Gion Matsuri - Yoiyama series

Posted by Celialee (Kyoto, Japan) on 18 July 2007 in Lifestyle & Culture and Portfolio.

This is the start of the Gion Matsuri, a traditional festival celebrated in Japan and held at Yasaka Shrine. It has been held for over 1100 years. The first festival was held in 869 when the city suffered from plague. The people prayed to the gods to save them and portable shrines were paraded through the streets.

For three nights before the main float parade (Yamaboko Junko), a night festival is held called Yoiyama where the public can admire the floats all lit up with lanters, stationed at specific places on the city streets. There are many stalls along the roads as well, selling food, drinks, toys and anything else you can think of. On the floats, the musicians will play traditional Gion bayashi songs lending to the atmosphere of Yoiyama. It is not complete without hearing the songs.

For these three nights, the streets of Shijo, Karasuma and smaller alleys are closed to traffic for a few hours to accomodate the public wanting to see the floats. Thousands descend to Kyoto for this event.

This picture is of the Kanko Boko, the fifth float in the parade. From the Kyoto Gion Matsuri official wesite:

'The design of this hoko is based on a Chinese chronicle of a lord, Meng Changjun of Qin. During the Chinese Warring States period (B.C.476- 221), King Zhaoxiang (B.C. 306-251) of Qin invited Lord Meng Changjun to serve as the prime minister for his country. However, due to slanderous reports during the course of his leadership, Meng Changjun tried to escape from the Qin capital of Xianyang. He made it to the Han Gu Guan barrier, but found the barrier gate would open only when the cocks crowed. Fortunately, one of his subordinates could imitate this, and soon the cocks crowed in chorus, the gate opened, and Meng Changjun was able to successfully escape. On this hoko, the length of the Shingi pole is twenty-two meters. Its top is covered by triangle-shaped white linen, and an upwards-facing crescent symbol'

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