More Jidai Matsuri

Although the Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages) was first held in 1895 to commemorate the 1100th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Kyoto, it was said to be originally created to raise Kyoto's morale after the loss of the capital and Imperial Court to Tokyo in 1868.

Kazu-no-Miya (1860) - Princess Kazu, sister of Emperor Komei married into the Tokugawa family (Tokugawa Iemochi) at the age of 16 (as part of the movement to unite court and bafuku, shogun government). But the death of the shogun in 1866 put an end to the short marriage.

Two of the attendants that serve the princess.

Gyokuran (1750), grand daughter of Kaji, who married Ikeno Taiga, a famous painter of the Edo Period, was herself a great painter and an excellent writer of poetry.

Yoshino Tayu (1630) is a famous woman in Kyoto. She has one of the highest rating as a female entertainer in the 17th century.

Procession of Lord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1590) - Hideyoshi paid visit to the Emperor arriving in an ox-cart together with a procession of men. One of the most remarkable men in Japanese history in the unification of Japan. In 1590, Toyotomi Hideyoshi completed construction of the huge Osaka Castle, the largest and most formidable in all Japan, to guard the western approaches to Kyoto.

The costumes are special as they are permitted only be worn during such ceremonial occasions.

Procession of Lord Oda Nobunaga's entry into Kyoto (1570) - By the time of the Onin Civil War (1467), Kyoto was almost completely ruined. At the Emperor's request in 1569, Oda Nobunaga gathered his armies and reached Kyoto to repair the Imperial Palace and restore peace to the city.

Shizuka-Gozen (1180) - Lady Shizuka, a famed Kyoto dancer, was the beloved of Minamoto Yoshitsune. Hers is a sad story - sad parting with her lover, Minamoto.

The colorfully-attired troops from the early 14th Century.

Yabusame Archers (1220) - An ancient samurai art of horse archery. A yabusame archer gallops down a 208-meter-long track at high speed. The archer mainly controls his horse with his knees, as he needs both hands to draw and shoot his bow.

To hit all three targets is considered an admirable accomplishment. And to be selected as a yabusame archer is a great honor. In the past, they were chosen from only the best warriors. Yabusame was designed as a way to please and entertain the myriad of gods that watch over Japan, thus encouraging their blessings for the prosperity of the land, the people, and the harvest.

Tomoe-Gozen (1180) - As the wife of General Kiso Yoshinaka, she fought courageously alongside her husband in battle. Some say that she became a nun after his death. She was one of the few examples of a true female samurai in japanese history.

Wake-no-Hiromushi (790) took care of many orphans. Her merciful deeds served as the foundation for Japanese orphanage.

Procession of Warriors of the Enryaku Period (800) - These armor-clad soldiers are led by Sakanoue-no-Tamuramaro, the commander-in-chief of the military forces during the early days of Heian-Kyo (Kyoto). Enryaku-ji was at one time one of the most powerful and largest Buddhist monasteries in Japan, with more than 3000 buildings contained within its walls. Enryaku-ji acquired an army of its own, so powerful that it started to pose a threat to the armies of the feudal lords themselves.

In the first Jidai Matsuri (Festival of the Ages), there were only six sections in the procession. In 1921, this grew to eight. In 1931 the procession was made even more picturesque and expanded to 10 sections. Suspended in 1944 because of the war, the procession was revived in 1950 with further additions and more pageantry.

The main event of this festival is the procession of two palanquins containing the holy spirits of the Emperors Komei and Kammu and prior to the arrival of the palanquins, various music and dance were performed. I decided to leave early for the Kurama Fire Festival. No pictures therefore.