Matsuri

 Matsuri means Japanese festival. In 1441, it began to hold on to thanks God. When Matsuri hold on, some events is took place. First, as people shoulder mikoshi which is the box to carry the God, step on over the temple.

 Second, people play Japanese music (It is called bayashi or kagura). And sisimai which doll of lion dance on that music.  

 It is picture of miko. It is said that miko serves on God. Miko does work of temple in matsuri. 

 Matsuri takes place many places all over the Japan. Matsuri takes place not only to thank god, but also to enjoy. There are many booths in many places, so people come to life. I also have enjoyed matsuri as a Japanese. Matsuri was so interesting that I satisfied that people had celebrated rich harvest in matsuri. Then, in Kyoto which has many temples, what does maturi took place? 

  Jidai matsuri is one of the matsuri takes place in Kyoto. Jidai matsuri began to because of  memory of building the heianjingu 1868. It takes place October 22, with mikoshi. In this case, mikoshi carries the ghost of emperor Kanmu and kome. The characteristic of jidai matsuri is disguise. People make raw and, each raw people dress up as each era people.

The work of disguise is covered by around college student in common. (University of Kyoto, doushisha ritsumeikan etc)  And, the content of disguise is decided by the university. Jidai matsuri is so interesting because it is one example people and Kyoto culture are connected by matsuri.

 Gion matsuri, In Wikipedia in English:

This festival originated as part of a purification ritual to appease the gods thought to cause fire, floods and earthquakes. In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was attributed to the rampaging deity Gozu Tennō. Emperor Seiwa ordered that the people pray to the god of the Yasaka Shrine, Susanoo-no-mikoto. Sixty-six stylized and decorated halberds, one for each province in old Japan, were prepared and erected at Shinsen-en, a garden, along with the portable shrines from Yasaka Shrine.
　
But, the main event of gion matsuri is yamabokozyunko. This event has stopped sometimes but it resumes each time. In this event people draw big and beauty mikoshi and walk the city.

 Aoi masturi began to pray god for rich harvest 567. In 567, Kyoto was in lean year. So people had begun Aoi matsuri and, there were good crop next year. The main event of aoi matsuri is saio dai. The saio dai is a woman who is chosen from the relative of the Emperor to sacrifice herself to shrine. The role of the saio dai is nowadays played by an unmarried woman in Kyoto .She is  dressed in the traditional style of the clothes.

 Matsuri I am introducing is called Kyoto Sandai matsuri and, it is famous for scale, tradition and characteristic to many people. Matsuri was born in Kyoto and, needless to say, it is one of the representative culture of Kyoto.



cite http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~gionsai/saitenn.htm
      http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8D%85%E5%AD%90%E8%88%9E
      http://rekishi-roman.jp/mikosi-jiten/page-72.html
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri