OCTOBER calendar

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
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. Kigo Calendar - the 12 Months .

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October - juugatsu　十月





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

. Changing to winter robes (nochi no koromogae 後の更衣 .

. World Elders Day .



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

. Memorial Day for Kaga no Chiyo-Ni 加賀千代 .

. Angel Festival 天使祭 .

. Mahatma Gandhi Birthday. 1947 - India .
Gandhi Jayanthi Day, Gandhi Jayanti


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

. Memorial Day for Iida Dakotsu 蛇笏忌 .

. mizu hajimete karu 水始めて涸る
water dries out for the first time .

. Ceremony of the Komyo Mantra 光明真言会 .
Temple Saidai-Ji 西大寺, Nara, till October 5



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

. Memorial Day for Takano Suju 高野素十 .

. World Animal Day .


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

. Daruma Memorial Day 達磨忌 .
Bodhidharma, founder of the Zen sect


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

. Our Lady of the Rosary ロザリオ祭 .


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

. kanro 寒露 cold dew .
one of the 24 solar sections 二十四節気


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

. Konpira Shrine Festival 金刀比羅祭 Kompira, Shikoku .


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

. Health and Sports Day 体育の日 .
taiiku no hi

. World Homeless Day .

. Hero's Day (Mashujaa) - Kenya .


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

. Memorial Day for Taneda Santoka 種田山頭火 .

. Memorial Day for William "Bill" Higginson .



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

. Uzumasa Bull Festival 太秦の牛祭 Kyoto .

. Memorial Day for Utagawa Hiroshige　歌川広重 .
Ando Hiroshige　安藤広重

. Columbus Day - America .


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

. Memorial Day for Saint Nichiren 日蓮忌 .
omeikoo 御命講 Omeiko memorial service



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

. World Food Day .

. Niukawakami Shrine Festival 丹生川上祭 . Nara



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

. World Poverty Day .


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

. Chrysanthemum memorial ritual 菊供養 .
Asakusa Kannon Temple, Tokyo


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

. Mashujaa (Heroes' ) Day - Kenya .
former Kenyatta Day


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

. Kurama Temple Fire Festival 鞍馬の火祭 .


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

. sookoo 霜降 Soko. frost descends .
one of the 24 solar sections 二十四節気


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

. United Nations Day .

. International Day of Climate Action .
- World Environment Day


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

. Lunar Chrysanthemum Festival 旧重陽 .


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

. Halloween, Hallowe’en ハロウィーン .


.................... first SUNDAY

. Harvest Thanksgiving - Erntedankfest .


.................... second MONDAY

. Canadian Thanksgiving - Canada .


.................... middle of October

. Oktoberfest - Octoberfest - Munich, Germany .


. Breast Cancer Awareness Month . USA

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. WKD : October - a Haiku Month .

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. WKD : World Days in October .

. Ceremonies, festivals, rituals - October .

. Memorial Days of Famous People - October .



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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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continue :

. KIGO CALENDAR - November, December .



. WKD : the complete SAIJIKI list .

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Seimon Absolving Oath

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Absolving of sins (seimonbarai)

***** Location: Kyoto, Japan
***** Season: Late Autumn
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

seimonbarai 誓文払 (せいもんばらい) absolving of lies
..... Ebisugire, Ebisu gire 夷切れ（えびすぎれ）

On the 20th day of the tenth lunar month.
(Some saijiki place this now in early winter).

Prostitutes and merchants of Kyoto go to a special shrine, Kanjaden 官者殿, to pray and get absolved for for all the lies they have been telling their clients in order to maintain their good business.
To attune for their sins, they make very cheap bargain prices and this has formed into the normal bargain sales of kimono shops and later the large department stores.

Later a visit to this small shrine was also done to get absolved for lies in a love relationship, especially for the many geisha of the Gion quarters.
During the visit, the geisha was not allowed to say a word, it was therefore

mugon moode 無言詣 shrine visit without talking.

Ebisugire refers to the fact that it was done on the Day of Ebisu, the Deity of the Merchants.

seimon 誓文 is a written oath.


. Ebisu えびす　恵比寿 .



. Mugon Mode at the Gion Festival .


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Kanjaden 官者殿 Kanjaden Shrine Hall
Shijoo Teramachi 四条寺町

It is close to Yasaka Shrine and the Gion quarters in Kyoto and belongs to the Yasaka Shrine group 八坂神社.



Deities in residence

Amaterasu no Omikami 天照大神
Susanoo no Mikoto 素戔嗚尊

. . . and also
Tosa no Boo Shooshun 土佐坊昌俊
Priest Shoshun from Tosa
(1141 - 1185), Shoshun Tosanobo (Shoshin Tosanobo)

永治元年8月15日（1141年9月19日）? -
文治元年10月26日（1185年11月19日）
A priest and military commander of the Heian Period.
The story is related to Minamoto no Yoshitsune.
On his way to Kumano, Tosanobo had come to Horikawa to take the life of Yoshitsune, on behalf of his brother Yoritomo, but Yoshitsune him sign an oath of loyalty to himself on three pieces of paper each instead .

Three written oaths were kept at Hachimangu, one at Kumano Gongen and the third had been burned to ashes. Tosanobo then ate the ashes to convey his sincerity to Yoshitsune.

But Tosanobo was going to attack Yoshitsune anyway in that night.
Yoshitsune's loyal retainer Benkei mistrusted the written oath of Tosanobo and warned his master.

The story then continues with betrayal and revenge . . .

Tosanobo Shoshun, his real name was Shibuya Konnomaru 渋谷金王丸.
source : www.hi-ho.ne.jp/kyoto



source :　cardiac.exblog.jp

洗馬　武蔵坊弁慶・土佐坊昌俊
Benkei and Tosanobo riding (washing) a horse
a pun with seba 背馬→せば=洗馬」

Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳


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source :　www.kyoto.zaq.ne.jp

Yoshitsune makes Tosanobo write an oath

Now kept at Horikawa Gosho in Kyoto 堀川御所.



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Things found on the way


Yoshitsune: A Fifteenth-Century Japanese Chronicle
google book including the story of Tosa no Bo.
source : books.google.co.jp


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HAIKU



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***** . OBSERVANCES – AUTUMN SAIJIKI .


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　

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Ehime Prefecture

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. Regional Festivals - From Hokkaido to Okinawa .

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Ehime Prefecture - 愛媛県

a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan.
The capital is Matsuyama　松山.

©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

. Matsuyama and Masaoka Shiki (松山と正岡子規) .



. Ehime - Entries of this BLOG .

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Isono Jinja 伊曽乃神社 Isono Shrine Festival
Saijo Festival西条祭り

shinkoosai 神幸祭(しんこうさい)

quote
Lasting for two days, Isono Shrine Festival is one of the biggest events held in the whole of Saijo City. It begins on October 15th at 2:00 am with the sacred Omiyadashi (taking out of the Shrine) and ends on October 16th at 4:00 pm with the sacred Miyairi (returning to the Shrine). The highlight of the festival includes more than 80 Danjiri and Mikoshi floats which are paraded around the area.

During the festival more than 100 lanterns are lit from dusk until dawn to reproduce a scene from old Japanese picture scrolls. The origin of this event remains unclear, but it can be found on some documents dating back to Edo period, in the year of Horeki 11th (1761 according to the Christian calendar).
Omiyadashi - On October 15th at about 2:00 a.m.
Otabisho - On October 16th at around 2:00 a.m.
Gotenmae - On October 16th at about 7:00 a.m.

Kawairi - On October 16th at 3:00 p.m.
the floats gather at the banks of Kamo river where the festival's finale takes place. With all the floats lined up to see off the Mikoshi that is going to Isono Shrine for Omiyairi, a beautiful scene begins to unfold. The setting sun behind the spectators reflects off of the river and shines onto the floats creating an impressive view. Regretting the end of the festival, a float from the Kobe district tries to obstruct the procession of Mikoshi in an apparent effort to prolong the festival.
When at long last the Mikoshi have crossed the Kamo river the festival comes to an end.
source : www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

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Yunomachi Mikoshi Festival 湯之町大神輿


湯之町大神輿は、愛媛・松山秋祭りの八町会に所属する神輿団体です。
- source : yunomachi1007.web

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Iizumi Shrine Festival
Iwaoka Shrine Festival
Kamo Shrine Festival
source : www.city.saijo.ehime.jp


Matsuyama Fall Festival
October

Matsuyama Port Festival
..... Mitsuhama Fireworks Display


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Niihama Taiko (Drum) Festival　愛媛 新居浜 太鼓祭り
October
One of the three great festivals of Shikoku Island.
四国三大祭り (Tokushima Awaodori and Kochi Kosakoi)
徳島の阿波踊り、高知のよさこい祭り and Niihama


source :　Steven Colburn, facebook

Centered on the three days from October 16 to 18, over fifty lavish taiko drum floats decorated with gold and silver tassels are paraded around the city on the backs of 150 men each.
An exciting event during the festival is when the floats compete in a "kaki kurabe" where groups compete to see which group can lift their float for the longest amount of time.
- source : tourismshikoku.org

Niihama Taiko matsuri 新居浜太鼓祭り
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

治良丸太鼓台新調披露式
- source and photos : maeno3.com/taikomaturi -

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Togyu (Bullfighting)
Uwajima city



Ukai (cormorant fishing)
from June to September



Uwajima Ushi-Oni (Bull Devil) Festival
3. weekend in July

. ushi oni, ushioni, gyuuki 牛鬼 "bull-demon" .


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External LINKS :

- Reference -

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. Regional Folk Toys from Japan - EHIME .　

. Regional Dishes from Japan - WASHOKU .


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Heian Matsuri

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Heian Festival (Heian matsuri)

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: Late Autumn
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Heian matsuri 平安祭（へいあんまつり）Heian festival
Jidai matsuri 時代祭 (じだいまつり) "Festival of the Ages"

October 22

The central event in the festival is the Jidai Gyoretsu, a resplendent procession. In the procession, participants wear costumes representing the styles of each historical period starting with 1868 when the capital was transferred from Kyoto to Tokyo and going backward to 794 when the capital was moved to Kyoto.

Led by a gallet fife and drum corps, the sumptuous and gorgeous procession comprises about 2,000 people and extends for about 2 km (1.24 miles). The spectacle also includes the charming junior geisha (maiko) and women dressed in the beautiful kimono of the imperial court. Proceeding along a 4.5km (2.8 miles) route (Miyako-Oji) from the Kyoto Imperial Garden to Heian Shrine, the parade lasts for nearly five hours.
source :　web-japan.org


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The Heian period (平安時代, Heian jidai)
is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185.[1] The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height. The Heian period is also considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its art, especially poetry and literature. Although the Imperial House of Japan had power on the surface, the real power was in the hands of the Fujiwara clan, a powerful aristocratic family who had intermarried with the Emperor of Japan.
Heian (平安) means "peace and tranquility" in Japanese.
Buddhism began to spread throughout Japan during the Heian period, primarily through two major esoteric sects, Tendai and Shingon.

Literature
Although written Chinese (Kanbun) remained the official language of the Heian period imperial court, the introduction and wide use of kana saw a boom in Japanese literature. Despite the establishment of several new literary genres such as the novel and narrative monogatari (物語) and essays, literacy was only common among the court and Buddhist clergy.

The lyrics of the modern Japanese national anthem, Kimi ga Yo, were written in the Heian period, as was The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu, one of the first novels ever written. Murasaki Shikibu's contemporary and rival Sei Shōnagon's revealing observations and musings as an attendant in the Empress' court were recorded collectively as The Pillow Book in the 990s, which revealed the quotidian capital lifestyle. The Heian period produced a flowering of poetry including works of Ariwara no Narihira, Ono no Komachi, Izumi Shikibu, Murasaki Shikibu, Saigyō and Fujiwara no Teika.
The famous Japanese poem known as the Iroha (いろは), of uncertain authorship, was also written during the Heian period.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !




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quote
Kyoto holds "Festival of the Ages"
October 22, 2011

A parade of 2,000 people wearing Japanese costumes from various historical periods was held in Kyoto on Sunday.
A crowd of about 50,000 watched the procession along a 4.5-kilometer course from the Kyoto Imperial Palace to the Heian Shrine.
The Jidai Matsuri is one of the city's 3 biggest festivals. It started in 1895 when Kyoto celebrated the 1,100th anniversary of its founding in the Heian period.
Sunday's parade was led by a military band dressed in the style of the Meiji era in the late 19th century. The next group represented the popular revolutionaries who helped organize the Meiji Restoration in the closing days of the Edo period, which ended in 1867.
At the end of the parade were women in elaborate costumes from the Heian period.

Survivors of the March 11th disaster who are living in Kyoto were invited to watch the parade.
A woman said she had to evacuate her hometown in Fukushima Prefecture because of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant, but the beautiful parade made her feel less homesick.
source : NHK news 2011

. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011　.


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Things found on the way

Heian Jinguu 平安神宮 Heian Jingu Shrine

Heian Shrine in Sakyō-ku, Kyoto ...
In late January, a festival celebrates the memory of Emperor Kōmei; and in early April, a festival in honor of Emperor Kammu is a yearly occurrence.[

On October 22, Heian-jingū hosts the Jidai Matsuri, which is one of the most important festivals of Kyoto. The procession of this festival begins at the old Imperial palace, and includes carrying the mikoshi (portable shrines) of Emperors Kanmu and Kōmei to the Heian-jingū.

The Shrine is used for traditional Japanese weddings as well as concerts. It is popular but rare for a modern concert to be held at a historic site like the shrines, but merging modern and old culture in Kyoto has become a trend.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

- - - - - English HP of the Shrine - Heian Jingu Shrine

source : www.heianjingu.or.jp

. Japan - Shrines and Temples .


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HAIKU




腰細の時代祭のやっこかな
koshiboso no jidai matsuri no yakko kana

the slender waist
of a court lady -
Festival of the Ages





時代ごと衣の変わりゆく秋の暮れ
jidai goto i no kawari-yuku aki no kure

with each period
the robes also change -
end of autumn

And some more by Kusa Wakaba
source : 草若葉


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. The Heian Period 平安時代 Heian jidai (794 - 1185) .
- Introduction -

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Kureha Shrine Festivals

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Kureha Shrine Festivals (Kureha Jinja)

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

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Explanation

Kureha Jinja 呉服神社
大阪府池田市室町7-4
7-4 Muromachi, Ikeda-shi, Osaka

Sometimes mis-read as Gofuku Jinja ごふくじんじゃ.
Gofuku is the common name for kimono fabric.




Deities in residence

Kure Hatori Hime 呉服媛, Kurehatorinohime　
..... Kurehatori 呉服（くれはとり)

Nintoku Tenno 仁徳天皇　Emperor Nintoku
..... Oosazaki no mikoto 大雀命（オホサザキノミコト）
..... 大鷦鷯尊（オホサザキノミコト）
the 16th Emperor of Japan, (313 - 399)

When Kureha Hime died, Emperor Nintoku was 76 years old.
He build this shrine in her honor.

It was lost in a fire during the times of Oda Nobunaga, but Toyotomi Hideyori had it bulid again.
The present hall dates from 1969.


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Two Shrines in Ikeda

Ikeda Jinja (Ikota Jinja) 伊居太神社
Kureha Jinja 呉服神社




Kureha Hime
呉服姫神像は寿命寺 Statue at temple Jumyooji




Ayaha Hime
穴織姫神像が伊居太神社

Click for more photos :
source :　atamatote.blog

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kigo for late autumn

Kureha sai 呉服祭（くれはまつり） Kureha festival
..... Ayaha sai 穴織祭 (あやはまつり) Ayaha festival

On the 17th and 18th day of the ninth lunar month, now October.

During the time of Emperor Ojin 応神天皇 there came two famous weaver girls from the Chinese country of Go 呉 Kure.

Kure Hatori, Kureha 呉織
Aya Hatori, Ayaha 漢織

Hatori is a special reading of hataori 機織, weaving.

They taught their skills to the local womenfolk and started a good business.
They are venerated at this shrine.

quote
Tradition has it that in the Tumulus period about 1600 years ago during the reign of the Emperor Nintoku, two female weavers named Kureha and Ayaha traveled far away from the land of Go in China and reached here Ikeda, to introduce the technology of weaving into Japan for the first time.

At the bank along Inagawa river flowing in Ikeda, there is a stone monument inscribed the place where two ancient weavers reached to introduce weaving.

It is said that the ancient female weavers hanged the silk they dyed on a pine tree, and the pine tree was called “Kinugake”.

There remains the name of address Kureha in Ikeda now.
The bridge crossing Inagawa-rever is also Kureha-bridge.
source : Kinugake Onsen



. Oojin Tennoo 応神天皇 Ojin Tenno .
the 15th emperor
Hondawake no mikoto 譽田別命


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Things found on the way

Emperor Nintoku (仁徳天皇, Nintoku-tennō)
was the 16th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.

Sumeramikoto or
Amenoshita Shiroshimesu Ōkimi (治天下大王)
Great King of Yamato (ヤマト大王/大君)

No firm dates can be assigned to this emperor's life or reign, but he is conventionally considered to have reigned from 313–399.



The achievements of Nintoku's reign which are noted in Nihon Shoki include:

constructed a thorn field bank called Namba no Horie to prevent a flood in Kawachi plains and for development. It is assumed that this was Japan's first large-scale engineering works undertaking.
established a thorn field estate under the direct control of the Imperial Court (まむたのみやけ)
constructed a Yokono bank (Ikuno-ku, Osaka-shi).

Daisen-Kofun (the biggest tomb in Japan) in Sakai, Osaka is considered to be his final resting place. The actual site of Nintoku's grave is not known.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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HAIKU

媳連て呉服祭を示しけり
yome tsurete Kureha sai o shimeshi keri

I brought my daughter-in-law
to the Kureha festival
to show her

. Miyake Shozan 三宅嘯山 Miyake Shoozan .


yome is also used by men talking about their wifes. So maybe he brought his wife to the shrine to pray that she makes better robes for him.


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***** . OBSERVANCES – AUTUMN SAIJIKI .


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　

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Yase Festival

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Yase Festival (Yase matsuri)

***** Location: Kyoto
***** Season: Early Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Yase matsuri 八瀬祭 (やせまつり) Yase festival
sanyare matsuri さんやれ祭（さんやれまつり）

May 9
(Nowadays often on May 5).

Main festival at the shrine Yase Tenmangu 八瀬天満宮, Kyoto.

It used to be a festival to chase horses 馬駆け, similar to that of the "Aoi festival).

Children dance with floats (odori hoko 踊り鉾), calling "sanyare sanyare", hence the name of the festival.



Yase Tenmangu Shrine Gate

The main deity at the shrine is
. Sugawara Michizane 菅原道真 .
.

It was first build by the teacher of Michizane, 比叡山法性坊.In the shrine compound is one access to Mount Hieizan, the Yase Slope, and also a stone monument, were Michizane sat down during his visit.

Look at many photos of the shrine:
source : yase.html

. . . . .



In another corner of the compound is shrine Akimoto jinja 秋元神社, famous for its dance Yase Shamenchi Odori 赦免地踊り, performed on the autumn festival of the shrine,
on the second Sunday in October.

The dance in in memory of Akimoto Tajima-no-Kami Takatomo 秋元但馬守 喬知.
It is a lantern dance, where young boys wear lanterns on their heads. The dance is an intangible cultural asset.


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quote
"Yase Doji Exhibition" 八瀬童子 Yase Dooji

In ancient Japan, the term Yase Doji referred to the people who lived in the Yase district of Kyoto and worked for the area's Enryaku temple. Despite their plebeian status, Yase Doji were prosperous and maintained strong connections with those in power, including emperors, aristocrats and shogun. After the Meiji Era, they were even entrusted by the government to be the imperial koshi (palanquin) bearers.

In 2010, some historical records that detailed the development of Yase Doji were designated as Important Cultural Properties

source : Japan Times, December 2012


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HAIKU




数珠かけた直衣姿や八瀬祭
juzu kaketa nahoshi sugata ya Yase matsuri

wearing rosaries
and official court robes -
Yase festival

. Miyake Shoozan 三宅嘯山 （1718 - 1801) .
Miyake Shozan (1718 - 1801)


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Sunafumi sacred sand

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Stepping on sacred sand (sunafumi)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: May and October
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

o-sunafumi, osunafumi お砂踏み
stepping on sacred sand





At the temple Tamagawa Daishi in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo there is a special ceremony twice a year,
in May and October from the 21st to the 23nd,
where people pray in front of hanging scrolls of the 88 Temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage and the 33 Temples of the pilgrimage in honour of Kannon Bosatsu.


Pilgrimage(henro, junrei)
Pilgrims. Japan and worldwide



玉川大師　お砂踏み　大祭
Tamagawa Daishi Temple and the Big Ceremony in May and October

In the temple grounds there are over 300 stone statues of Buddhas while you walk along replikas of the Shikoku and the Kannon Pilgrimage. The last statue on the pilgrimage is one of Kobo Daishi himself.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




川崎大師　お砂踏み　遍路道
Kawasaki Daishi Temple in Kawasaki City and the Sacred Sand Walking The Sacred Sand Walking was taken up as a means to improve the health and legs of the visitors. Under each stone memorial of one of the 88 temples of the Shikoku pilgrimage there is a bit of Sacred Sand in the ground, so you can actually “Walk in Shikoku”.
At Kawasaki Daishi there is a big Daruma Market during the first Days of the New Year, where our Daruma is sold in the thousands.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




Temple Shootoku-ji 聖徳寺
Tsuyama Town, Okayama prefecture
In Honour of the 88 temples of the Shikoku Pilgirmage and the 33 Temples dedicated to Kannon (Avalokiteshvara) in the Saikoku area of Western Japan.
http://www.tvt.ne.jp/~syoutoku/osunafumi.htm
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




Temple Iza-Ji 医座寺
The main object of veneration is Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of Healing.
His statue is carved in stone, the letters are said to be the handwriting of Dengyoo Daishi, the great Buddhist teacher and founder of the Tendai Sect.

While you stand in front of the stone saying your prayers, you tread on sand from Shikoku, doing the SUNAFUMI of the temples with Yakushi Nyorai. The stone where you stay has the form of Buddha’s footprints.
Stay there firmly and pray for your future career and it might be granted. Shusse Yakushi, the Yakushi Buddha for your Career, might take care of things.
Say the mantra of Yakushi three times, stepping on the stone firmly.

On korokoro sendari madowagi sowaka.

. . . CLICK here for Photos !



. Fukusenji 福泉寺 Fukusen-Ji - Yokohama .


Yakushi Nyorai 薬師如来、
Buddha of Medicine and Healing


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O-Sunafumi in Hawaii
Local residents may re-create a famous pilgrimage for healing through the Osunafumi 88 Temples exhibit in the Pikake room. Soil was brought from each of the Shikoku island temples to allow participants to make the mini-pilgrimage.
http://starbulletin.com/2002/08/24/features/story2.html


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四国霊場お砂撫で o-suna nade
stroking the sacred sand

a ceremony held in various places, with bags of sand from Shikoku





あたたかく四国霊場お砂撫づ 　
atatakaku Shikoku reijoo o-suna nade

on a warm day
we stoke the sacred sand -
Shikoku pilgrimage

Shooji 湘次
http://shashin-haiku.jp/allblogs-1580


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The Pilgrimage to 33 Kannon Temples
To learn about Kannon Bosatsu.

In his/her honour there are many pilgrimages all over Japan to 33 temples in the localities. Mark Schumacher has a good page about this.
... Kannon Bosatsu


. JAPANESE PILGRIMS and PILGRIMAGES



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HAIKU



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..... BACKUP Sunafumi


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Kebesu Festival

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Kebesu festival (kebesu sai)

***** Location: Kunisaki Peninsula, Oita
***** Season: Late Autumn
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation




Kebesu Festival is a fire festival held at
Iwakura Hachiman Shrine in Kunimi-machi,
Kunisaki City, Oita Pref. on October 14.

The origin of the word “kebesu” is not clear; some say it comes from a phrase in a norito (Shinto prayer) referring to “a boy who kicks fire.”Other say it is a local pronounciation of the deity Ebisu.





On the festival night, the “Kebesu,” who is wearing a grotesque mask, walks around the precinct, hitting the stick called “Samasuta” with a fan and dashes toward the holy bonfire. Then some men called “Toba トウバ” in white costume try to guard the fire and repeatedly fight with Kebesu for fire. Toba run after the spectators with burning fern in their hands. It is said that if the sparks fall on you, you will be good in health throughout the year.

The festival is designated as a prefecture’s Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
This is one of the few unique festivals in Japan.

source : nippon-kichi.jp





Before participating in the festival, all menfolk clad in white walk to the sea shore and take a purifying dip in the cold water.

The man performing the KEBESU of this year puts on a mask and then the priest of the shrine makes the sign of kebes on the back of the kneeling person, to put the deity inside his human body.
After the festival, kebesu kneels again and the priest writes the word MAN on his back.

It is a great honour to be choosen as the kebesu of the year.


大分県国東市国見町櫛来の岩倉社
櫛来社（くしくしゃ）

Kebesu Matsuri ケベス祭り


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kunimi 国見 "looking at the country"
There are many places with this part in the name.
My favorite is Kunimi Onsen hot spring in Iwate.

It goes back to olden times, when the local priest-shaman went to the top of a nearby hill and looked down to foretell the events and the harvest for the coming year. By looking at the cherry trees and buds and praying to them, he could make predictions about the harvest. This is one of the sources of the cherry-blossom activities in Japan.


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HAIKU


Kebesu festival -
the sparks fall out
of my TV screen

Gabi Greve



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Related words

***** Fire festivals, fire ceremonies
(hi matsuri　火祭り)


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Nada Kenka Matsuri

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Nada Fighting Festival (Nada no Kenka Matsuri)

***** Location: Himeji, Hyogo
***** Season: Late Autumn
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

October 14th and 15th
Matsubara Hachiman Shrine
Shirahama-cho Ko, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture
姫路 松原八幡神社


灘のけんか祭り

This is the biggest "fighting festival" in Japan.

The night of the tenth lunar month was the full moon night of Autumn in the Asian lunar calendar.



quote
Portable shrines fiercely jolted against one another produce breathtaking scenes befitting a 'Fighting Festival'

It came to be called by this name, Kenka Matsuri or 'Fighting Festival' because the mikoshi (portable shrines) are jolted against one another when carried on the shoulders of the men in the parade.

There are no detailed rules or opponents for the vehement collisions of the portable shrines. As soon as the portable shrines are set properly on the men's shoulders and everyone is ready, they are knocked against one another at random, and the moment a portable shrine is hoisted on top of another, the contest is over.

The greatest attraction is the struggle among 3 portable shrines when men over 35 wearing white headbands, those of 26-35 with yellow headbands and youths under 26 marked by red headbands, holding bamboo poles in their hands, join in the fight. A vehement struggle unfolds but this is in no way a fight between the men. This festival, which is the largest of the numerous fighting festivals held nationwide, is not only famous in Japan but is also becoming widely known overseas.

The highlight of this festival is Yatai-neri, the parade of "yatai", festival floats, gorgeously decorated with wood carving, gold and silver handiwork and embroidered curtains. The yatai are carried on the shoulders of men and are surrounded by the men holding "shide" (bamboo poles decorated with colorful paper) in their hand. As dusk sets in, illuminations on each of the yatai are lit.
source : www.jnto.go.jp


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There are seven districts of the town which carry their own highly decorated portable shrines (yatai 屋台) in the procession. The shrines are very heavy and are pulled and pushed on wheels. More than 3000 men take part in the various processions, and all children are proud when they are allowed to participate for the first time.
A famous group of lion dancers and drums accompany the procession.
The yatai come from 木場、松原、八家、妻鹿、宇佐崎、中村. The seventh village group does not participate, but carries the three large banners of the deities.
The yatai rub each other (neriawase 練り合わせ). When it gets dark, each yatai is decorated with lanterns.



三の丸・一の丸・二の丸 Boat three, one and two

The three portable shrines for the final fighting are much lighter and made for destruction. Every year before the festival it takes their bearers about one month to repair them, only to carry them out on the festival day to be destroyed again.
The three "boats" carry the three deities

Hondawake no mikoto 品陀和気命（ほんだわけのみこと）- Ojin Tenno (son of Jingu) in the center (later to be deified as Hachiman)

Okinagatarashi hime no mikoto
息長足姫命（おきながたらしひめのみこと）
- Emperess Jingu on the left

Hime Ookami 比咩大神（ひめおおかみ）- wife of Hachiman

The legend of the shrine tells about a fisherman from Mega, who found a plank on the shore with the inscription "Great Bosatsu Hachiman"
八幡大菩薩 and a shrine was erected to honor this plank, which was supposed to come from Usa Jingu. (See Jingu, link below.)

. . . . .


The origin of these fighting mikoshi, which are counted boats (maru) in this shrine, dates back to the Emperess Jingu Kogo 神功皇后 (Jinguu Koogoo), who was on a war expedition against Korea when she passed Himeji. The boats of her entourage were covered with oyster shells and she thought a quick way to remove them would be to bang and rub the boats against each other.
Today's "fight" is in memory of this legend.




On the evening before the main festival (yoi miya 宵宮, yoi no miya 宵の宮), all the portable shrines are paraded around town and to the main shrine. Before participating, the men have to take an ablution in the cold waters of the sea at Shirahama 白浜町.


On the second day of the festival (honmiya 本宮) the portable shrines first carried around to "wipe off the dew" (tsuyu harai 露払い), together with the lion dancers and drums.




Then they are carried up a steep slope in the west of the compount, to a "travel station" 御旅山 with the main Hachiman Shrine as an offering for the deities.
When coming back they have to pass the Sakura Gate of the Shrine, which is so low that part of the roof decoration has to be taken down before they can pass and get the blessing of the Shinto priest.

When they are back in the shrine compound, the real fight of the three boats begins, often lasting until late in the night, until all the boats are brought to fall on the ground. The men are quite exhausted from carrying the heave loads all day long, but they never give up.




The portable shrine bearers are called "neriko 練り子. They wear a special amulet in the color of their group around their arms 腕守り, given to them by mother or wife, for protection against injuries in the heavy battles. A nearby hospital is on stand-by just in case. There have been two cases of death by being crushed in recent years.





Many visitors are lined up in seats around the main "arena" in the temple ground and along the roads.


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. Emperess Jingu and the Hachiman Cult 　

. Jingu Kogo 神功皇后 and Japanese Dolls .


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HAIKU

灘けんか祭 Nada Kenka Matsuri



秋晴を来る総代の黒羽織
akibare no kuru soodai no kuro haori

in autumn sunshine
the representatives in their
formal black coats

Asazuma Chikara 朝妻力
source : 俳誌のsalon


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***** WKD : Autumn Festival (aki matsuri)


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Otsu Matsuri

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Otsu Festival (Ootsu matsuri)

***** Location: Otsu, Japan
***** Season: Autumn
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation



Ootsu Matsuri 大津祭 Otsu festival, Otsu Matsuri

Nishi no miya matsuri 四宮祭（しのみやまつり）
Festival of shrine Nishi no Miya


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quote
One of Shiga's major festivals featuring thirteen ornate floats displayed and paraded around central Otsu over two days before Sports Day, a national holiday around Oct.

The first day of the festival has the floats parked and displayed on the streets and lit up at night. The first day of the festival is called Yoimiya . 宵宮

During the first day, the karakuri mechanical puppets are removed from the floats and displayed on street level. The karakuri ningyo puppets are a major highlight of the floats and festival. The puppets perform on the floats during the procession.　karakuri ningyoo からくり人形

The Otsu Matsuri has thirteen floats called hikiyama. Each one belongs to a different neighborhood in central Otsu. Each float has a name and features ornate carvings, tapestries, paintings, and other art work. 曳山


In 1596, Shiouri Jihei (塩売 治兵衛) wore a tanuki mask and danced during a Tenson Shrine festival. People liked his dancing so much that they built a float two years later and Jihei danced on it.

Tapestry designated as an Important Cultural Property.
The Trojan War (from Greek mythology) is depicted.

The second day of the Otsu Matsuri Festival is called the Honmatsuri, featuring a procession of the thirteen floats as the festival climax. The highlight are the performances by the karakuri mechanical dolls on the floats.　本祭り

They also threw chimaki to the crowd. Chimaki are small bundles of straw wrapped with a thin hand towel. They were all blessed by Tenson Shrine. ちまき

With many splendid photos
source : photoguide.jp


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On each float, there are three types of musical instruments.
The gong is played by young schoolchildren, the big drum is hit by older schoolchildren and the flute is played by students and grown-ups.

The mechanical devices are moved by four young boys, who crawl inside the doll and move the spear or the water, for example.

To turn such a large float in the small streets of Otsu, the float is stopped and then the front part lifted to drag it around at an angle to reach the next small street.

The floats are constructed each year from the parts, it takes about one week to finish them, like a puzzle with wooden joints only.


shrine Nishinomiya 四宮神社 / Tenson 天孫（四宮）神社
shrine Tenson Jinja 天孫神社

. . . CLICK here for Photos !



Reference : Otsu Matsuri


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Otsu Hikaru-kun おおつ光ルくん

In memory of Hikaru Genji, the hero of the Tales of Genji.
He is even on pudding and other food items.


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Otsu Chimakichi ちま吉 for good luck
chimaki are a food item for good luck in the coming year, rice wrapped in gree leaves. In Otsu, even the tramway is green.


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. Otsu-E 大津絵 Illustrations from Otsu 　 　



. The Tale of Genji, Genji Monogatari ... and haiku 　

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Ootsu matsuri no dashi 大津祭りの山車 festival float



They are made from strong cardbord (ボール紙), like the float toys from Nagahama.
But they are not made any more.


. Shiga Prefecture Folk Art - 滋賀県 .

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HAIKU



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Related words

***** . Karakuri ningyoo からくり人形 mechanical dolls .


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