prayed for the happiness of local residents and tourists. Overwhelmed by the size of rice cakes, many tourists took pictures. The Kagami-mochi will be on display till February 23.
source : Kyoto Shinbun 2007






五大力さん 世界遺産 醍醐寺にて 餅あげ奉納
2012年2月23日 from 2012
Watch a video !
source : www.youtube.com


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The special talisman "Godairiki Mie, Mi-E みえ (御影)"
Godairiki Mikage, Godairiki no o-mie san 五大力の御影さん (ごだいりきのおみえさん)

This amulet "with the shadow of the five great Bodhisattvas" has been worshiped for a long time, for it is propitious to prevent bad fotune such as robbery.
These amulets are made powerful through the prayers of Buddhist priests for a week at the Dodaido-hall at Kami-Daigo. They are distributed only on Feburary 23rd.


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Godairiki Mochi 五大力餅
Rice Cakes for good luck
and sumoshi sushi






Nearby, the Godairiki udon 五大力うどん　 are served, thick wheat noodles and a mochi on top. Decorated with seaweed and mushrooms. As a side dish you can eat gomadofu with sesame seeds and yubazushi, vegetarian sushi wrapped in yuba bean curd skin.

There is also a sushi dish called "sumoshi" すもし in memory of the famous Kasuga no Tsubone.
春日の局も賞味した湯葉の巻き寿司, Take no ko sumoshi 竹の子すもし（寿司）. She was the wetnurse of the third shogun of Edo, Iemitsu, and a rather determined woman. The dish has been re-enacted now, since it was named in old papers of the temple Sanbo-In 三宝院 in the precincts.


Bamboo Sprout Sushi / sumoshi
This is a simple sushi: fresh bamboo sprouts are wrapped in yuba soy bean milk skin. Sometimes sushi rice is added nowadays.


Food served in the area of temple Daigoji is also called
Gosan Ryori, gosan ryoori 醐山料理.
It contains vegetables from the Daigosan mountain 醍醐山 and is prepared in a special way of this temple. The famous well water from the mountain is also used, daigosui 醍醐水.



source : facebook - samurai gourmet

Seven-colored rice dishes of Lady Kasuga consists of:
1. "Nameshi" (rice with leaf vegetables) - contains beta carotene, helps prevent colds
2. "Kuri Meshi" (rice with chestnuts) - contains vitamins B and E, good for anti-aging
3. "Azuki Meshi" (rice with red beans) - anthocyanin in red beans has antioxidyzing effects and helps improve eye fatigue
4. "Mugi Meshi" (rice with barley) - contains vitamin B6, prevents anemia and helps improve blood flow
5. "Yutori Meshi" (twice-boiled rice) - contains much water, good for people with weak digestive system
6. "Hikiwari Meshi" (rice with crushed barley) - easy to digest, good for people with weak digestive system
7. "Hoshi Meshi" (dried rice) - need to chew well, stimulates brain activity and helps improve immunity to diseases


- quote -
Lady Kasuga (春日局 Kasuga no Tsubone, 1579 – October 26, 1643)
was from a prominent Japanese samurai family of the Azuchi–Momoyama and Edo periods. Born Saitō Fuku (斉藤福), she was a daughter of Saitō Toshimitsu (who was a retainer of Akechi Mitsuhide). Her mother's father was Inaba Yoshimichi. Married to Inaba Masanari, she had three sons, including Inaba Masakatsu, and an adopted son, Hotta Masatoshi. She was the wet nurse of the third Tokugawa shogun Iemitsu.
She also established the Ōoku, the women's quarters, at Edo Castle.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

. Kasuga no Tsubone 春日局 Lady Kasuga. - (1579 – 1643)

. Tokugawa Iemitsu 徳川家光 .
and his governess, Kasuga no Tsubone

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I have written more about the temple Daigoji
Daigoji and the statue of Fudo Myo-O

It has been in the news in August 2008 :

Blaze destroys hall at Daigoji Temple in Kyoto

The wooden Junteido "Kannondo" hall and an adjacent rest house at Daigoji Temple in Fushimi Ward, Kyoto, were destroyed in a fire early Sunday, officials said.
No one was injured.
According to the temple, the fire broke out soon after lightning knocked out power at the temple at around 11 p.m. Saturday.

The Yamashina Police Station suspects the cause of the fire may have been the lightning.
According to the police, two monks staying near Junteido hall, where the statutes of Kannon were placed, spotted the fire at around midnight.

Because the hall is located in a mountainous area, cell phones do not work there. They had to walk down to the nearest phone to call the authorities.
The temple was hit by lightning July 28, and one of the pillars of its Chinese gate suffered some cracks.

Daigoji Temple was registered on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994.
source : Japan Times, August 25, 2008


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Things found on the way

A famous Kabuki play

Godairiki Koi no Fujime 五大力恋絨 (ごだいりきこいのふうじめ)
Five Great Powers That Secure Love
Godairiki koi no fûji

The main characters are Igami No Gonda and the geisha Koman.

Look at some Woodblock prints


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Related words

Godai ... the Five Great Ones ... in various aspects of Buddhism


***** WASHOKU ... Japanese Food SAIJIKI

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First Poetry Meeting

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First Poetry Meeting (utakai hajime )

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: New Year
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

First poetry meeting at court, utakai hajime
歌会始 (うたかいはじめ)
..... uta gokai hajime 歌御会始（うたごかいはじめ）

first waka poetry meeting
..... waka gokai hajime 和歌御会始（わかごかいはじめ）
..... gokai hajime 御会始（ごかいはじめ）

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A New Year Poetry Reading is a gathering of people who get together to read a collection of poems on a common theme to a wider audience. This practice was already in usage during the Nara Period, and became known through the famous volume of Japanese poetry, the Manyoshu.

An Imperial Poetry Reading is the same as the above-mentioned description, the only difference being that the poetry reading is convened by His Majesty the Emperor. As part of the annual events at the Imperial Palace, every month a Poetry Reading came to be held. Of these monthly Poetry Readings, the Imperial Poetry Reading was held as the first such party of the New Year, and was given the name Uta Gokai Hajime.

The origins of the Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime are unclear. During the mid-Kamakura period, on 15 January 1267, Emperor Kameyama convened a Poetry Reading at the Imperial Palace, which is recorded in the Gaiki Nikki as an internal ceremony. Since that time, records of the New Year's Poetry Reading can be found down through the ages. From such evidence, it can be surmised that the origins of the Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime are traceable to the mid-Kamakura period.

The Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime came to be held almost every year through the Edo period, and after the Meiji Restoration, the first Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime during the reign of Emperor Meiji was held in January 1869. Since then, among various reforms in ceremonies, the Utakai Hajime has continued to be held.

The Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime at the Imperial Palace boasts a long history and represents a ceremonial culture that has become more sophisticated with the reforms of the Meiji and post-war eras, to become a cultural event with national participation in a way that is unique in the world. Tanka poetry is said to be at the heart of all traditional culture in Japan. These tanka poems are heard and read not only in Japan, but also throughout the world, and the ceremony demonstrates their power to bind the people together with the Imperial Family through this annual ceremony at the Imperial Palace, which is something to be truly praised and lauded.





The
Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime is attended by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and poems recited include those chosen from submissions by the general public, poems of the selectors themselves, and poems by professional poets. Finally, the poems of the Imperial Family, Her Majesty the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor are recited. Members of the Imperial Family, including His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince are present at the Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime, and other audience members include the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, members of the Japan Academy of Art and the members of the public whose poems have been chosen.

The ceremony is performed through several participants, each with special titles: the dokuji (master of ceremonies), koji (reader of all poems), hassei (singer of poems from the first poem), and kosho (accompanying singer to the hassei for poems from the second poem).
©　www.kunaicho.go.jp



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Things found on the way

. Man'yōshū 万葉集 "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves" .

Man'yōshū (万葉集, "Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves")
is the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled sometime after 759 AD during the Nara period. The anthology is one of the most revered of Japan's poetic compilations. The compiler, or the last in a series of compilers, is today widely believed to be Ōtomo no Yakamochi, although numerous other theories have been proposed. The collection contains poems ranging from AD 347 (poems #85-89) through 759 (#4516), the bulk of them representing the period after 600. The precise significance of the title is not known with certainty.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !




Manyooshuu 万葉集 Manyoshu, Manyo'shu

As you travel on,
if the mist arises white
along the seashore
by your shelter, think of it
as a sigh I breathe at home

Anonymous 736 C.E.


source :　www.rarebooksinjapan.com

TAKI, SEIICHI and others,
The Manyoshu [Manyoushuu].
One Thousand Poems,
Selected and Translated from the Japanese.
Iwanami Shoten for Nippon Gakujutsu Shinkoka
As the title pages states, this book has the text in romaji, an introduction, notes, maps, biographical notes and a chronological table.
The full publishing information for this book is contained on a tipped-in slip at the back of the book; without that it is impossible to distinguish between the first printing and later impressions.

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HAIKU



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Related words

***** First Court Rituals


***** Song (uta) and Haiku

- #manyoshu -
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Okera festival (okera mairi)

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Okera festival (okera mairi)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: New Year
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Kyoto, Yasaka Shrine, early morning of January 1

Okera mairi 白朮詣 (おけらまいり), をけらまゐり

People visit this shrine to get a bit of the sacred flame of okera, which is a medical herb. They catch the flame with a little rope (fuse cord), swinging the rope all the way to home. With this flame, the fire for the first meal of the family is lit. This herb is used to ward off evil forces and negative energy of the past year.

Okera is the herb Atractylis ovata. It is supposed to bring longevity.

Click HERE for more photos !

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Other kigo in this context

okera matsuri 白朮祭（おけらまつり）
okera fire, okera bi 白朮火（おけらび）
okera rope, okera fuse cord, okera nawa 白朮縄（おけらなわ）
auspicious rope, kichoo nawa 、吉兆縄（きっちょうなわ）

swinging the rope, hinawa furu　火縄振る

ceremony in Gion Gion kesurikake no shinji
..... 祗園削掛の神事（ぎおんけずりかけのしんじ）
..... kezurikake no okonai 削掛の行（けずりかけのおこない）

vendor or fuse cord ropes, hinawa uri 火縄売（ひなわうり）


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Flame a beacon for a New Year's wishes
"Okera-mairi" at Yasaka Shrine

The "Okera-mairi" annual event took place on the night of December 31 at Yasaka Shrine in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, and visitors prayed for health and happiness in the coming year. The precincts were crowded with worshipers who swung ropes lit from the sacred fire so the embers would not burn out until they were taken home.

"Okera" is a kind of medicinal herbs. It is believed that if an ember lit from burning Okera is offered to the household altar or used for cooking "Zooni," or soup with rice cakes and vegetables, on New Year's Day, the family will be blessed with sound health and peace over the year. Visitors carrying home the sacred flame are a picturesque symbol of the shrine's most popular event connecting New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Once "Joya-sai," or New Year's Eve ritual, which started at 7:00 p.m., was finished, sacred fires were lit on three "Tooro" lanterns in the precincts. Visitors holding "Kitcho-nawa," or ropes made of bamboo fibers, in their hands kindled the tips of the ropes, then took them home carefully so the delicate embers would not burn out.

© Kyoto Shimbun 2006.12.31 News

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Atractylodes japonica
a kind of millet



© 牧野標本館, Siebold Collection

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plant kigo for late summer

okera no hana 蒼朮の花 (おけらのはな) okera flowers
..... ukera うけら
..... soojuu 蒼朮（そうじゅつ）


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Things found on the way


hinawa 火縄 fuse cords "fire rope"
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

At some shrines, there are "Hinawa" rituals to our day.

Hunters used it kept in a special container :

hizutsu 火筒
hinawa ire 火縄入れ

hinawa were used in Japan before the use of lighters made it easier to start a hearth fire.

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永の日の杖の先なる火縄哉
naga no hi no tsue no saki naru hinawa kana

in the long day
at my cane's tip...
a fuse cord

Kobayashi Issa
tr. David Lanoue



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HAIKU

白朮火の美しき闇見とれけり
okerabi no utsukushiki yami torekeri

walking through
the beautiful light
of the okera fire

http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~HAIKU/pcbbshr/228766186469333.html

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白朮縄綯ふや朱のさす翁の手　　
okera nawa nau ya ake no sasu okina no te

painting red color
and twisting the okera rope -
hands of an old man　　　　　

Suzuki Miyako 鈴木みや子
http://www.ibukinet.jp/topix/topix27.htm

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Related words


BACK TO
Festivals and Ceremonies of Japan

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First Court Rituals

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Introducing First Court Rituals of the New Year

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: New Year
***** Category: Observances

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Explanation

quote
Welcome to the Imperial Household Agency
Homepage
This homepage presents an introduction to the official duties and various public activities of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, and other members of the Imperial Family, carried out both at the Imperial Palace and outside, the latter including their official visits within Japan and their fostering of friendly relations with foreign countries.

We hope that this homepage will provide a useful reference for a large number of people who may wish to deepen their knowledge about the activities and traditions of the Imperial Family.
Kunaichoo 宮内庁ホームページ　

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Chooga 朝賀 First Morning Audience
..... choohai 朝拝
..... haiga 拝賀
..... sanga 参賀
..... 新年祝賀の儀 New Year Audience

Their Majesties' New Year Reception



At the Imperial Palace each year on 1 January, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress receive New Year greetings from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and the rest of the Imperial Family; the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President and Vice-President of the House of Councillors; Diet members; the Prime Minister; Ministers of State; the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; other government officials with Imperial attestation (Ninshokan); Administrative Vice-Ministers of Ministries and Agencies and other leading figures of legislative, executive and judicial organs; prefectural governors and chairpersons of prefectural assemblies; and heads of diplomatic missions to Japan and their spouses. This ceremony is considered a state event.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e04/ed04-01.html



People's Visit to the Palace for the New Year Greeting
新年一般参賀 shinnen ippan sanga



At the Imperial Palace each year on 2 January, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress receive New Year Greetings from the people.
Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress appear with the rest of the Imperial Family on the Imperial Palace veranda several times. On this occasion, His Majesty the Emperor addresses the people. The people enter from the main gate of the Palace and offer their good wishes in the East Plaza of the Imperial Palace.

Visits by the general public to offer congratulations in the New Year Celebration at the Imperial Palace began on 1 January 1948.
At the time, the celebration lasted from noon until 4:00 p.m. Visitors entered from the Main Gate and left from the Sakashita-mon Gate after signing the visitors' books installed near the iron bridge inside the Main Gate. Although none of the members of the Imperial Family appeared before the visitors, Emperor Showa did observe the scene of the visits from the roof of the Imperial Household Agency building.

On 1 January 1951, Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun appeared before visitors for the first time, on the balcony above the central entrance to the Imperial Household Agency. From 1953, the day of the greeting was moved to 2 January due to event schedule.

Later, these visits by the general public were temporarily suspended due to construction of the Imperial Palace. Since 1969, this ceremony has been held at the present Imperial Palace.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e04/ed04-01.html


癸未絵馬さげてゆく朝賀かな
mizunoto hitsuji ema sagete yuku chooga kana

弓人
http://www.maki-taro.net/haiku/cgi-bin/kakolog/85.html

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Daijin ke no daikyoo 大臣家大饗 (だいじんけのだいきょう)
First banquet of the Ministers
..... omoya no daikyoo 母屋の大饗 (もやのだいきょう)
banquet in the main house
Since the Heian period.


source :　d.hatena.ne.jp/K-sako

The ministers greet visitors in their own homes (omoya) and have a feast. The most important visitor is called 尊者 sonsha.
On this day an envoy from the imprial court, 蘇甘栗使 soamaguri no tsukai, is also welcomed.
He brought an old version of butter, 牛酪 gyuuraku, and dried chestnuts kachiguri 搗栗.


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Ganjitsu no Sechi-E 元日節会
Audience and Reception of Politicians

Introduced after the Meiji Reformation. The Emperor meets with the politicians for a first audience and exchanges a glass of ricewine.

Hare no Gozen 晴の御膳 Official Lunch Reception
Hare no Omono 晴御膳　はれのおもの
..... Gozen no gi 御膳の儀
In the Phoenix Hall of the Imperial Palace. Now it can be held on any of the first three days of the new year.

The menu was composed first in the Heian period and is still served today.

vinegar, ricewine, salt and soy sauce, the four condiments

dumplings, konton こんとん　昆飩 餛飩
round dumplings with minced meat and vegetables, served with broth

noodles, sakubei さくべい　索餅
The oldest form of the noodles, sakubei, produced by adding rice powder to flour, was introduced from China in the eighth century.

"scorpion snack", katsuko かつこ　餲餬, □餬
Snacks kneaded with wheat flower, in the shape of a scorpion (蝎 すくもむし sukumomushi).

dumplings with cinnamon, keishin けいしん　桂心
Wheat and medical cinnamon where kneaded into a form of a three-cornered priest hat.

..... Four types of snacks from ancient China:

round dumplings, tsuishi　ついし 餓子
made from flower, then fried.

"navel cakes" tensei てんせい 黏臍
dumplings with a shape of the human navel. Made from flower, then fried.

crackers, hitsura ひつら,ひちら 饆饠
Made from rice flower. Round and flat types of bisquits.

dumplings, danki だんき　団喜, kankidan 歓喜団
Made from wheat flower. Today they are still used as offerings in Buddhist rituals.


The above types of snacks were also introduced from China in the Heian period. There are eight famous snack from China (hasshuu no karagashi 八種の唐菓子, 八種唐菓子). This custom of serving them shows the strong influence of the Chinese culture on the aristocracy during the Heian period.
They are mostly made of rice or wheat flower, kneaded into auspicious shapes, filled with minced meat or vegetables and fried for consumption. They were also called "fruit" kudamono 果物.
KU meand KI, tree, "ki no mono" like nuts. These snacks were made from the fruits of trees also.
Another old meaning of KUDAMONO is "fish snacks to be eaten with ricewine".

Snack from the Heian Period

http://evagenji.hp.infoseek.co.jp/kudamono1.htm

http://www.meikatanbou.com/chi_/chi_w/w_s055.htm
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~heian/kenkyu/gourme/okasi.htm

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Hagatame, O-Hagatame (teeth strenghtening)
tooth hardening, teeth hardening
hagatame 歯固 歯がため　はがため

rice cakes for strengthening the teeth
..... hagatame no mochi 歯固の餅　はがためのもち
Diamond Petal Rice Cakes
..... hishi hanabira mochi, 菱葩餅 ひしはなびらもち

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Hime hajime ひめ始 ひめはじめ 姫始（ひめはじめ）
Beginning of first female activities
hime hajime 飛馬始（ひめはじめ）
hime hajime 姫糊始（ひめはじめ）
hime hajime 火水始（ひめはじめ）"first fire and water"
hime hajime 密事始（ひめはじめ）

written with the character for "secret" 秘め
is about the first intimate getting together of a good couple.


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In no Hairai 院の拝礼 First Audience for High Officials
First of January. This ceremony started during the Heian period. It was held in the park of the Imperial Palace. Now this audience is held more in private, while the official New Year Reception is held for officials (see above).

人だかり　院の拝礼　目指しけり　
hito dagari In no Hairai mezashikeri

http://www1.linkclub.or.jp/~bookends/writinglog/575spring.html


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Joi 叙位 (じょい)
official bestowing of a new rank or title
January 5 or 6

Conferment of a court rank, from the fifth rank upward.
A written document was handed to the bearer.

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Kijizake (kiji sake) 雉子酒, "pheasant ricewine"
kiji shu 雉子酒（きじしゅ)
o kiji おきじ



It was offered to all New Year visitors to the Emperor's palace.
Finely grilled pheasant meat was immersed in a sip of hot ritual sake.
In olden times, only the aristocracy was allowed to eat pheasant meat at rituals.


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source :　www.shiryodo.jp

kissho no soo 吉書奏 auspicious writing

On day nine of the first lunar month or an auspicious day the emperor wrote auspicious words. They were than looked at from the high ministers to the lower ones.
The words could be something like
諸国の鑰賜いて、不動の倉開かん
and were decided by the ritual keepers.


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Komatsu hiki, 小松引 Pulling Pine Seedlings
..... First Day of the Rat (hatsune)
..... greens of the day of the rat, ne no hi gusa 子の日草
and a few more





Koosho Hajime 講書始 First official lecture
at the Imperial Court
..... hatsu koosho 初講書（はつこうしょ）

In the presence of the emperor and his family.
This kind of official lecture was also held at the Shogun castle.
In its present form it was introduced at the beginning of the Meiji period.
Subjects of the lecture can be literature, society or nature.


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mai goran 舞御覧 (まいごらん) dance for the emperor

On the 17th or 19th of the first lunar month.
In the eastern park of the hall Seiryooden 清涼殿 Seiryoden.
Or in the southern park of the hall Shishinden 紫宸殿.
With musicians on the left and the right, a dance is performed for the emperor.
Up to 120 different dances can be performed.


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matsubayashi 松囃子 (まつばやし)
First official performance of the arts
..... 松拍子（まつばやし）
o utaizome 御謡初（おうたいぞめ）


suoonugi, suoo nugi 素襖脱ぎ（すおうぬぎ）
taking off the suoo ceremonial robe

On the third day of the first lunar month.
The first performance of music and dacne. It was performed at the Toshogu at Ueno until the Meiji period and abolished after WW II.


. Matsubayashi and oshagiri お囃子 .


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Matsurigoto hajime 政始 beginning of political activities
ritual at the imperial court, after the
Misaie, Mi Sai E 御斎会, which isheld from January 8 for seven days, on an auspicious day.
The duties at Ise shrine were also started on this day.


. WKD : Matsurigoto 政 .
The importance of a matsuri, a festival for the appeasement of the deities, can also be seen in the word matsurigoto, a word that originated in the performance of religious festivals by the emperor or regent and soon became identical with "governing" in general.

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mikamaki 御薪 Honorable fire wood
..... mimaki 御薪（みまき）
mikamaki tatematsuru 御薪奉る（みかまぎたてまつる）
offering firewood

January 15
At the imperial palace in Kyoto, firewood was brought by the 100 officials in charge.
It was 7 shaku long and 12 pieces in a bundle. The amount of bundles was determined by the rank of the officials.
Firewood was also offered to important temples and shrines.

mikamagi 御竈木(みかまぎ) "wood for the honorable stove"

. firewood and kigo .


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mikusuri o kuuzu 御薬を供ず offering honorable medicine
..... toso 屠蘇（とそ）ritual ricewine
byakusan 白散（びゃくさん）
doshoosan, toshoosan 度嶂散（どしょうさん）
kusurigo 薬子（くすりご）"child drinking medicine"

To prolong life, special food was eaten by the emperor in the first three days of the year.
see also hagatame above.
The honorable medicine came in three offers, swimming in ricewine.
The first sip was taken by a young girl (kusurigo).

一 献に屠蘇
二献に神明白散
(it contains finely chopped 白朮(びゃくじゅつ)・桔梗(ききょう)・細辛(さいしん))
三献に度嶂散
(it contains finely chopped 麻黄、山椒、細辛、防風、桔梗、乾姜、白朮、肉桂)

quote
The tradition of drinking toso at the New Year began in the Tang Dynasty in China, and was adopted by Japanese aristocrats during the Heian period. The first cup drunk would be made with tososan, and the second and third cups with different varieties called byakusan and toshōsan.
The drinking ceremony finally passed to the general public and doctors would give out tososan. Even today some chemists shops have retained the custom and give tososan away as a free gift at the end of the year.
Nowadays it is typically made from Japanese pepper, asiasari radix, apiaceae, cinnamon, dried ginger, atractylodes Japonica, Chinese bellflower and rhubarb, amongst others
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !



. Food as Medicine (yakuzen 薬膳) .


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. noriyumi 賭弓 bow shooting contest .
..... noriyumi 賭射（のりゆみ）
keari aruji 還饗（かえりあるじ）
noriyumi no sechi 賭弓の節(せち)
January 18

on the day before was the ceremony of

jarai 射礼 (じゃらい) "respectful shooting"
..... inokoshi, i no koshi 射遺 (いのこし)
in the presence of the emperor.


射遺･賭弓 - 年中行事絵巻 scroll with yearly rituals

MORE photos from this scroll:
source :　shugakuin.blogzine.jp

At the sound of the bell arrows were shot toward the target and each time it hit, a drum was beaten.
The archer with the most hits was then honored.


射遺の肩の力の抜き加減　
inokoshi no kata no chikara no nuki kagen

at the shooting ritual
the delicate adjustments
of shoulder tension

Sekiguchi Ringo 　石口りんご

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shihoohai, shihoo hai 四方拝 ( しほうはい) 　
prayer to the four directions
hoshi o tonaeru 星を唱ふ praising the stars
hoshibotoke 星仏 "buddhas for each of the nine stars" 九曜星

for peace on land and sea.
January 1, at 5:30 in the morning
The emperor performs this ritual at the Ise shrine or has to bow in this direction with a prayer for peace and a good harvest for the coming year.

Ritual dance is also performed.


四方拝禁裡の垣ぞ拝まるる

俳句俳話ノート
http://nobu-haiku.cocolog-nifty.com/haiwanoto/


鬼瓦まっさらになり四方拝
oni-gawara massara ni nari shihoo-hai

demon roof tiles -
becoming cleansed from the
prayer in four directions

Minami
http://earthlanguage.org/poem/0202.htm


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Tooka no sechi e 踏歌節会 Sechie Dancing Ritual　
.... 踏歌の節会
..... tooka 踏歌（とうか）
otoko tooka 男踏歌（おとことうか）dancing of men
onna tooka 女踏歌（おんなとうか) dancing of women
ararebashiri 霰ばしり（あらればしり）"running like hailstones"
kazashi no wata 插頭綿（かざしのわた）cotton flowers for your hair

tooka means rhythmically stepping on the ground while singing and dancing. This customs comes from Tang China. It has then been combined with Japanese forms of dancing as a prayer for a good harvest and been performed at the Imperial Court since the Heian period.
There are different dances for young men and women.

These dances are also performed at some shrines:

Atsuta toka shinji 熱田踏歌神事 at Atsuta shrine, Nagoya
January 11
鹿島踏歌祭


Kashima tooka matsuri 鹿島踏歌祭 at Kashima Shrine
Hitachi no kuni, Chiba

Sumiyoshi tooka sechi-e 住吉踏歌節会 at Sumiyoshi shrine
. . . . . 福餅神事
January 4


Tooka Sechi-e and the Genji Monogatari

source :　ogasawara

It has been merged with the Japanese Utagaki 歌垣（うたがき）.
It used to be performed on the day before full moon of the first lunar month, to appease the deities of the earth.


Utagaki (歌垣), also read kagai
lit. "fence of poems / songs"
courtship song festival, dialog-song
poetic exchange
The word GAKI - is a change of the original word for kakeru 掛ける　：
uta kaki 歌掛き（懸き）- to "throw" a song at an opponent
There were some rules as to how the opponend (of the other sex usually) had to make his/her spontaneous response.

An ancient Japanese ritual peasant gathering. Villagers would sing and dance on the way up to a mountaintop, where singing, dancing, eating, and the reciting of poetry would occur, in celebration of the beginning of spring or autumn. Closely associated with harvest rites, and therefore fertility, these events often also led into much free sexual activity.
Originating prior to the Nara period, the practice of utagaki reached its height during that period (710-794). Many of the songs and poems, as well as accounts of the ritual itself, are recorded in the Man'yōshū and other contemporary documents, making them among the oldest forms of literature in Japan.
©　 WIKIPEDIA !

utagaki meetings are also known in Chin, Indoneia, Bhutan and other countries of Asia as a means for young people to meet and make friends.
It may have turned into renku linked verse later on.

Some utagaki texts from rural Japan are even in the form 5 7 5.


Liederhecke,
ein gesellschaftliches Ereignis oder Fest im Altertum, zu dem sich die jungen Leute einfanden, um Liebesgedichte auszutauschen.

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Tsuru no hoochoo 鶴の包丁 "cutting a crane"
Before the ritual of "mai goran" (see above) on the 17th or 19th of the first lunar month.
A crane was cut by the official "knife master" in an ancient tradition watched by the emperor and the courtiers. The meat was then prepared for a feast, to wish a long life to the emperor and his retainers.

.Hoochoo Doo 庖丁道 the way of the knife .



at Suwa Shrine 諏訪神社

This ceremony is also done at some shrines to prepare food offerings for the deity.
mai no tsuru no sabaki 舞鶴の捌き cutting a dancing crane



at Natori shrine, a wild duck is offered
香取神宮　鴨羽盛

source : kawakatu



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Things found on the way

History of Food of Japan, by Naomichi Ishige


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Related words

First Poetry Meeting at Court (utakai hajime　歌会はじめ)



***** WKD: Ceremonies and Festivals of Japan
Nihon no Gyooji　日本の行事
Saijiki

***** WASHOKU ... Japanese Food SAIJIKI


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SAIJIKI – NEW YEAR OBSERVANCES

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