What is Matsuri (Japanese Cultural Festival)? (2): The Reason Why Matsuri Has Seasonality
Understanding the Reason Behind the Seasonality of Matsuri (Japanese Festivals)
Reisai (annual festivals) are held at different times depending on the shrine, as each shrine has a unique historically significant day. For example, even among major shrines in Japan, the dates for Reisai are quite different:
Examples of Reisai (Annual Festivals) Dates:
Exploring the Seasonal Significance and Reasons Behind the Diverse Dates of Reisai in Japan
The Seasonal Cycles of Rice Cultivation: How They Shape Japan’s Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Matsuri
Summer, on the other hand, is a crucial period for the growth of rice, but it is also the time when diseases and pests threaten the crops. It is also a season of concern for humans, as epidemics are more likely to occur. The ritual that began as an attempt to overcome the harsh summer is the June Oharae (Great Purification). For more on the “Chinowa Kuguri” (passing through a large ring made of reeds) in Oharae, please refer to a previous blog post. The Gion Festival in Kyoto, one of Japan’s three major festivals, is a summer festival held to pray for good health and protection from disease.
The Buddhist Roots of Bon Odori: A Summer Tradition Honoring Spirits
As described above, except for those of Buddhist origin, Japanese festivals are largely based on the seasonal cycle of rice cultivation. Regions with many spring festivals likely placed great importance on the timing of rice sowing.
If the sowing and subsequent germination went well, a good harvest could be expected. That’s why prayers were offered in spring. Regions with many summer festivals likely faced threats to rice cultivation from pests and human epidemics. Regions with many autumn festivals might have been concerned about typhoons or other disasters threatening the harvest during the rice harvesting season. Alternatively, they may have been blessed with abundant harvests, allowing them to frequently thank the gods and report the results. The scarcity of winter festivals in Japan is likely due to the fact that winter is not part of the rice cultivation cycle.
In the next and final post of this series on Japanese festivals, I would like to introduce the Japanese folkloric concepts of “Hare” and “Ke,” which express the rhythm of Japanese life. These concepts are inseparable from Japanese festivals.