Space in which a sumo wrestling bout occurs
A dohyō (, ) is the space in which a sumo wrestling bout occurs. A typical "dohyō" is a circle made of partially buried rice-straw bales 4.55 meters in diameter. In official professional tournaments ("honbasho"), it is mounted on a square platform of clay 66 cm high and 6.7m wide on each side.
Configuration and construction.
In professional sumo, a new "dohyō" is built prior to each tournament by the "yobidashi" (ring attendants), who are responsible for this activity. The process of building the "dohyō" and its 66 cm high platform takes three days and is done with traditional tools. The clay used is taken from the banks of the Arakawa River in Saitama Prefecture. However, due to growing urbanization, clay from Ibaraki Prefecture has started to be used. The surface is covered by sand. The "dohyō" is removed after each tournament and, in the case of the Nagoya tournament, pieces are taken home by the fans as souvenirs. The "yobidashi" also build the "dohyō" for training stables and sumo touring events.
The diameter of the ring is 15 "shaku" (4.55 meters), which increased from 13 "shaku" (3.94 meters) in 1931. The rice-straw bales ("tawara" (俵)) which form the ring are one third standard size and are partially buried in the clay of the "dohyō". Four of the "tawara" are placed slightly outside the line of the circle at the four cardinal directions, these are called privileged bales ("tokudawara"). Originally, this was to allow rain to run off the surface, when sumo tournaments were held outdoors in the open. Today, a wrestler under pressure at the edge of the ring will often try to move himself round to one of these points to gain leverage in order to push back more effectively against the opponent who is trying to force him out.
At the center are two white lines, the , behind which the wrestlers must position themselves at the start of the bout. First introduced in the spring tournament of 1928, they are painted 90 cm long, 6 cm wide and 70 cm apart. The "shikiri-sen" are touched up by "yobidashi" at the end of each day with white enamel paint. The painted lines are notably slicker than the surrounding dirt, but rarely cause a wrestler to slip due to their narrowness. Around the ring is finely brushed sand called the "ja-no-me" (蛇の目, snake's eye), which can be used to determine if a wrestler has just touched his foot, or another part of his body, outside the ring. The "yobidashi" ensure this is clean of any previous marks immediately prior to each bout.
A roof resembling that of a Shinto shrine (which has been of the Shinmei-zukuri style since the May 1953 tournament) is suspended above the "dohyō", called the "tsuriyane". The roof weighs 6.25 tons and is supported by cables that can hold up to 30 tons. Around the "tsuriyane" hangs a purple banner which is embroidered with the Japan Sumo Association's "mon". Prior to the September 1952 tournament, the "tsuriyane" had been supported by columns, but they were removed to allow fans an uninterrupted view of the "dohyō". Colored tassels ("fusa"), which replaced the colored columns, are suspended from the corners. They represent the four seasons and the four spirits of directions:
The "dohyō" in training stables is not raised but is otherwise the same as those used in tournaments. One "dohyō" is standard, although some larger stables have built two.
"Dohyō matsuri".
After the "dohyō" has been built, a ceremony called the "dohyō matsuri" (ring ceremony) is held. The "dohyō matsuri" is said to have been introduced by Yoshida Zenzaemon sometime during the Edo period. The Yoshida family was a prominent "gyōji" family.
The ceremony is done to purify and consecrate the "dohyō", while also inviting the kami (Shinto deities) down to watch sumo. The ceremony is led by one of the "tategyōji" (head referee) along with two other "gyōji". The "gyōji" take the place of Shinto priests. The "tategyoji" will pray for the safety and well-being of the wrestlers. In the middle of the "dohyō" a square hole is cut in where the "tategyoji" will then place inside: torreya nuts, dried chestnuts, salt, washed rice, dried squid or cuttlefish and kombu (seaweed). The "tategyoji" will then will pour sacred sake into the hole, and around several other places around the "dohyō" before he will put more clay into the hole. The "yobidashi" will eventually cover up the hole. The sacred sake is then shared with everyone in attendance.
To conclude the ceremony, the "yobidashi" in a procession with taiko drums called a "fure-daiko" will begin. The procession will go around the "dohyō" three times before leaving the proceeding out into the street to announce the beginning of the tournament.
At the end of the tournament, one "gyōji" is thrown into the air by the low ranking wrestlers as a way of sending off the kami and officially ending the tournament.
References.
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