Kyoto

Jul 11, 2014 - 1 min read

Gion Matsuri in Photos: Part 3

A pictorial overview of Kyoto's big summer festival

By Hugo Kempeneer

Community writer

Urade-Yama (占出山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012! This float portrays a famous story of when Empress Jingu, a legendary rather than historical heroine of Japan, went fishing for Ayu (sweet fish) when she was in Hizen (present day Saga prefecture in northern Kyushu) in order to cast a horoscope about the victory or defeat of the Imperial campaign

Koi-Yama (鯉山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2011! This float features a large jumping carp (“Koi” in Japanese) that is courageously swimming up the “Ryumon” falls, which literally means “dragon gate”. According to an ancient Chinese legend, a carp can change into a dragon if the fish successfully swims up this waterfall on the Yellow River (in China, the dragon is a symbol of greatness)

Moso-Yama (孟宗山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2011! Moso, the divine doll displayed on this float, a.k.a Takenoko-yama (hill of bamboo shoots), is a character from the “Twenty-four Filial Exemplars” stories from ancient China. Born in the Go (Wu Kingdom during China’s Three Kingdom’s period in the 13th century), Moso worked his way up to the position of government minister

Yamabushi-Yama (山伏山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012!  This float is called Yamabushi-yama because it displays a holy doll of a Yamabushi (a mountain priest) on its top. When the famous five-storied Yasaka pagoda of the Hokan-ji temple near Kiyomizu temple began to lean many centuries ago, a renowned Yamabushi named Yozokisho reportedly set the tower straight with his spiritual powers

Tsuki-Hoko (月鉾) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012! This float derives its name from the crescent moon mounted on the top of its pole. Halfway up the pole, the deity of the moon known as Tsukiyomi-no-Mikoto is enshrined

Tourou-Yama (蟷螂山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012! This float derives its name from an old saying in China that a praying mantis, though small, is courageous enough to raise its “hatchets” high in the air in front of a marching army to try to stop it

Tokusa-Yama (木賊山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012! This float derives its name from “Tokusa” (“scoring rush”), a Noh play written by the great Zeami in the 15th century. The figure on the float is an old man from the Noh play whose son was kidnapped many years ago, and manages to survive by mowing Tokusa rush without any family to help him in the mountainous province of Shinano (present day Nagano prefecture)

Taishi-yama (太子山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012! This float is dedicated to Shotoku Taishi who was a prince during the Asuka period in Japan, and is thus named for him. The Taishi-yama is unique for being the only float in the Gion festial that has a central wooden pole made from Japanese cedar, and not from the commonly used pine

Suzuka-Yama (鈴鹿山) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto,2012! This float is dedicated to Suzuka-kongen, a Buddhist as well as a Shinto goddess that legend says expelled a demon known for tormenting travelers who pass through the mountains of Suzuka, a notoriously rough spot on the Tokaido Highway running through Edo (present day Tokyo) and Kyoto

Shijogasa-hoko (四条傘鉾) During the Yamaboko Junko (山鉾巡行) in Kyoto, 2012!  This float features a parasol framed with dyed fabric decoration, and is accompanied by young stick twirlers and musicians during the Gion festival procession

The final parade, the Ato Matsuri, will parade through the streets on the 24th of July. It’s the first time in almost 50 years that the Gion Matsuri has been split in two. It will commence at Karasuma-Oike Dori at 10.00am, pass by City Hall and then turn onto Kawaramachi Dori and turn again onto Shiho Dori till it reaches Shijo-Kawaramachi corner. Another parade, this is new, the Hanagasa Flower Hat Procession will commence from Yasaka Shrine and go along Shijo Dori, onto Oike Dori and then back to Yasaka Shrine. Featured here are: Shijogasa-hoko, Suzuka-Yama, Taishi-yama, Tokusa-Yama, Tourou-Yama, Tsuki-Hoko, Urade-Yama, Yamabushi-Yama, Moso-Yama and Koi-Yama.

More info

Find out more about Yasaka Shrine.

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Hugo Kempeneer

By Hugo Kempeneer

Community writer

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