Aoi Matsuri
aoi matsuri 葵祭 hollyhock festival although commonly mistakenly identified hollyhock aoi actually belongs birthwort family translates wild ginger—asarum one three main annual festival held kyoto japan two festival age jidai matsuri gion festival festival two kamo shrine north city shimogamo shrine kamigamo shrine festival may also referred kamo festival held may year according ancient presumed historical regarded accurate fantastic embellishment record nihon shoki festival originated reign emperor kinmei reigned ce ancient record known honchō getsurei 本朝月令 nenchūgyōji hissho 年中行事秘抄 reveal succession disastrous rain high wind ruined grain crop epidemic spread country diviner placed cause divine punishment kamo deity emperor sent messenger retinue shrine conduct various act appease deity prayer bountiful harvest included riding galloping horse became annual ritual galloping horse performance developed equestrian archery performance according historical record known shoku nihongi 続日本記 many people come view equestrian performance festival day nd year reign emperor monmu r – event banned ninth century emperor kanmu established seat imperial throne kyoto represented beginning heian period japanese history emperor kanmu recognized deity kamo shrine protector heian capital established aoi matsuri annual imperial event festival saw peak grandeur middle heian period waned kamakura period following muromachi period nation entered sengoku period festival procession discontinued genroku era – edo period revived nd year meiji period capital moved kyoto tokyo observance festival procession stopped meiji revived part government plan enliven kyoto ritual shrine front discontinued due pacific war last festival procession started held saiōdai festival princess tradition initiated saiō 斎王 unmarried female member japanese imperial house festival named hollyhock aoi leaf used decoration throughout celebration well offering god heian period leaf believed protect natural disaster earthquake thunder often hung roof home protection plant used aoi matsuri may hollyhock possibly wild ginger although due rarity plant plant similarly shaped leaf used festival instead leaf katsura tree several event take place month important event may two part aoi matsuri procession rotōnogi shrine rite procession led imperial messenger following imperial messenger two oxcart four cow thirtysix horse six hundred people six hundred people wearing traditional dress heian noble ōmiyabito oxcart gissha adorned artificial wisteria flower procession start may leaf kyoto imperial palace front main gate kenreimon 建礼門 slowly work way towards shimogamo shrine finally kamigamo shrine finally arrive shrine saiōdai imperial messenger perform ritual saiōdai simply pay respect deity imperial messenger intones imperial rescript praising deity requesting continued favor two main figure aoi matsuri saiōdai imperial messenger historically saiōdai woman imperial house chosen sister daughter emperor dedicate shimogamo shrine role saiōdai maintain ritual purity represent emperor festival nowadays role saiōdai standin unmarried woman kyoto three attribute wisdom grace social standing selection process strict news announced press highest honour woman receive kyoto saiōdai dressed traditional style heian court traditional heian court dress woman would wearing several layer exquisitely colored silk robe saiōdai wear twelve layer traditional style robe jūnihitoe maintain ritual purity saiōdai go several ceremony purification procession festival imperial messenger lead festival procession horseback heian period would fifthrank courtier holding office middle lesser captain usually man destined high office role read imperial rescript shrine present emperor’s offering heian period saiōdai imperial messenger would accompanied ten dancer twelve musician also present procession guard kebiishii government official civic official military retainer delegate yamashiro yamashironotsukai also featured aoi matsuri horse race kurabeuma demonstration mounted archery yabusame many thing kyoto named aoi saiō matsuri ise traditional procession saiō ise shrine kyoto shimbun web site japanese various video clip aoi festival aoi matsuri retrieved website jan aoi matsuri retrieved website jan aoi matsuri festival retrieved website jan aoi matsuri hollyhock festival retrieved website january frang rite heritage world v retrieved ma ultra – school edition database january layered look civilization marapr v retrieved academic search premiere database january shimogamo jinja retrieved website jan shively hall j mccullough w cambridge history japan retrieved google book search jan