History

I tell you about the Japanese festival, "Matsuri."

This week, the theme is ”History”, but at once I tell you about “What is Matsuri?”

Matsuri is Japanese traditional festival. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs. Some are so different that they do not even remotely resemble the original festival despite sharing the same name and date. The point of Japanese festival is finding a festival somewhere in Japan.

I don’t give a concrete example, but the programs will be written after two weeks.

I will take up the main theme. So, I explain Japanese festivals’ history after this.

Japanese festival is rich in variety. And the beginning of the festival is various. It’s too old to be unsettled the beginning of. In other words, Japanese festival is the custom of Japanese.

For example, the beginning of Aoi Matsuri in Kyoto is Heian era (794-1185?). And my hometown’s Matsuri is Ogaki Matsuri in Gifu is held in 1648. In other words the beginning of Matsuri is vary from district to district.

Why? There are some reasons for the beginning.

When the shrine was built, Matsuri was begun here. Matsuri is the ceremony of Shinto, Japanese practices and beliefs. Its building is Japanese shrine. For example, the shrine of Hachiman, Atago, Shinmei, Inari, Kifune, Tenjin, Hiromine, Akiba and Shirahige, so on.

The example of Ogaki Matsuri has long history.

Toda Ujikane and Ujinobu (feudal lords) built the Hachiman shrine there in 1648. Eighteen villagers contributed three portable shrines and ten towns under Ogaki castle was built ten floats (Kagura, Namazu, Kobune, Dogebo, Chosenjin (Korean), Daikoku, Ishibiki, Shojo, Yoshino and Mikami) in the same years.

Three floats (Kagura, Daikoku and Ebisu) were granted by feudal lord in 1679.

The towns along Mino-ji (the Japanese old load) from Funamachi town to Shimizucho town were burned down in 1692.

The float of Yoshino was changed Atago in 1712.

Each float was provided by repairing and remodeling from 1751 to 1763.

Part of Dogebo was burned down in 1759 and restored as “Namazu” in 1796.

At 1798, the name of float is Kagura, Daikoku, Ebisu, Aioi, Hotei, Fune (ship), Namazu (catfish), Chosenjin, Urashima, Tamanoi, Shochiku, Atago and Shojo.

Thus, it was Edo era. So, it is Meiji Era from this.

Japanese law is decided in 1868, “The law of the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism.” And name of some float is changed, for example from Hotei to Asahi. Hoteijin is the Japanese god but the priest of the temple. That’s why the name changed.

In the case, Hotei changed Kamo-myojin, which is a real Japanese god.

This is the big change. And Chosenjin is abolished and changed Sakaki.

Kagura and Aioi were burned down in 1887. Each float was restored before.

Kagura, Hotei (Asahi) and Fune, and part of Namazu, Shochiku and Shojo were burned down in 1891. It is why Nobi earthquake disaster was happened.

Nobi area is Gifu prefecture and Aichi prefecture.

Kagura, Daikoku, Aioi, Hotei, Urashima, Shochiku and Shojo, part of Namazu were burned down in 1945, the Pacific War. Each float, nothing but Aioi, Hotei, Urashima and Shojo were restored. But Shochiku was purchased from the other town.

And at 2012, all float is restored.

I will use example of Ogaki Matsuri. Ogaki city is my hometown. Ogaki Matsuri is not well-known.

So, I know you the Ogaki Matsuri. I’m sorry if my sentence is bad hand.

I’m pleased to write my blog. You give many advice to me.

The reference data is the book "Ogaki-No-Matsuriyama,"and the web "wikipedia - Japanese festivals."

Next week is "culture."