Lecture 8: Activities for Maintaining and Succeeding Tradition of the Gion Festival Yamahoko Events Director General of Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Rengo-kai FUKAMI Shigeru 25 Jan 2008 1
Self Introduction FUKAMI Shigeru Post: Director General of Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Rengo-kai Expertise: German language and literature 1995 Published works: Doitsu Kindai Tampen Shōsetu no Kenkyū ( Studies in Modern German Short Stories ; Toyo Shuppan,, 1995), among others 2
The beginnings of the Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival) Begun in the 11th year of the Jōgan Era (869 C.E.) Erected 66 halberds (Jpn( Jpn: hoko) ) of over six meters in length each in Gion Shrine and sent portable shrines to the gardens of Shinsen 3
The mythological genealogy of the Gion Matsuri Gozu Tennō = Susano-ō-no no-mikoto Kotan Shōrai and Somin Shōrai Rings of reeds as amulets 4
Similarities with the Jewish Passover Lamb s s blood and reed rings The paradox of worshipping a god of pestilence 5
The beginnings and subsequent history of the Gion Matsuri float processions Beginning of yamahoko processions by commoners =Developed from a ritual to ward off evil spirits into a secular event There were 58 yamahoko just before the Ōnin War (late 15 th century) 6
1500 The history of the Gion Matsuri float processions: : From 1500 to the early Meiji Era Yamahoko procession revived in 1500 (around 36 floats) Ownership, style, and name of each float survive to this day Roots of the modern yamahoko (procession) 7
The size of chōjū About 110 meters 8
The juridical status of chōjū Authority to buy, own, and sell property Authority to issue permits to relocate residence Authority to issue seal authentication certificates Etc. 9
The decline of chōjū 1872 Abolition of the yorichō system in 1872 1898 Loss of juridical status (1898) Privatization of chōie (=ch chōjū-owned houses) Collapse due to Japan s s defeat in war Property taxes Population fluidity, etc. Loss of chōie 10
1923 Efforts to revive the Gion Matsuri yamahoko processions The founding of the Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Federation in 1923 1914 Campaigns to get yamahoko preservation societies status as juridical foundations: 1914 1923 Subsidy system by Kyoto City begins: 1923 1923 Founding of the Gion Matsuri Yamahoko Federation: : 1923 11
Designation as a Important Cultural Properties 1962 Designated by the Japanese government as an Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property: 1962 (Initially treated as Important Folklore Materials) 1979 Designated by the Japanese government as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property: 1979 12
Preserving and passing on the yamahoko procession as a Tangible Folk Cultural Property 13
Case 1: Tsukihoko (before replication) 14
Case 1: Tsukihoko (after replication) 15
Case 2: Iwatoyama (wheel repair process) 16
Case 2: Iwatoyama (after repair of wheel) 17
Case 3: Niwatorihoko (before miokuri replication) 18
Case 3: Niwatorihoko (after miokuri replication) 19
Case 4: Kuronushi- yama (before miokuri replication) 20
Case 4: Kuronushi- yama (after miokuri replication) 21
Case 5: Naginatahoko (overall view) 22
Case 5: Naginatahoko (before repair of eave painting) 23
Case 5: Naginatahoko (after repair of eave painting) 24
Preserving and passing on the yamahoko procession as an Intangible Folk Cultural Property 25
Kanesuri (gong beaters) 26
Asia-Pacific A A gong Database on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) 27
Conclusion The Gion Matsuri as a symbol of the independence and rights of self- determination of the people of Kyoto 28