K-12 Outreach for Japanese Culture: 9月 / September

旧暦の九月九日は「重陽の節句」と呼ばれる五節句のひとつ。陰陽思想では、奇数は陽の日であり、一桁では陽の最大の数である「九」が並ぶこの日は佳日とされた。平安時代、宮中では邪気を払い、菊花に長寿を祈り、詩歌を作る宴が行われたことから、「菊の節句」ともよばれる。中国ではぐみの実をもって丘や山に上り、菊酒を飲み、悪いものを祓い長寿を願ったとされる。中国では菊は別名翁草・千代見草・齢草と言われていて、長寿のシンボルとされていたためだ。こうした風習が日本に伝わり、宮中の行事になったと思われる。また、この時期は本格的な稲の収穫に入るため、農村部では収穫にまつわる行事が行われていた。現在は菊のコンクールが九月に行われたり、京都の上賀茂神社では、無病息災を祈る重陽の節会が今でも開かれている。

The ninth day of the ninth month in the old lunar calendar is called "Chōyō," and is known as one of the five sekku which are traditional seasonal celebrations. According to Chinese yin and yang philosophy, odd numbered days are considered to be lucky, and the largest one digit odd numbers in the calendar, the ninth day of the ninth month, or the double nine day, became a day of celebration. This day is also called "Kiku no Sekku (Sekku of Chrysanthemum),” since during the Heian period (794-1185). Nobles at the Imperial Court held festivals to purify the evil spirits, prayed to the chrysanthemum flowers for longevity and created poetry. In China, there used to be a ritual where people would hike up a hill or a mountain with some silverberries and drink chrysanthemum alcohol to evict the bad spirits away to and to wish for longevity. In Chinese, chrysanthemum was also called “old-man grass,” “thousand generation grass” and “age grass,” and thus attributed to the symbolism of longevity. These symbols and rituals from China also spread to Japan. The day of Chōyō is also the beginning of the rice harvesting season, so farmers held the festivals to pray for good harvest. Today, there is an annual chrysanthemum contest held during the month of September, and in Kyoto’s oldest temple, the Kamigamo Jinja or Temple, still holds a large ceremony to pray for good health and safety.

菊の展示 / Display of chrysanthemums

この時期の花としても知られるためか、この時期の和菓子は「菊」をモチーフとしてものが多い。故事にちなみ、菓子の名前も「重陽」や「着綿」などとよばれることがある。

Because chrysanthemum flowers bloom during this season, wagashi during this time are often inspired by the flower. Such confectioneries are often called chōyō or kisewata, associating to the old rituals.

平安時代の日本の宮中では重陽の節会といった行事があった。現在の皇居のシンボルが菊であるのはここから来たのかもしれない。また、農民庶民の間では栗の節句といって秋の収穫を祝った日とされている。江戸時代に入り、武家の祝日の代わったといわれている。

現在は菊のコンクールが九月に行われたり、京都の上賀茂神社では、無病息災を祈る重陽の節会が今でも開かれている。

During the Heian period (794 - 1185), the Japanese Imperial Palace held events called sechie on Chōyō (September 9^th). There is a theory that perhaps the symbol of the Imperial Palace, the chrysanthemum, came from this day. Farmers also celebrated this holiday by eating kuri or chestnuts to celebrate the fall harvest, and they called it the "Kuri no Sekku" or “Chestnut Holiday.” During the Edo period (1603-1868), it is said that the day was replaced as a samurai’s holiday instead of the farmers.

Today, there is an annual chrysanthemum contest held during the month of September, and in Kyoto’s oldest temple, the Kamigamo Jinja or Temple, still holds a large ceremony to pray for good health and safety.

日本の帝国期 / The Imperial Flag of Japan

On the day of Chōyō, the Kamigamo Jinja or Shrine in Kyoto holds a ceremony and sumo wresting competitions to pray for good harvest and longevity. The Kamigamo Jinja or Shrine is the oldest shrine in Kyoto and is a world heritage site.

重陽祭りでの子供相撲 / Kids sumo wresting during the Double Ninth Festival