Tenjin Matsuri
Tenjin Matsuri (天神祭, Tenjin Matsuri) is a festival held throughout Japan on the 24 and 25 July every year at Tenmangū shrines. The festival commemorates the death anniversary of the deity Sugawara no Michizane, of these festivals, the one held in Osaka at Osaka Tenmangū Shrine is the largest. Ranking with the Gion Matsuri in Kyoto and Kanda Matsuri in Tokyo, the Tenjin Matsuri is considered to be one of the three major Shintō festivals in Japan.[1] Its original purpose was to appease the spirit of Michizane, who was thought to have combined with the thunder god Tenjin.[2]
Along with the Kishiwada Danjiri, Tenjin Matsuri is one of the key festivals of Osaka, together with the Sumiyoshi and Ikutama Festivals, it comprises one of the three large summer festivals in Osaka. The celebrations climax with a 100 river-boat procession and fireworks show. The reflection of fireworks and lanterns on the Okawa River give it its alternative name of the Festival of Fire and Water.[3]
History
During the Heian period, Sugawara no Michizane was slighted by the imperial court, dying in exile in Kyushu in the year 903. Shortly following Michizane's death, droughts, fires, and epidemics afflicted medieval Japan, with many of his former political rivals dying suddenly. In order to placate him, a shrine was dedicated to his spirit at Kitano in 947. Following the enlargement of this shrine by Fujiwara no Morosuke in 959, the shrine and related dedications to Michizane played a role in factional rivalries within the Fujiwara clan.[2]
The legendary history of the festival states that it began in the year 951 AD, two years after the establishment of Osaka's Tenmangū Shrine.[1] The first recorded festival taking place at Kitano Tenmangū Shrine took place in 987, with the first imperial pilgrimage taking place in 1004 under Emperor Ichijō.[2]
The form of the boat procession had been established by the time of Toyotomi Hideyoshi (early 17th century), and during the Edo Period, the festival flourished as a symbol of Osaka's prosperity. Despite being paused on numerous occasions due to socio-political upheavals, the festival was restarted after the Second World War in 1949.[1] As of 1996 there were 10,441 shrines across Japan dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane.[2]
The Tenjin Festival has sponsored the "Tenjin Festival Action Plan for Zero Garbage" which has aimed to reduce the amount of combustible material produced as a result of the festival. The organisation was inspired by a similar effort by the Gion Festival that started in 2014. In the first year of its implementation, the amount of combustible garbage generated was halved.[4]
In 2017 it was reported that the yakuza were being excluded from participating in the boat parade and sponsoring fireworks displays, this comes as part of an increasing government campaign to clamp down or organised crime.[5] During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the festival was put on hold, with the first full festival taking place in July 2023.[6]
The Festival
Early in the morning on the 24th July, a prodigious student is selected to go to the shrine by the Okawa River; they are given a sacred spear (神鉾, kamihoko) and must float it on the river. To where the spear floats to the divine spirit will be carried to.[7] This is referred to as the Hokonare Ritual (鉾流神事, hokonare shinji).
On the 25th July much of the day's festivities take place around 6pm. When the boat parade begins, each boat is donated to and/or crewed by a citizen's interest group or social club. This practice is called the Funatogyo (船渡御).
At around 7.30pm the fireworks display starts and usually lasts about 90 minutes.[citation needed]
Traditional food associated with the festival includes chilled somen noodles and pike conger.[8]
References
- ^ a b c "天神祭（てんじんまつり）". 大阪天満宮 (in Japanese). 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2024-12-01.
- ^ a b c d Plutschow, Herbert (1996). Matsuri: The Festivals of Japan. London: Routledge. pp. 77–79. ISBN 978-1-134247-05-9.
- ^ Cheng, Andy (2021-07-06). "Tenjin Matsuri: The Dance of Fire and Water". Osaka.com. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ Niponica (2018). Issue 24, "Japanese Festivals Throughout the Year".
- ^ Shichijo, Roland (2017-05-22). "Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri to freeze out yakuza in bid to sever ties". TokyoReporter. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "Japan Photo Journal: Fireworks fly for Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri, wowing festivalgoers". Mainichi Daily News. 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "鉾流橋(ほこながしばし)". 大阪市 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ 別巻 祭りと行事のごちそう 聞き書 ふるさとの家庭料理 [Festival and Event Feasts: A Record of Hometown Home Cooking] (in Japanese). 4 April 2004. ISBN 978-4540033407.