In the past blogs, I have investigated the background of events and sometimes introduced people along the flow of history, but this time I changed my mind to " Heian period annual event ] Is the theme.
Even if I knew the name of the event when I was researching something, " when and for what purpose If you don't understand, you may not be able to proceed, so I will introduce it, though it is only a reminder.
The beginning of an annual event
[ Engi-shiki * that started in the early Heian period ], An annual event is extracted from [ Annual event ] Is called. In addition to Miyanaka's events, this book describes private customs as well as [ annual events . ] Speaking of, it represents seasonal activities where there is no distinction between Miyanaka and the private sector. * Engi-shiki is a book that summarizes the rituals in the palace during the era of the Ritsuryo system.
In the Middle Ages, not only annual events and their customs, but also seasonal features were included, following Chinese books [ Saijiki . ] Will be called. Especially in the world of Renga, Saijiki was emphasized, and with the popularity of Haiku Renga in the Edo period, Saijiki was born.
And since these have been widely accepted by the private sector, the annual event is not only about the seasonal feeling of Japan, but also about the aesthetic sense and life feelings.
The essence of traditional annual events can only be understood by knowing not only the content of the event but also the changes in activities due to the background of the times.
List of annual events during the Heian period
| month | Event name | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | Asaga | An event in which the emperor goes to Daigokuden on New Year's Day. |
| Former day party (Ganjitsu Sechie) | New Year's Day banquet. For example ... Seven days of the week:The one that the Ministry of the Center ordered and dedicated to the Onmyodo dormitory. A kind of ephemeris that has nothing to do with the current day of the week Ice-sama:Hidden ・ The ritual of fortune-telling the good and bad of the year from the state of the ice house and the ice pond of the previous year was performed by the Imperial Household Ministry Haraka-no-Sou:A ritual performed by the Uchizen messenger [=the emperor's meal-controlling office], who presented the Haraka-so [=trout] to the imperial court from Dazaifu. There are etc. | |
| Hakuba Bushikai (Aouma Chie) | Aomabiki event on the 7th. Originally a bluish black horse in a Chinese ritual, it has become Japanese with the times. I came to use Hakuba. Originally, it comes from the fact that when you see a blue horse at the beginning of spring, you pay the evil spirit of the year. | |
| Yukiyuki Asahi (Chokin no Gyokou) | The emperor goes to the emperor's and mother's palace and gives a greeting for the beginning of the year. This is also a ritual derived from Tang. | |
| Ninomiya Daijo (Niguu no Daikyo) | A group of vassals worship at Chugū and Higashimiya and receive a feast. | |
| Minister Daijo (Minister) | At the banquet at the private residence of the Minister of Customs, the red ware platform transmitted from Fuyutsugu Fujiwara is used. | |
| Position | A ceremony to confer a rank on the vassals of the fifth or higher ranks below the minister. | |
| Seven herbs | Private Wakana picking event becomes a court affair. | |
| Gosaikai (Gosai) | The emperor went to Daigokuden (later Seiryoden) and gathered high priests to give a lecture on the Golden Light Sutra (Chinese translation of the scripture from India). | |
| U-cane (Uzue) | An event to donate a cane to the emperor, Tomiya, to dispel evil spirits. Derived from a Chinese story. | |
| Firewood (Mikamagi) | A ceremony in which the Hyakkan-na donates firewood to the palace as fuel on the 15th. | |
| Fifteenth day porridge (Mochigayu) | (with Patjuk) Make porridge with red beans and give it to the emperor. It is said to exterminate evil all year round. | |
| Tag Festival (Toka no Sechie) | After watching the emperor singing and dancing the New Year's congratulatory songs (introduced from the continent in a group dance that sings and dances while stepping on his feet), he invited the fifth and higher ranks to a feast. It seems to have been combined with the ancient Japanese Utagaki (events for eating and drinking Kabuki, pre-celebration of a good harvest, and marriage proposal). | |
| Shooting (Jarai) | An event in which an archer from Rokueifu tried a bow technique in front of the Kenrei Gate in the presence of the emperor. The award was given to the excellent person. | |
| Bet bow (Noriyumi) | In the archery competition the day after the ritual, the losing side treated the winning side. | |
| February | Prayer Festival (Toshigoi Festival) | A ceremony to pray to God for a good harvest of the year. Performed by a deity officer. |
| Column view (Reken) | An annual event in which the Daijo-kan censors those who should be ranked after examining the merits and demerits of the 6th and lower officials selected by the Ministry of Shikibu and the Ministry of War. | |
| Hatsuuma (Hatsuuma) | Inari Shrine festival held on the first day of February. It is said that the god of worship descended on Mt. Inari on February 11, 711. | |
| Kasugasai | Fujiwara's deity festival. The day before, a messenger (Kasuga messenger) was set up to dispatch Shinme from the imperial court. | |
| March | Kamimi no Harae (Joshi no Harae) | On the first day of March, an event to entrust a doll with sin and flush it into the water It is said to be the origin of the current Hinamatsuri. |
| Winding Stream Party (Very good) | An event in which a cup is floated on the water and the flowing cup is made and read by the time it passes in front of you. | |
| Hinamatsuri | March's Harae and Katashiro's doll are combined | |
| April | Season (Shun) | Originally held every month, but after the middle of the Heian period, it will be held only in April and October. It was a so-called seasonal feast, and the emperor gave a drink to his vassals and held a feast after hearing the political affairs. |
| Buddha's Birthday (Kanbutsue) | A Buddhist event celebrating the birth of Buddha, where the Buddha statue is bathed. | |
| Kamo Festival | Kamo Shrine festival held on Rooster Day in April. Today, it remains as Aoi Matsuri. | |
| May | Danobushikai | The festival held at the end of May 5th. Originally, the Chinese custom of paying off evil spirits changed based on the idea that May is a bad month, and it has become an annual event in Japan. |
| June | A set of fire extinguishing (Imibi no Gozen) | An event to present rice cooked with a new fire to God. |
| Monthly God Now Food Festival (Tsukinami Jinkonjikisai) | We pray for the security of the nation and the longevity of the emperor at the ceremony held by the deities on June and November 11. | |
| Gion Matsuri (Gione) | A summer festival held around June 15th to disperse the plague. It still exists as Gion Matsuri. | |
| June Harae | Harae performed to remove sin and filth. | |
| July | Tanabata Takumi (Tanabata Kikkoten) | The legend of the Han dynasty Zhinü and Kengyu and the Tang dynasty's wishes were fused. A prayer was put in to improve the weaving and sewing of the weaving woman. Sumo and banquets are held during the Heian period. |
| Yuran Bonkai | A ritual from India that enshrines the ancestral spirit and memorializes the monks. | |
| Sumo Festival (Sumai Sechie) | Originally it was held on July 7, but it will be held in the latter half of July after the middle of the Heian period. | |
| August | Consideration (Koujo) | The official positions of the people selected in the column-viewing / pseudo-kanade (the ceremony was held in April in one of the procedures for conferring the ranks of the lower-ranking officials) are decided in the imperial court. Let me. |
| September | Double Ninth Festival | A feast of chrysanthemums. |
| Ise Homon (Isehohei) | An event to dedicate heihaku (an offering in front of the gods) to Ise Jingu. | |
| Tsukimi | We performed a poetry orchestra at a feast that loved the moon and rejoiced in the harvest. | |
| October | Changing clothes (Rolling) | An event to change costumes and furnishings. |
| Zankiku Feast | Watch the remaining chrysanthemum on October 5th of the lunar calendar. | |
| Aiko Mochi (Inokomochi) | I tried to avoid illness all year round by eating rice cakes on October. | |
| November | Niiname-no-Matsuri (Niinamesai) | An event in which the emperor presents new grains to Tenjinchigi and eats himself. Thank you for the harvest that year. |
| Toyo no Akari no Kai (Toyo no Akari Sechie) | At the party the day after the Niiname-no-Matsuri, * Gosechi no Mai (Gosetsu no Mai) is held. * It is still being done and I found it on YOUTUBE, so I will put it below. | |
| December | Buddha name (Go / Obutsumyo) | An event to pray for the extinction of sins by having high priests chant the names of Buddhas. |
| Nuo folk religion (Tsuna) | On the night of New Year's Eve, a ritual to worship evil spirits during the ban. | |
| Soul Festival (Masai Mitama) | An event to worship the spirits of the dead, similar to the Bon Bon in July. | |
| Before loading (Nosaki) | A ritual in which the first ears delivered as tribute from various countries are dedicated to the ridges of the emperor and the tombs of consort kins at the end of the year. |
The origin of annual events that everyone knows
Even in the above list, there were familiar annual events such as Nanakusa and Dragon Boat Festival.
Therefore, we will pick up annual events that everyone knows and introduce their origins.
January annual event Sagicho [Dontoyaki]
It is said that it makes sense to see off with flames by burning kadomatsu and shimeji decorations, and it is customary to burn them on January 15. Depending on the region, [Dontoyaki] [Don't] [Don't] There are various names such as, and it is thought that the customs of the Izumo region originated.
The origin is the Heian period Sagicho [ three swords were erected and burned ] It is the name from the place. A mallet-shaped cane is a mallet-shaped cane, and in the olden days, it was played by hitting a wooden ball on New Year's Day [ hockey ], It seems that it remains as a New Year's custom in Southern Kyushu.
Also, left-handed things [ left-handed ] Is also said to be related.
February annual event Nuo folk religion [Setsubun / Mamemaki]
[Setsubun] is [seasonal change] In that sense, it used to refer to the day before the beginning of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, but now it is mainly called the day before the beginning of spring.
It seems that there was no special event in Setsubun during the Heian period, but [ wrong ] Is left, and Setsubun is [ A day to exterminate troubles ] Was thought.
In China, there was a custom of seeking fortune in the coming spring, chasing demons that bring evil to people.
[ Peach bow and wormwood arrow ], And sprinkled five grains, red beans, and sometimes pebbles It has been. It is said that this is the origin of bean-sowing practiced in modern Japan.
As an event to chase demons in the wake of spring, it was held in Japan as a [Nuo folk religion] event in Miyanaka. This meant preparing for the New Year, but since the lunar New Year is close to the beginning of spring, the day before the beginning of spring, which began in the Muromachi period, was a setsubun event.
Speaking of Setsubun, there are as many beans as there are ages, but the origin of this is " Kojiki . It is said that there has been a custom in Japan for a long time to throw away the clothes that were worn in order to exterminate uncleanness and guilt in Japanese myths such as.
In connection with the customs of Setsubun's mischief, I sometimes threw my clothes on the street on Setsubun's day to get rid of the evil. Since the clothes thrown away in this way were given to beggars, they eventually wrapped up and dropped as many coins as their age.
Around 1600, Emperor Go-Mizuo patted beans and bird's eye wrapping for the number of years old to get rid of them, which led to the custom of eating beans for the number of years old. It is thought that it may be.
March annual event Hinamatsuri / Kamimi no Sekku
March 3rd is Kamimi no Sekku It was believed to be the darkest and worst day of the year since ancient times. In China BC, it was customary to go out to the water and rinse your mouth and wash your hands on this ominous day with the meaning of washing away injuries.
This custom eventually changed to spending a day playing elegantly.
In Japan, from around the 7th century, it was customary to use straw in the shape of a person to stroke the body to transfer one's bad things, and then flush them into water to throw away injuries. This was called "Stroking thing" or "Katashiro" and became the origin of the later Hina dolls.
In the 14th century, the custom of giving dolls began on March 3, and it was thought that dolls would take the place of injuries that would occur when the doll was placed on the bedside and slept. The next morning, I took the doll to the temple and started to remove the injuries.
It is believed that this custom was influenced by the custom of Kamimi.
May's annual event Dragon Boat Festival [Children's Day]
What is the Dragon Boat Festival? [ Beginning ] Has the meaning.
[ Horse ] Is by the Zodiac [ horse ] So, in Japan, it is often applied in the year of the horse, and in China, the zodiac is also applied to the month and day. Originally, the first day of the month was [ Dragon Boat ], But since May is [the moon of the horse], the end of the cow's moon * Has come to be emphasized.
* First afternoon day of May
In China, odd-numbered months were said to be unlucky, so the Dragon Boat Festival had a strong meaning of warding off evil, but in Japan, odd-numbered months were rather good, so the Dragon Boat Festival is a festive year-round. It was an event.
July annual event Tanabata
July 7 It is Tanabata (August 7th in some areas), but in modern Japan, Legend of Orihime and Hikoboshi Or write a wish on a strip of paper and hang it I think I have some experience.
The event began on July 7th because of the ancient Chinese amulet custom, but someday it became associated with the legend of Zhinü and Orihime. Orihime is said to be in charge of weaving, and on July 7th, it changed to an event to pray for the improvement of weaving and the improvement of a wide range of performing arts such as sewing, general handicrafts and poetry at night.
It is believed that the current custom of writing a request on a strip of paper may have come from that.
[ Tanabata ] Is called by Orihime in Japan [ Tanabata Tsume ] Because it was called [ Tanabata ] It seems that it became.
Obon, an annual event that was in July at that time
Along with New Year, Japan's two major annual events [ Obon ] Is [ Urabone ] Is said to be an abbreviated name.
It is said that the Bunranbon is derived from Uranbana. This is [ hanging =hanging upside down It is said that he fell upside down on the path of the hungry demon and suffered, and according to the Buddha's teaching, he saved the spirit of his mother together with the ancestors of the VII by offering a memorial service to the monk on July 15. It is said to be the origin.
In Japan, it is said to have started around the time of Emperor Saimei in the 7th century, and was held as an annual event for aristocrats during the Heian period. At this time, food was offered to the monks as in the past, but nowadays it is changed to offering food to the graves (dead).
This is a memorial service for those who fell into the hungry road during the Muromachi period. [ Segakie ] It is believed that it comes from.
Also, regarding the Obon period, it was said that it was July 15th and August 15th due to the difference between the lunar calendar and the new calendar. However, in Kanto, it seems that there are places where the date is the same even after switching to the new calendar.
November annual event Shichigosan
In November, the custom of visiting the shrine of Shichigosan has become established as an event to pray for the healthy growth of children. In modern times, the 15th is the Shichigosan ceremony day, which is a fixed date among the samurai in the Muromachi period.
The origin of the annual event is still the public family society of the Heian period, but the origin is not clear, but "hair rest", "Fukasoki", "hakama", "obi unraveling" It seems that the events of are combined and connected to the current event.
Hair rest
It is a ritual when a child is three years old, and is said to have been performed since the middle of the Heian period.
When the baby was born, he shaved off his hair and seemed to have not grown his hair after that, but he started to grow at the [hair rest]. In the Kamakura period, it was a ritual to have a child sit on a go board and tie various lucky charms to his hair to wish for the health and growth of the child.
Hakama
Hakama is a ritual for children to wear hakama for the first time, and it is read in a chat.
Initially, the age was not fixed at 3 to 8 years old, but later it was set at 5 to 7 years old.
At the ceremonial seat, an attendant puts the hakama in front of the child, and the parent supports the child and steps on both feet at once into the hakama and ties the hips. In addition, two adults usually dressed in kimono, with the father playing a central role in boys and the mother playing a central role in girls.
Fukasogi
It is a ritual to trim the hair when the child's hair grows to the chest, and it is called [Fukasoki]. Initially, the age and date were not fixed because the length of the hair was a guideline for the ritual, but boys were 5 years old and girls were 4 years old. Good day is now selected.
Obi unraveling
The kosode worn by the child when wearing a hakama had a swing on the sleeve, and a small string was attached to the end of both collars, which was tied on the back and fastened. However, after a while, the string on the collar of this kosode will be removed and you will be able to wear a sash around your waist like an adult.
From the end of the Muromachi period, this is also one of the growth rituals for children. It was called by such a name.
The above was originally a different ritual, but it seems that the time of hakama and Fukasoki was close, and in the Edo period, they were all done at the same time. Even now, the lower part of the Imperial Family is dressed in "half-ass" for the Imperial Princess and "slender" for the Imperial Princess, and the "dressing ceremony" that follows the tradition from the early Edo period is mentioned.
It's been a bit long, but I've briefly written about annual events.
Although introduced as an event during the Heian period, many of them started around the time when they were about to become a full-fledged Ritsuryo nation. In addition, some of the events that came from the Tang dynasty were fused with the original beliefs and events of Japan, so is it a Japanese-Chinese eclectic? I can imagine that was progressing in earnest.
References:Asahi Encyclopedia Japanese History 3-From Ancient to Medieval-Published in 2005, from Asahi Shimbun