Boshita Festival
Boshita Festival is a festival of Fujisaki-hachimangu at Kumamoto, Kumamoto in every September, characterized by a parade of Kannushi, followed by groups of followers who chase their horses shouting, Boshita, Boshita, in earlier times; but now Dookai Dookai and others. Recently 17,000 people join this festival as followers.
Name
- The formal name of this festival is 藤崎八旛宮秋季例大祭, or Fujisaki-hachimangu, autumn great festival. Previously it was called Boshita Matsuri in Japanese. However, it is not used officially, because of a view that this comes from Horoboshita, or we destroyed Korea, although Korea was not in the shouting phrase. However there are other views.
- The origin of Boshita has not been known; decorated horses were not employed, and there was no horse chasing at the time of Katou Kiyomasa. A view states that it had been used since the Sino-Japanese war. The use of Boshita was claimed at the time of world exhibition at Osaka in 1970, since Japanese of Korean origin felt miserable at the time of the festival. New shouting phrases have been up to the groups which participate; it was decided upon in August 1990.[1]
Shinko gyoretsu or Parade of Kannushi
- The climax of the autumn great festival of Fujisaki-hachimangu comes on the last day of the festival. It consists of the parade of portable shrines, parade following samurais, and parade of decorated horses, chased by many followers.
History of the Festival
- This festival originated in Ho-jo-e,(the ritual for releasing living beings), a festival of letting wild animals go into the fields, a Buddhist custom, but which was introduced into the shrines and of which, Ho-jo-e of Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū, Kyoto is well known. The Kami of Fujisaki Hachimangu came from Iwashimizu Hachiman-gū. However, no trace of Ho-jo-e could be found in the present festival. Zuibyo, or parade following samurais, certainly originated from the returning samurais of Kato Kiyomasa from Korea during the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598). Kato Kiyomasa thanked the Kami of the Fujisaki-hachimangu for the safe return by heading the parade of his followers. This custom continued into the Hosokawa clan period, showing three important samurais (head of the followers, head with spears, parade head). The decorated horses were originally those for Kannushi, 12 in number, and in the Hosokawa clan period, only karo (high class samurai) families presented horses. The distance from the shrine to the otabisho (destination of the parade) was short, and Kannushi did not ride on the horses. Therefore, the decorations on the horses became gradually gala and greater. The decorations on the horses were originally from the symbols of sexual organs. There had been two schools, but only Ando school has been observed. After the Meiji Restoration, decorated horses were prepared by town people, and recently the decorated horses number about 60. In 2007, the horses numbered 67, and following people (seko) numbered 17,000, indicating that this is the biggest festival of Kumamoto, Kumamoto.
The Festival
- The festival continues for 5 days. On the first day, the head of Fujisakigu believers prays, and there are ceremonies of lion dance dress purification, musical instrument purification and purification of various instruments. On the next day, there are a tea dedication ceremony and a haiku dedication ceremony. On the third day, Kenpei Sai (a divine ceremony), dedication of Japanese traditional fighting matches such as fencing, and dedication of traditional Japanese dancing. On the fourth day, purification and decorations of horses, dedication of flower arrangement and travelling portable shrines. On the fifth day is the parade, headed by Kannushi, starting at 6 a.m. (starting ceremony), three Kami portable shrines, parades of followers, lion dances, portable shrines carried by children, and finally the groups of decorated horses. Decorated horse group people are dressed in uniforms of their own, dancing with folding fans, drums, trumpets, shouting Dookai Dookai meaning how about this ? , chasing a decorated horse of their group. Some horses run violently and sometimes giving injuries to people nearby. These groups are from town groups, companies, and graduates of schools and other groups.
- The order of the parade is determined by drawing lots. Exceptions are the top three groups which exist near the shrine; which must do preparations and cleanups of the festival.
References
- ^ Higogaku Koza, Fujisaki Festival now and olden times Iwashita C. p 92-105, Kumamoto NichiNichi Shinbun, 2006, ISBN 978-4-87755-231-2
External links
See also