Understanding the Reason Behind the Seasonality of Matsuri (Japanese Festivals)
Yesterday, I explained why Matsuri (Japanese festivals) are held only once a year. The timing of these festivals is determined by their purpose, often based on specific historical days related to the shrine. In this post, I will discuss the seasonality of Matsuri (Japanese festivals) and the reasons behind it.
Reisai (annual festivals) are held at different times depending on the shrine, as each shrine has a unique historically significant day. For example, even among major shrines in Japan, the dates for Reisai are quite different:
Examples of Reisai (Annual Festivals) Dates:
Kasuga Taisha: March 13
Katori Shrine: April 14
Heian Shrine: April 15
Izumo Taisha: May 14
Kamo Shrine: May 15
Atsuta Shrine: June 5
Yasaka Shrine: June 15
Hikawa Shrine: August 1
Kashima Shrine: September 1
Dazaifu Tenmangu: September 25
Meiji Shrine: November 3
Exploring the Seasonal Significance and Reasons Behind the Diverse Dates of Reisai in Japan
Why are the dates of these Reisai so different across Japan? This is because Japan has traditionally been an agricultural society, with a yearly cycle centered around rice cultivation. Each festival has its own seasonal significance and is inseparable from the season in which it takes place. This seasonal connection is a defining characteristic of Japanese festivals. Let's examine the meaning of each season.
The Seasonal Cycles of Rice Cultivation: How They Shape Japan's Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Matsuri
In rice cultivation, seeds are sown in spring and harvested in autumn. Therefore, people prayed to the gods in spring for a bountiful harvest and thanked the gods in autumn by reporting the results of the harvest. These prayers became the spring and autumn festivals. Winter is the time to replenish energy depleted during rice cultivation. It is a season of growth and strengthening in preparation for the following spring, and in some regions, it was believed that people spent this season with the gods. This belief gave rise to winter festivals.
Summer, on the other hand, is a crucial period for the growth of rice, but it is also the time when diseases and pests threaten the crops. It is also a season of concern for humans, as epidemics are more likely to occur. The ritual that began as an attempt to overcome the harsh summer is the June Oharae (Great Purification). For more on the "Chinowa Kuguri" (passing through a large ring made of reeds) in Oharae, please refer to a previous blog post. The Gion Festival in Kyoto, one of Japan's three major festivals, is a summer festival held to pray for good health and protection from disease.
The Buddhist Roots of Bon Odori: A Summer Tradition Honoring Spirits
The "Bon Odori" (Bon dance), which is strongly associated with summer festivals, originated from a form of Buddhist chanting dance called "Nenbutsu Odori" that was initiated by Kuya Shonin during the Heian period (794-1185). Over time, it merged with local customs and became an event during the Obon period (around August 15th), where people welcome the spirits of the deceased and hold ceremonies to honor them. Therefore, Bon Odori is of Buddhist origin and is not directly related to the agricultural calendar like Shinto festivals.
How Seasonal Cycles of Rice Cultivation Shape the Timing of Matsuri
As described above, except for those of Buddhist origin, Japanese festivals are largely based on the seasonal cycle of rice cultivation. Regions with many spring festivals likely placed great importance on the timing of rice sowing.
If the sowing and subsequent germination went well, a good harvest could be expected. That's why prayers were offered in spring. Regions with many summer festivals likely faced threats to rice cultivation from pests and human epidemics. Regions with many autumn festivals might have been concerned about typhoons or other disasters threatening the harvest during the rice harvesting season. Alternatively, they may have been blessed with abundant harvests, allowing them to frequently thank the gods and report the results. The scarcity of winter festivals in Japan is likely due to the fact that winter is not part of the rice cultivation cycle.
In the next and final post of this series on Japanese festivals, I would like to introduce the Japanese folkloric concepts of "Hare" and "Ke," which express the rhythm of Japanese life. These concepts are inseparable from Japanese festivals.
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Very insightful article about the timing of the festivals in Japan!