Nao-san at the Naginata-boko during the Gion Matsuri.

The sacred page ('chigo') of the Naginata-boko float, performing during the Gion Matsuri.

One of the decorated ox carriages, part of the Aoi Matsuri procession.

An attendant, dressed in Heian period costume, parades during Aoi Matsuri.

The Jidai Matsuri (時代祭 'Festival of the Ages') is 1 of Kyōto's '3 Great Festivals', along with the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) in May and the Gion Matsuri (祇園祭) in July.

#jidaimatsuri #時代祭 #京都 #gionmatsuri #祇園祭 #aoimatsuri #葵祭

Painting depicting a Noh performance of the play 'Lady Oi'.

Painting depicting a funeral service.

Painting depicting a funeral service.

Painting depicting a Noh performance of the play 'Lady Oi'.

A little later Genji's wife, Lady Aoi (葵の上), has her servants maliciously shove Rokujō's carriage aside.

Utterly humiliated and filled with hatred, Rokujō's living spirit will later possess and kill Aoi!
#Kyoto #京都 #葵祭 #AoiMatsuri #源氏物語 #TheTaleOfGenji #Japan

Participants in the Aoi Matsuri.

Participants in the Aoi Matsuri.

Participants in the Aoi Matsuri.

Participants in the Aoi Matsuri.

The parade begins at 10:30am from the southern part of the Kyōto Gosho (imperial palace park). In total the 700m-long stream of participants will walk 8km.

It's estimated that this one event costs around 35,000,000 yen (about 320,000 dollars, 245,000 pounds and 284,000 euros).

#aoimatsuri #葵祭 #京都

Photos from the Aoi Matsuri parade.

Photos from the Aoi Matsuri parade.

Photos from the Aoi Matsuri parade.

Photos from the Aoi Matsuri parade.

There are now two main parts to the parade day: the procession, known as 'Rotō-no-gi' (路頭の儀 lit. 'Roadside Ceremony'), and the shrine rites, known as 'Shatō-no-gi' (社頭の儀 'Front of Shrine Ceremony’).

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #AoiMatsuri #葵祭 #下鴨神社 #上賀茂神社 #祭り

The Aoi Matsuri's Saio-dai (once a princess of imperial blood that served as priestess to the Kamo shrines). Photo thanks🙇‍♂️-https://wakasa15thfd.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/

The Aoi Matsuri's Saio-dai (once a princess of imperial blood that served as priestess to the Kamo shrines). Photo thanks🙇‍♂️-https://wakasa15thfd.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/

The Aoi Matsuri's Saio-dai (once a princess of imperial blood that served as priestess to the Kamo shrines). Photo thanks🙇‍♂️-https://wakasa15thfd.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/

The Aoi Matsuri's Saio-dai (once a princess of imperial blood that served as priestess to the Kamo shrines). Photo thanks🙇‍♂️-https://wakasa15thfd.wordpress.com/2019/05/06/

The other notable figure in the procession is the Saiō-dai (斎王代).
Once an unmarried imperial princess (that acted as priestess for the Kamo shrines), the Saiō-dai is now chosen from a respected local family. She participates in a handful of festival rituals.

#Kyoto #AoiMatsuri #festival #Japan

Participants in the May 15th Aoi Matsuri parade. The procession departs from the Imperial Palace and winds towards the Kamo shrines.

Participants in the May 15th Aoi Matsuri parade. The procession departs from the Imperial Palace and winds towards the Kamo shrines.

Participants in the May 15th Aoi Matsuri parade. The procession departs from the Imperial Palace and winds towards the Kamo shrines.

Participants in the May 15th Aoi Matsuri parade. The procession departs from the Imperial Palace and winds towards the Kamo shrines.

Interestingly it was only after the Tokugawa’s assistance in reviving the festival that it became known as the Aoi Matsuri (葵祭).
Until this time is was known as the 'Kamo Matsuri' (賀茂祭), or simply as 'The Festival' (祭).

#Kyoto #AoiMatsuri #葵祭 #賀茂祭 #祭 #Japan #京都

To celebrate the Aoi Matsuri we serve sweets emblazoned with wild ginger leaves, motif of the festival.

Wild ginger leaves. The Aoi Matsuri has often been translated as 'Hollyhock Festival', but Aoi are completely unrelated to hollyhocks!

Participants in the Aoi Matsuri wear wild ginger leaves on their hats or clothing.

Shrines associated with the Kamo clan often use wild ginger leaves as a crest.

The Aoi Matsuri (葵祭) is named after the wild ginger leaves used as decoration (on clothes, headdresses and carriages) throughout the festival.

The tradition of displaying the leaves began with Kamo-no-Taketsunumi (賀茂建角身命), one of the gods enshrined at Shimogamo-jinja.

#AoiMatsuri #Shimogamojinja

A lady-in-waiting is led on horseback during the Aoi Matsuri parade.

The crest of the Tokugawa (three wild ginger leaves).

Large parasols decorated with irises shade the lady courtiers during the parade (the multi-layered kimonos worn are particularly heavy and taxing in the hot May weather).

A participant in the Aoi Matsuri parade.

Following the Ōnin War (応仁・文明の乱 1467-77) the festival was suspended for over a century and a half.
The Tokugawa shōgunate helped revive the Aoi Matsuri, and it's believed that at this time the Tokugawa first adopted an aoi (wild ginger) leaf motif as their crest (三つ葉葵).

#Tokugawa #AoiMatsuri #葵祭

The Romon gate at Kamigamo-jinja (the upper Kamo shrine).

Participants in the Aoi Matsuri parade.

Nao-san feeds the 'sacred horse' at Kamigamo-jinja. The shrine is famed for its horse races in May, used to entertain the Kamo gods.

The Romon gate at Shimogamo-jinja (the lower Kamo shrine).

In response the emperor had special rites performed at the Kamo shrines (賀茂神社 - the current Kamigamo-jinja and Shimogamo-jinja) and miraculously the crisis abated.
Over time the rituals grew into a larger, two-week celebration, including horse races and a sumptuous parade🏇

#AoiMatsuri #葵祭 #Kyoto

Am 14. April wurde die diesjährige Besetzung für die Oberpriesterinnen-Rolle des Aoi-Festivals angekündigt: eine 25-jährige Musikstudentin aus Kyoto wurde ausgewählt. #Japan #AoiMatsuri
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