Setsubun is an old festival for seeing out the hardships of winter and welcoming in the spring, symbolized in the ritual act of throwing beans at mask clad devils... 鬼は外福は内! ("oni wa soto! fuku wa uchi!" - "devils out, and good luck in!") people cry while pelting their lucky beans till the demonic forces beat a retreat. There are a variety of sites around town where you can … [Read more...]
Shinto – Deities, Shrines and Symbols
Ian Ropke writes, Shinto is Japan’s original religion and today it maintains a strong position next to the country’s other main religion: Buddhism. It is interesting to note that nearly all Japanese do not even know what the word Shinto means. The word Shinto comes from the Chinese characters: god and path. Elegantly translated Shinto means The Way of the Gods. Today, if you … [Read more...]
Kasagake at Kamigamo on October 16th
John Dougill writes, There were traditionally three styles of horseback archery carried out for the entertainment of the kami. The most well-known is Yabusame, in which galloping riders shoot at a fixed target. Much rarer is Kasagake, to be performed this Sunday at Kamigamo Jinja. The other style involved firing at live dogs: thank goodness, it's no longer … [Read more...]
Karasu Sumo at Kamigamo Shrine on September 9
John Dougill writes, Priests hopping and cawing like crows. Seven year old kids doing sumo. What’s that all got to do with Shinto, you may wonder? Kamigamo Jinja is Kyoto’s greenest shrine and probably the oldest. It was established by the Kamo clan long before Kammu founded the capital in 794. One of the clan, according to legend, helped guide Emperor Jimmu across Kii … [Read more...]
MITARASHI MATSURI
Shimogamo Jinja July 21-24, from 5.30-22.30 John Dougill writes, Hot, hot and humid! At this time of year you may feel all you want to do is wade through cold water. Well, that’s just what you get to do in the Mitarashi Festival at Shimogamo Shrine. Considering that it promises a disease-free year, particularly for your legs, then it’s easy to understand why the festival … [Read more...]
John Dougill’s Green Shinto
Our friend, the historian/poet John Dougill, has launched his own website, Green Shinto, and it looks like a cracker! I know personally that strolling round a shinto shrine with John at your side amiably explaining what everything means, is a very educational experience. Now his expert knowledge of Shinto belief and tradition is available to a far wider audience: Green Shinto … [Read more...]
Two Views from Yasaka Shrine…
...separated by time. Both images give us a "bronze lion's eye view" down Shijo as seen from the entrance to Yasaka Shrine. The first is a recent image painted by my hopelessly romantic friend Ichsan. Do please visit his website to see more of his wonderful paintings. This is the image of Gion with which we are familiar today. And now here is the same view, as it was … [Read more...]
John Dougill enjoys a seasonal stroll from Tambabashi to Fushimi
A pleasant walk through woods and 1100 years of history? In Kyoto? Yes, it’s possible on the south-eastern edge if you walk between Tambabashi and Fushimi-Momoyama. It takes two hours and along the way are imperial tombs, Shinto shrines and an Edo-era escapade. Start from any of three Tambabashi stations (JR, Keihan or Kintetsu). Walk uphill for ten minutes and … [Read more...]
Yet Another Gorgeous Day in Kyoto
Cities of Green Leaves 青葉の都市 - Ginko no Kukai Last Saturday I joined the Hailstone Haiku Circle's latest ginko no kukai; an international poetry and nature walk being held across the world in solidarity with the city of Sendai. The event was planned to coincide with Sendai's Aoba Matsuri or Green Leaf Festival. This festival with its parade and famous sparrow dance is held … [Read more...]
Happy New Year!
新年明けましておめでとうございます！今年もよろしくお願いいたします！ Best wishes for a rabbity 2011 to you all! On New Year's Eve, Mewby and I took the advice of John Dougill and visited the Kurodani temple complex to ring out the old and then on to Shimogamo shrine for hatusmode (the first shrine visit of the year). I really have to thank John for suggesting that itinerary. It had been snowing quite heavily … [Read more...]
A Kyoto New Year
This will be the last post for the year as I am going home to the UK for Christmas and will be offline for an ENTIRE WEEK! Before I hand you over to John Dougill for the final word, let me wish you all a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year. And for those who can't bear to be without Deep Kyoto for a whole week, I have posted a list of categorised 2010 … [Read more...]
