Saikusa Lily Festival

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Saikusa Lily Festival (Saikusa matsuri)

***** Location: Nara Japan
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Observance

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

Saikusa matsuri 三枝祭 (さいくさまつり) Saikusa lily Festival
Isagawa matsuri 率川祭（いさかわまつり）Isagawa Shrine festival
... mikusa matsuri みくさ祭（みくさまつり）Mikusa festival
yuri matsuri 百合祭（ゆりまつり） lily festival



Main festival at the shrine Isagawa jinja 率川神社, along the Isagawa river in Nara.
June 17

Isagawa shrine 率川神社（いさがわじんじゃ)
奈良市本子守町




saikusa is an old name for bamboo lilies.
They grow in abundance along the Isagawa river and on the sacred Mount Miwa.
Lilium japonicum, sasayuri ささゆり (笹百合)
nanaotome yuri 七媛女百合, nana otome yuri
nanaotome 七媛女(ななおとめ) Shrine maidens

During the festival black (nigori) and white sake (pure) (shiroki, kuroki) is poured into two barrels as an offering to the shrine deities. These barrels are decorated with many bamboo lilies from Mount Miwa.
This ritual dates back to the reign of Emperor Monmu Tenno　文武天皇 (701–703).

The lilies used for the offering are said to ward off disease. So after all rituals the visitors try to grab one branch to take home and stay healthy until next year.

The lilies are carried to the shrine on the day before the festival.
On the next day after the rituals, the shrine maidens (miko) dace with these branches in their hands.


umasake miwa no mai うま酒みわの舞 Miwa Sake Dance

On this day, many sake brewers from all over Japan come with offerings of their brew, and obtain a ritual cleansing ceremony.


shirokikuroki 白酒黒酒（しろきくろき） ritual sake
son 罇（そん）sake barrel
..... hotogi 缶（ほとぎ



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

quote
Saikusa matsuri
This ritual takes place on June 17 at the sessha of Ōmiya Jinja, Isakawa Jinja, in Nara City, Nara Prefecture.
The ceremony begins at around ten in the morning. Four miko (female shrine attendants) perform an offertory dance with torimono (props) made from saigusa no hana, a flower related to a lily that grows wild on Miwayama Mountain.
Because sake casks decorated with mounds of lilies are presented as offerings to the kami, this festival is also known as the yuri matsuri (Lily Festival).
The present ritual is a Meiji period reconstruction, but the origins of the ritual are ancient and there are references to it in both the Jingiryō and the Engishiki.
source : Mogi Sakae, Kokugakuin 2006


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


quote
Japan is a country of lilies.
Of the total 96 species all over the world, 15 species are indigenous to Japan. The Japanese have been fond of lilies and sometimes regarded them as sacred plants.
YURI, the Japanese word for depicting lily, comes from the old Japanese word YURU that means "swing".
It seems that ancient people named the plant after the sight of its flowers swinging in the wind. The Japanese often use YURI as a girl's name, and sometimes add SA to become SAYURI. This SA means "sacred" in old Japanese.
Lilies were sacred plants in ancient times.
There is a festival called SAIKUSA MATSURI (SAIKUSA = old name of SASAYURI, Lilium japonicum, MATSURI = festival) in Nara Prefecture. Here, four maidens have a dance performance for the gods holding the flowers of Lilium japonicum. This festival has continued since early 8th century.

With many names of the lily variations in Japan:
source : plantsandjapan


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Shrine Isagawa jinja 率川神社 Izakawa jinja, Isakawa jinja





food offering for the gods 特殊神饌（しんせん）shinsen :
餅、ワカメ、鯛、カマス、鮎、鰹、烏賊、アワビ、かや、大根、 枇杷、牛蒡、白蒸（ご飯）、勝栗
mochi, wakame, sea bream, kamasu barracuda, sweetfish, bonito, octopus, abalone, torreya nuts, radish, biwa loquats, burdock, cooked rice and auspirious dried chestnuts (kachiguri).

source :　lalalasayu.jugem.jp
with more photos of the festival


Maybe the oldest shrine in Nara, built by Emperor Suiko Tenno 推古天皇 in 593.
Oomiwa no kimi shiratsutsumi 大三輪君白堤 is a priest of the Omiwa clan.

Deities in residence
Himetatarai suzuhime no mikoto 媛蹈韛五十鈴姫命　(御子神) Empress
Sainoookami 狭井大神　（御父神）her father
Tamakushi hime no mikoto 玉櫛姫命　（御母神）her mother

This is one of the few shrines where the main deity is female. She was the consort of the first emperor, Jinmu Tenno 神武天皇】.
She is a child-protecting deity 子守明神.


Annual Festivals
January 1 歳旦祭併御神火拝戴祭
January 4 率川阿波神社初戎宵宮祭
January 5 率川阿波神社初戎祭
February 17 率川神社月次祭併祈年祭
September 17 率川神社月次祭併敬老祭
November 23 　率川神社新嘗祭





amulets to ward off evil influence and disease

Since the main deity is female, this shrine sells amulets for easy childbirth, bringing up children safely and a good family life.



ema with the lily dance

Homepage of the shrine 率川神社
source : www.isagawa-jinja.jp


. Amulets and Talismans from Japan .　


*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU




献灯の和紙に雨滲む百合祭
kentoo no washi ni ame shimu yuri matsuri

the paper of the lanterns
is dampend by the rain -
lily festival

Fujita Toshio 藤田壽穂


. Discussion of the translation .


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


玉虫の羽のみどりは推古より
tamamshi no hane no midori wa Suiko yori

the green
of the Jewel Beetle's wings
since the time of Suiko . . .
Tr. Gabi Greve

. Yamaguchi Seison 山口青邨 .


. tamamushi 玉虫 / 金花虫 (たまむし) jewel beetle
Its wings are used to produce colorful laquer items.
The famous Tamamushi Zushi tabernacle.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


百合祭寂ぶ奈良町の一遇に
河合佳代子


七媛女百合もて供奉をしたがへて
河合佳代子

source : www.haisi.com


*****************************
Related words

***** . Sake, local rice wine .

***** . Lilies and Kigo

***** . Mount Miwa　三輪山, a sacred region .


. OBSERVANCES – SUMMER SAIJIKI .


BACK : Top of this Saijiki

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Usaka Festival

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Usaka Festival (Usaka matsuri)

***** Location: Toyama
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Observance

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

Usaka matsuri 鵜坂祭 (うさかまつり)
Usaka Shrine festival
..... shimoto matsuri 楉祭（しもとまつり）
... 苔祭（しもとまつり）
shiridachi no matsuri 尻太刀祭（しりだちのまつり）
"festival of hitting the bottom"
..... shiriuchi matsuri, shiri uchi matsuri
尻打祭（しりうちまつり）
... shimotodachi 苔太刀（しもとだち）"sakaki stick"
Usaka no tsue 鵜坂の杖（うさかのつえ）Sakaki stick of Usaka


Main festival at the shrine Usaka jinja 鵜坂神社.
Toyama town, Fuchu Village, 富山市婦中町　鵜坂神社 .楉祭



On the 16th of the fifth lunar month.
Other sources say the 16th day of the sixth lunar month or even the 23th day of the seventh lunar month.
Now on June 16.

Women were brought to the shrine and had to confess the number of their extra-marital friends. For each one they got a hit on the bottom.
If they did not talk or said a lie, the deity would punish them terribly ... so they all confessed their sins.




source : bambino

The stick for hitting was made of the sacred sakaki tree (Cleyera ochnacea).
Some say the stick was made of a sakaki branch cut during the new year to cook the special rice porridge with seven herbs (nanakusagayu), so the women would give safe birth.
Even Matsuo Basho has written about this festival.

This festival was abolished during the Meiji period.
Later, during the Taisho period, a horse appeared and ran around the shrine three times. This was used to be hit with the sacred stick.

Nowadays, this custom has been completely abolished.



Here is my information about the "rice gruel stick"

."rice gruel stick" kayuzue 粥杖 (かゆづえ)


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


The main deities of the shrine are

鵜坂姉比咩神
鵜坂妻比咩神

淤母陀琉神 . 訶志古泥神
Omodaru and Kashikone



The sixth of the first seven generations of kami, produced immediately prior to Izanagi and Izanami. It is generally believed that the two kami actually represent a single being, Omodaru being the male half and Kashikone the female, but no other specific attributes are known.

According to Motoori Norinaga, the characters used to write Omodaru's name mean "face and leg, indicating a being without imperfection; whether in face or in the limbs, every part is furnished complete" (Kojikiden). Other theories suggest that the names mean the face of the earth or the land was perfect and complete, or that the names were mutually complementary epitaphs used by the pair of kami.

In the medieval period, shrines appeared in the Kantō area worshiping Omodaru no mikoto under the name Dairokuten ("the sixth deva"). This name was based on the association of Omodaru with the sixth deva within the Buddhist theory of the heaven of thirty-three gods
quote
source : Nakayama Kaoru


In Memory of Obiko no mikoto 大彦命, a general of the Hokuriku Army, visited the area during the reign of Emperor Sujin Tenno 崇神天皇 (148 BC), the shrine was build in 652 and venerated with envoys from Kyoto.
Soon there was also a temple of the same name 鵜坂寺.

The present building of the shrine is new, from 1873.


越中國婦負郡 鵜坂神社
source with photos : www.genbu.net


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

quote from
('Jingishi' in the 'Dainihonshi',
the Yoshikawa edition, p. 411. Yoshida-Toogo, 'Dainihon-Chimeijisho', Vol. II, p.1964).

In the olden time festival of the Tsukuma Shrine at Sakata-Gun in Oomi, 筑摩神社 近江 on the 1st day of the 4th month, every year, a woman was obliged to put on her head saucepans equal to the number of lovers she had favored in the course of the preceding year ('Shintoo-Myoomoku-Ruijushoo', Vol. V, p.8). It can easily be seen that the significance of this festival is the prevention of women's unchastity.
[end of excerpt]
source : books.google.co.jp ...


. Discussing the Festival, Larry Bole


. Tsukuma Festival 筑摩祭 (つくままつり)


*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


. Dairokuten Ma-O
第六天魔王 （だいろくてん まおう)
Big Number Six Heavenly Deity
Omodaru no Mikami 於母陀流神 and
Ayakashikone no kami 阿夜訶志古泥神.



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Daruma at the Town Hall in Usaka
鵜坂公民館


source :　toyama kodomo gekiyo


*****************************
HAIKU



ゆだんしていくなうさかの尻打ち祭り　　
油断していくな鵜坂の尻打祭　
yudan shite iku na Usaka no shiriuchi matsuri　　

do not be off guard
at the bottom-hitting festival
at Usaka shrine
Tr. Gabi Greve


pay attention
at the bottom-beating festival
at Usaka shrine
paraverse by Larry Bole


. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .
Visiting Shinto Shrines


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


あなこわや鵜坂祭りの音にむち　　　
ana kowa ya Usaka matsuri no oto ni muchi　　

Takarai Kikaku 宝井其角


. . . . .


いかにせん鵜坂の森に身はすとも　
君が笞(しもと)の数ならぬ身を

Minamoto no Toshiyori 源俊頼


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


*****************************
Related words

***** . WKD : Main Index 　


BACK : Top of this Saijiki

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tsuburosashi Sado

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
. Sadogashima 佐渡島 Sado Island - Introduction .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tsuburo fertility dance (tsuburosashi)

***** Location: Sado Island, Japan
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Observance

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

tsuburosashi つぶろさし Tsuburo fertility dance
June 15

Performance of a special fertility dance at the shrines Sugawara, Hamochimachi and Kusakari in the south of Sado Island, Niigata.

菅原神社 新潟県羽茂町
太神楽つぶろさし
鬼舞つぶろさし




There are two performers, a man, Tsuburosashi, and a woman, Sasarasuri ささらすり.
Tsuburosashi holds a stick formed like a phallus and jumps around rubbing and waving it. Sasarasuri holds a stick made of bamoo.

They both hop around and rub these sticks.

The group of performer carry a special drum decorated with ancient zeni coins,
Zenidaiko 銭太鼓.

The penis is called tsuburo, also a name for the bottle gourd.
sashi refers to it rubbing in a ritual prayer for fertility for the fields and the families.

The dance dates back to the 16th century. Legend knows, that a messenger of the village was send to Kyoto to learn about the tea ceremony. He saw a similar dance durng the Gion festival in Kyoto and introduced it to his home village, when he came back. Later it was picked up at the local Shinto shrines during the annual festival, to pray for thousands of rice grains coming from one seed.

.

Since tsuburo is such a colorful local word, it mighe even be translated with a more "down to earth" word in other languages, like

big dick dance festival

Here is a long list for synonymes

beaver basher
baby-maker
bell on a pole
beef whistle
boomstick
burrito
bishop
bratwurst
braciole

and so on until Z

source : namingschemes.com/Penis


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


At shrine Kusakari jinja 草刈神社


source :　dojoccosado



*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU





つぶろさし花見婆さまのけぞつて
tsuburosashi hanami basama nokezotte

tsuburo fertility dance -
a woman dressed for cherry blossom viewing
bends far backward


Kishida Chigyo 岸田稚魚 (1918 - 1988)
大正7年）1月19日 - 1988年（昭和63年）11月24日


*****************************
Related words

***** . Penis Festivals for a bountiful harvest 　

***** . ondeko 鬼太鼓 (おんでこ) Demon's Drums


BACK : Top of this Saijiki

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Sato Koroku

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Sato Koroku Day (Kooroku Ki)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Observance

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

Satoo Kooroku 佐藤紅緑
1874年（明治7年）7月6日 - 1949年（昭和24年）6月3日）


Kooroku Memorial Day, Kooroku Ki 紅緑忌 (こうろくき)
June 3. He was 75 years old.



He was born in Hirosaki, Aomori prefecture and later worked for the Nihon Shinbun newspaper in Tokyo. Here he met Masaoka Shiki for the first time and became his haiku student.
In 1895 he returned to Hirosaki because of illness and worked for a newspaper there.
He also translated works from Dumas and Victor Hugo.

In 1905 he stopped working for the newspaper and founded a haiku group.
In 1922 he married the actress Mikasa Mariko 三笠万里子.
In 1923 he travelled to Europe to study more about cinema.

He wrote a lot of popular literature. Many of his novels for young boys were published in the famous magazine
"Young Boys Club" Shoonen Kurabu 少年倶楽部.



His Manuscript, the red marks are from Kyoshi.

©　Aomori Museum ... look at more pages.



His Grave

"A poet should write about ideal situations.
If you just state the daily complaints of your wife,
that does not make you a good novelist!"


©　PB5H-OOTK



- Reference : 佐藤紅緑


*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU


賭け事にかけし羊生紅緑忌
kakegoto ni kakeshi hitsushi nushi Kooroku Ki

this sheperd
started gambling ...
Kooroku Memorial Day

©　hokubei shinbun Senryu collection

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

戦中も少年に夢あり紅緑忌　
senchuu mo shoonen ni yume ari Kooroku Ki

even during the war
young boys have dreams -
Kooroku Memorial day

Kotani Shun 小谷俊

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

All Tr. Gabi Greve

*****************************
Related words

***** Introducing Japanese Haiku Poets　


***** Memorial Days of Famous People
....... A WORLDWIDE SAIJIKI




[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Radio Day

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Radio Day (denpa no hi)

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

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

denpa no hi 電波の日 (でんぱのひ) "radio day"
denpa kinenbi 電波記念日（でんぱきねんび） radio memorial day

Electro-magnetic Waves Day

June 1
This is a constitutional holiday, introduced in 1950, marking the enactment of Japan's radio law and broadcast act.





There is a theory, that because of a similarity in pronounciation
6 can be read MU and 1 can be read SEN, the word

musen "ムセン"(無線) wireless

used for wireless radio transmission, the first day of the sixth month was choosen as this day.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Each year on 18 April, radio amateurs celebrate
World Amateur Radio Day.


*****************************
Worldwide use



*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU


風生先生矍鑠として電波の日
Fuusei sensei kakushaku to shite denpa no hi

Master Fusei
is still so vigorous . . .
Radio Day


Kishi Fusanro (Fuusanroo) 岸風三樓 (1910 - 1982)
(He was born in Okayama)


Kishi was a student of haiku master Fusei sensei.

. Tomiyasu Fusei (Tomiyasu Fuusei )富安 風生　
1885 - 1979　


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


radio--
they walk side by side
sharing earphones

radio--
a man dances slowly
crossing the road

radio-
men sit a round to listen
to the arsenal match

radio--
she leaves me speaking
to myself

radio--
they shout to the changing
regea music

radio--
they shout energetic
to the unseen goal

radio--
he's twisting his small head
all the time

passengers enjoy
their morning ride -
radio music

radio--
cool passengers in a bus
burst in laughter

radio--
an old man is bargaining
for a modern system

Barrack Elung'ata
Kenya, Feburary 2011


*****************************
Related words

***** WKD Reference

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Kifune Shrine Festivals

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Kifune Shrine and its festivals

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

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

Kifune matsuri 貴船祭 (きふねまつり) Kifune festival
... Kifune shinji 貴船神事（きふねしんじ）Kifune Shinto ritual
gokoosai 御更祭（ごこうさい）"changing the robes of the deity"
itadori matsuri 虎杖祭（いたどりまつり "knotweed festival"
kigo for mid-summer

Kifune, sometimes read Kibune (きぶね).

June 1
The most important yearly festival at Kifune Shrine 貴船神社 in the Kurama mountain region.
Its official name is gokoosai 御更祭.
It used to be held twice a year, on the first day of the fourth and eleventh lunar month.
Kibune shrine belongs to the Kamo Shrines of Kyoto (sessha 摂社）.

In the forests around the shrine there grow a lot of itadori, Japanese knotweed.
People pick this plant and compare its length.


. WKD : itadori いたどり Japanese knotweed
Polygonum cuspidatum, looks like a kind of rhubarb.


quote
Kibune matsuri
Formerly this festival was held on the first day of the fourth and eleventh months at Kibune Jinja in Sakyō Ward, Kyōto City, Kyōto Prefecture.
Prior to the Meiji Period, when this shrine had an auxiliary shrine relationship to Kamowakeikazuchi Jinja (also known as Kamikamo Jinja, Upper Kamo Shrine), the festival was observed on a grand scale. In the past, on the day before the festival there used to be a kitchen knife ceremony, and shinsen (sacred offerings) were placed in a chest (karabitsu).
Then, together with birds (kakedori), people presented these to the kami on the day of the ceremony.
After the ritual offering (hōbei) of nusa (sacred paper strips/streamers) and the intoning of norito (prayers) by the shinshoku (priests) they visited the branch and hilltop shrines and performed hōbei, then returned wearing flowers taken from the mountain peak in their hair.

At the midpoint in route between the Kibune and Upper Kamo Shrines a designated person chanted a secret song to which the other priests responded in a repetitive manner. Formerly, during the fourth month festival worshippers used to collect the Japanese knotweed that grew profusely on the mountain near the shrine in a competition for size and amount, thus leading to the popular name itadori matsuri ("Knotweed Festival"). Vestiges of this ancient festival remain in the annual shin'yo (portable shrine) processional held on June 1, and in the festivals for the changing of the kami's robes (gokōisai) held on April 1 and November 1.
source : Mogi Sakae, Kokugakuin Uni


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Kibune Shrine (貴船神社, Kibune Jinja),
also known as Kifune Jinja, is a Shinto shrine located at Sakyō-ku in Kyoto, Japan.
It was founded more than 1600 years ago.
Legend tells us that the goddess Tamayori-hime appeared on a yellow boat in Osaka Bay and said, "Build a sanctuary at the place where this boat stops and deify the spirit of the locality, and the country will prosper." The boat floated up the rivers of Yodogawa to the river Kamogawa, stopping at the beginning of the stream.
The deities enshrined here are Takaokami-no-Kami and Kuraokami-no-Kami. They are the gods of water, and people pray to them for rain during times of drought, and to stop the rain during floods.
One emperor offered a black horse in a drought, and a white horse during a prolonged spell of rain. This is why people now offer up votive plates with the image of a horse.
The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period.In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial messengers were sent to report important events to the guardian kami of Japan. These heihaku were initially presented to 16 shrines including the Kibune Shrine.

From 1871 through 1946, the Kibune Shrine was officially designated one of the Kanpei-chūsha (官幣中社), meaning that it stood in the second rank of government supported shrines.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

京都市左京区鞍馬貴船町180


. Kuraokami, Takaokami 高おかみ神 , Kuramitsuha .
Deity of Rain



Amulets from Kibune Jinja


chinowa omamori ちのわ守り for summer purification





龍神札 Dragon God amulet

. The Dragon Art Gallery - 2012 .



御神水せっけん soap from sacred water
清砂 purifying sand
kajitori 梶取守



何事もうまくいく絵馬 - may everything go well - amulet

all kinds of ema votive tablets and more
source : www.kibune.or.jp/jinja/omamori


tsuri yuki anzen 釣行安全　safety when fishing
ruaa mamori ルアー守 luer amulet
. Amulet for fishing from Kibune Shrine .

. Summer Purification (nagoshi, harae) .



むすび守袋型 Musubi bag form
むすび守文型 Musubi letter form

. Enmusubi 縁結び to find a good partner .




貴船神社船土鈴
clay bell of the yellow boat of Tamayori-Hime
A play of words with the name of the shrine, 黄船 "yellow boat".

. Kyoto no dorei 京都の土鈴 clay bells from Kyoto .

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


Suzuka Valley and Waterfall, 鈴鹿谷
The Main Shrine, 貴船神社本宮
The Rock Garden, 石庭

Page with many thumbnails of the places within the precincts.
http://www.kibune.or.jp/meisho/

. . .

Kibune Jinja / Kifune Homepage
http://www.kibune.or.jp/jinja/

Festivals
http://www.kibune.or.jp/jinja/event/
http://www.kibune.or.jp/jinja/kibune/saijiki.html

. . . . . every month:
tsukinamisai 月次祭 monthly festival
hatsu tatsusai 初辰祭 festival on the first day of the dragon
masshasai 末社祭 festival of the subordinate shrine

. . . . . Saijiki Events:
hatsu tatsu taisai 初辰大祭
. Grand Festival on the first day of the dragon in January
tondo とんど Tondo fire, January 15
amagoi matsuri 雨乞祭 Rain Ritual, March 9
Kifune matsuri 貴船祭 Grand Festival, June 1
Minazuki no oharae 水無月大祓
. Great Purification ritual in June, June 30
Kifune no mizu matsuri 貴船の水まつり
. Water Festival, July 7
Kikka shinji 菊花神事
. Chrysanthemum ritual, Spetember 9
Meiji sai 明治祭 Meiji festival, November 3
Kifune momiji matsuri 貴船もみじ祭
. celebrating red leaves, November 7

. . . . .


quote
In Kyoto, Kibune Shrine deifies Takaokami-no-kami, who is worshiped as a rain god. It is described in the Shoku-nihongi, the Nihon-koki, the Shoku-nihon-koki , the Montoku-tenno Jitsuroku, and the Sandai Jitsuroku that from 765, the seventh year of Tempyohoji, people prayed almost every year to Niu-Kawakami and Kibune for rain. They are said to have offered a black horse when they wanted the rains to start and a white horse when they wanted the rains to end because it was believed that the spirit of the gods descend to earth on a horse. Black is the color for casting a rain spell as it symbolizes dark clouds bringing rain. In contrast, white is the symbol of the bright sun.
These prayers were held as national events.
Sacred Water in Japan
Iwai Hiromi




The Sacred Water 御神水 goshinsui
Even Murasaki Shikibu was aware of the powers of the water at Kibune Shrine. She came here to pray for the love of her husband, and her prayer was granted. Now the shrine is also worshipped by lovers, praying to the "god of good marriage". Workers also pray for a good relationship with their employers.

Even special soap is sold at the shrine.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Oku no Miya 奥の宮

In the compounds, at the back of Kibune shrine, there is one of the three sacred

ryuuketsu 龍穴 dragon holes

This dragon hole inhabited by a white dragon, who brings prosperity to those who worship him.
It is a great "power spot" of Japan.

Once a carpenter lost his chisle, as it fell into the hole.
But to his surprize, a strong wind blew out of the whole and his chisle fell back on the ground in front of his feet.



Shrine Muro Ryuketsu Jinja 室生竜穴神社
Nara
. The Dragon Art Gallery – 2012 .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Water festivel in Kifune
（貴船の水まつり） Kifune no mizu matsuri

at Kifune Shrine, July 7



quote
The origin of this festival is rain-making rituals.
Now is more like for showing our gratitude to water.

The festival consists of offering tea ceremony, dancing and cooking ceremony in front of the Gods. Tea cremony, of course, cannot be done without water, so it's the symbolic ceremony of this festival. And the cooking ceremony is offered by the special cooking school called Ikuma school.

Ancestors of the Ikuma school used to be cookers for the Imperial family. It is said that the current master is 29th-generation of the family.

At the ceremony, he cooks a fish in front of the god without touching it by his hands at all. (The fish is altarage for Gods, so it shouldn't be touched by men.)
source : see-u-in-kyoto.blogspot.com


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Amagoi Matsuri 雨乞祭 Rain Ritual
March 9
Horses offered to the gods in rain rituals.
水の祀



*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way



quote
Kifune Festival held in Manazuru-cho,
真鶴　貴船まつり
Ashigara-shimo-gun, Kanagawa pref. is counted as one of Japan’s three largest marine festivals and a designated National Significant Intangible Folk Cultural Asset. The origin of the festival is dated back to the middle of the 17th century, when people began to put Mikoshi (portable shrine) on a ship to pray for purification of fishing boats and stone carrying boats in the harbor and then carried it around the village.

This old, traditional and pious festival is held on July 27th to 28th, filling the whole town of Manazuru with air of excitement. As the festival is composed of a lot of exciting spectacles such as the colorfully carved Kobaya-bune boat, Manazuru-bayashi (traditional band playing music) lively cheering up the town, reverent Kashima-odori dance, and flower floats and Kaidenma (the towing boat) for which masculine strength is fully expressed, a lot of tourists from all over the country visit the town of Manazuru.
On these two days, the citizens of Manazuru all pull together to make this festival a great success.
source : nippon-kichi.jp



*****************************
HAIKU



新緑や人の少なき貴船村　
shinryoku ya hito no sukunaki Kifune mura

fresh green -
there are few people
in Kifune village

Hatano Soha (Sooha) 波多野爽波 (1923-1991)
source :　weekly-haiku.blogspot.com


*****************************
Related words

***** . 貴船神社 Kibune Shrine, Buzen Kagura
Iwado Kagura of Buzen, 岩戸神楽 in Kyushu
Autumn, O-Bon

***** . Kibunegiku 貴船菊 (きぶねぎく) wild aster from Kibune
shuumeigiku 秋明菊（しゅうめいぎく） "bright autumn chrysanthemum"
Anemone japonica
kigo for mid-autumn

***** . kawadoko ryoori 川床料理
food served on a riverbed veranda 　
In Kyoto, near shrine Kibune Jinja 貴船神社 served in the forest restaurants along the clean river.
kawayuka 川床（かわゆか）riverbed veranda



BACK : Top of this Saijiki

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tsuruoka Tenmangu Yamagata

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tsuruoka Tenmangu Festival
(Tsuruoka Tenmangu Sai)

***** Location: Tsuruoka, Yamagata
***** Season: Early Summer
***** Category: Observance

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

bakemono matsuri 化物祭 (ばけものまつり)
monster festival

Tsuruoka Tenmangu Sai
鶴岡天満宮祭（つるおかてんまんぐうさい）
Tsuruoka Tenmangu Festival

May 25

At the Tenmangu Shrine in Tsuruoka town, Yamagata.
鶴岡市神明町



Men and women dress up in fancy costumes and parade in the town.
Dressed with faces covered and a large straw hat, they speak no word and pour sake ricewine or soft drinks for the onlookers.
Is someone can take part in this parade without being recognized by anyone, his/her wish will be granted.

In former times, these "monsters" used to enter the homes of parishioners and invite all to drink with them.

This festival reminds of the time when Sugawara Michizane was taken to exile.
People in Kyoto did not dare to show compassion for him, so they did not speak and dressed up and covered their faces when he was paraded through the town, to show their sympathy for him.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Sugawara Michizane　菅原道真 .
Tenman-Gu in Dazaifu 大宰府の天満宮


The shrine in Yamagata was founded in 1603 by Lord Mogami Yoshiaki 最上義光, near the West Gate of his castle, to protect it from evil influence.
It is dedicated to Michizane, Deity of Learning, but also to pray for a good harvest, protection from fire and disaster and lead a happy life.
Sailors pray for a safe trip 渡海無事.
Prayers for rain (amagoi 雨乞い) were also held here many times in the past

. . . . .




例祭 5月25日
祈年祭 4月15日 Kinen sai, toshigoi no matsuri
新嘗祭 11月25日 Niiname sai

恒例祭 kooreisai

　初天神 1月25日 First Tenjin Ceremony
　天神講感謝祈願祭 8月25日
Tengu dance and lion dance are offered.

. Japanese HP of the shrine

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


quote
Tsuruoka Town (鶴岡市, Tsuruoka-shi) is a city located in the Shonai region of Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.
The city is located on the coast of Yamagata Prefecture bordering the Sea of Japan and has some locally popular beaches such as Yunohama and Sanze.

Tsuruoka is known within Japan for "dadacha-mame" (だだちゃ豆), a brand of soybeans, which have been called "the king of edamame"; they are also used for other products such as nattō and in manjū.
There are two theories as to the origin of the name: one is that it derives from dadacha, the Shonai dialectical word for "father" – gagacha is the dialectical word for "mother", while the other is that the beans came from Date, Fukushima, and were originally called Date-no-chamame, which became Date-chamame and then Dadacha-mame.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


. WASHOKU : Dadacha Beans


*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way

鶴岡天神祭 Tsuruoka Tenjin Festival
Tsuruoka Tenjin Ema Parade 大絵馬パレード




source :　Enjoy Shonai


. Ema 絵馬　Votive Plaques, Votive Tablets .


*****************************
HAIKU



*****************************
Related words

***** . Ghosts (yookai, yuurei, bakemono) 　


BACK : Top of this Saijiki

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Mifune Festival

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Mifune festival (Mifune matsuri)

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

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

Mifune matsuri 三船祭 (みふねまつり) Mifune festival
lit. "three boats festival"
... shuuyuusai 舟遊祭（しゅうゆうさい）boat ride festival
funaasobi matsuri

ooginagashi 扇流し（おうぎながし）floating handfans
Nishi matsuri 西祭（にしまつり） "Festival on the West" (of Kyoto)

Third sunday in May.
(It used to be the 18th of May).
At the shrine Kurumazaki jinja 車折神社,
along the river Oigawa 大堰川（おおいがわ).



The deity of the shrine is known to grant good luck in business, so many people come here to pray. There is even a "shrine of the arts" in the compound
"Geinoo jinja" 芸能神社
. . . CLICK here for Photos of the shrine !

On the festival day, the deity is put on a boat and entertained with song and dance during a river tour with three festive boats with dragon heads 竜舟鷁首 (りゅうとうげきしゅ).


Other accompanying boats hoast exhibitions of art, haiku meetings, poetry meetings, song and dance performances and more.



The floating of handfans at the Rankyo gorge 嵐峡 is especially graceful.

This festival has a different flavor from those in Southern Kyoto, hence the name "Festival in the West".

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


quote
Mifune Matsuri
The scene of an ancient boat party on a river is reproduced by some 20 boats in the town of Kyoto, City:Asahi-cho, Saga, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City

The scene of a boat party on a river from 1,000 years ago is reproduced by some 20 boats on the Oigawa River flowing through Arashiyama in Kyoto. Every year, 100,000 tourists come to view this graceful spectacle. This is an event organized by the Kurumazaki Shrine standing close to the river, and originates in a ceremony that was held upon receiving the Emperor on his visit to this land.

After a ritual held at the shrine at noon, people dressed in ancient costumes proceed along the beautiful Togetsukyo Bridge and board the boats. Their costumes are very colorful, and you will also see cute little children who are dressed in kimono, too. Also interesting are the boats which have dragon heads or birds' heads designed on the prow.
Each boat has its assigned role, for example, there is a boat carrying musicians who play music, while dance performances are given on another boat, or poetry is recited on a different boat. Sensu fans of all colors are floated on the water surface by ladies dressed in 12 layers of kimono known as juni-hitoe, producing a most exquisite and graceful spectacle.

Kurumazaki Shrine is also well-known for its patron deity of the performing arts. It is therefore visited by many famous stars who come here to offer prayers so that they can give better stage performances or rise in popularity. If you wish to sing or dance better, it might be a good idea to pay a visit to this shrine.
source : www.jnto.go.jp



*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU



水棹突く白丁老いけり三船祭
misao tsuku shirahari oikeri Mifune sai

the old boatsman
pushes with the long rod -
Mifune festival

. WKD Awano Seiho 阿波野青畝

source : haiku/seiho


*****************************
Related words

***** ***** . Fan (oogi 扇　- uchiwa　団扇） .


***** . Fans from Marugame .


BACK : Top of this Saijiki

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Aoi Festival

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Aoi festival (Aoi matsuri)

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

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



Aoi matsuri 葵祭 あおいまつり Aoi festival
matsuri （まつり）"the festival"
kita no matsuri 北祭（きたのまつり）"festival in the North" (of Kyoto)

Kamo no aoi 賀茂葵（かものあおい）"hollyhock from Kamo"
Kamo no matsuri 賀茂祭（かものまつり）Kamo festival

kake aoi 懸葵（かけあおい）"sticking hollyhock"
in the hair

aoi kazura 葵鬘（あおいかずら）"hollyhock wig"
..... moro kazura、諸鬘（もろかずら）
hair decoration with hollycock



moroha aoi 双葉葵（もろはあおい）hollyhock with two leaves
..... kazashigusa かざしぐさ
..... morohagusa もろはぐさ

Annual grand festival
May 15 at shrine 賀茂別雷神社, Kamo-wakeikazuchi jinja, in the compound of shrine Kamo jinja 賀茂神社.

In former times it was held according to the lunar calendar, on the first day of the cock in the fourth lunar month.

The name "Festival in the North" contrasts with the other big festival in Kyoto, in the south, at shrine Iwashimizu Hachimangu.

The homes on the way of the procession decorate their fences, robes and hari with hollyhock branches.



Biologically, Kamo Aoi is slightly purple, Aristolochia gigantea, and has been used in the family crest of many famous samurai, including the Tokugawa clan.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

quote
The Aoi Matsuri or "Hollyhock Festival," is one of the three main annual festivals held in Kyoto, Japan. It is a festival of the two Kamo shrines in the north of the city, Shimogamo Shrine and Kamigamo Shrine. The festival may also be referred to as the Kamo Festival.

History
According to the ancient historical record known as the Nihon Shoki, the festival originated during the reign of Emperor Kinmei (r. A.D. 539, 12th month, 5th day - 571, 4th month, 15th day). The ancient records known as the Honchō getsurei (本朝月令) and Nenchūgyōji hissho (年中行事秘抄) reveal that a succession of disastrous rain and wind had ruined the grain crops, and epidemics had spread through the country. Because diviners placed the cause as owing to the divine punishment of the Kamo deities, the emperor sent his messenger with a retinue to the shrine to conduct various acts to appease the deities, in prayer for a bountiful harvest. These included riding a galloping horse.

This became an annual ritual, and the galloping horse performance developed into an equestrian archery performance. According to the historical record known as the Zoku Nihongi (続日本記）, so many people had come to view this equestrian performance on the festival day in the 2nd year of the reign of Emperor Mommu (r. 697-707) that the event was banned.

In the ninth century, Emperor Kanmu established the seat of the imperial throne in Kyoto. This represented the beginning of the Heian Period in Japanese history. Emperor Kanmu recognized the deities of the Kamo shrines as protectors of the Heian capital, and established the Aoi Matsuri as an annual imperial event.

The festival saw its peak of grandeur in the middle of the Heian Period, but this waned in the Kamakura Period and the following Muromachi Period, and as the nation entered the Sengoku Period, the festival procession was discontinued. In the Genroku era (1688–1704) of the Edo Period, it was revived, but in the 2nd year of the Meiji Period (1869), when the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, observance of the festival procession stopped. In Meiji 17 (1885), it was again revived as part of a government plan to enliven Kyoto. All but the rituals at the shrine fronts were discontinued from 1944, due to World War II. At last, the festival procession started to be held again from 1953. The Saiō-Dai 斎王代 festival princess tradition was initiated in 1956.

The festival has been called Aoi festival for the hollyhock leaves used as decoration throughout the celebration. These leaves were once believed to protect against natural disasters.

Festival events
There are two parts to Aoi Matsuri: the procession and the shrine rites.
The procession is the lead by the Imperial Messenger. Following the imperial messenger are: two oxcarts, four cows, thirty-six horses, and six hundred people. The procession starts at 10:30 of May 15 and leaves the Kyoto Imperial Palace and slowly works its way towards the Shimogamo shrine and finally the Kamigamo shrine .
...

There are two main figures of Aoi Matsuri: the Saiō-Dai and the Imperial Messenger. The Saiō-Dai is a woman who is chosen from the sisters and daughters of the emperor to dedicate herself to the Shimogamo shrine. The role of Saiō-Dai was to maintain ritual purity and to represent the Emperor at the festival. Now, the role of the Saiō-Dai is played by an unmarried woman in Kyoto.
...
Also featured at the Kamo no matsuri are horse races (kurabe-uma) and demonstrations of mounted archery (yabusame).
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU


草の雨祭の車過ぎてのち
kusa no ame matsuri no kuruma sugite nochi

rain on the leaves
after the floats of the festival
have passed
Tr. Gabi Greve

. Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 in Edo . 1764


rainfall on the grasses
just after the festival cart
passed by
Tr. Sawa and Shiffert


After the festival car
Has passed by
The rain on the grasses.
Tr. Blyth

Blyth comments:
Today is the day of the festival and though it is raining, the festival car is decorated as usual, and passes by the poet as he stands on the roadside. After it has creaked past, only the pattering of the rain is heard, the grasses on the road side flinch or bow or stand immovable according to their nature. Rain-drops stand motionless on the flowers or hesitate and run along the stems and leaves. It requires a whole village with its remote antiquity, the festival and the car to pass ponderously by, before the rain on the grasses can be properly appreciated.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


地に落ちし葵踏み行く祭かな
ji ni ochishi aoi fumiyuku matsuri kana

they step on the leaves
fallen on the ground -
festival parade

. - Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規 - .


*****************************
Related words

***** . Kamo Shrine Festivals
including umakurabe and yabusame 　

***** . Mikage matsuri at Aoi Festival

***** . nansai 南祭（なんさい）South-Festival
at Iwashimizu Hachimangu, Kyoto


***** . hollyhock 葵 (あおい) aoi
garden hollyhock, garden mallow, great mallow, holy mallow



BACK : Top of this Saijiki

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::