K-12 Outreach for Japanese Culture: 10月 / October

This guide is designed for K to 12 instructors who teach Japanese culture and traditions.

十五夜 と月見/ Jūgoya to Tsukimi (Jūgoya and Moon Viewing)

十五夜は陰暦の十五日の満月の夜をさすが、通例は陰暦八月十五日の夜を指す。月の満ち欠けを基準とする太陰暦で、満月はもっともわかりやすい目印であり、生活の折り目のよりどころになっていた。旧暦の八月十五日は空が済み満月がよく映えるため、この夜の月を「中秋の名月」と呼び、平安時代頃から貴族の間で観月の宴が催された。とはいえ、「八月十五日」は旧暦のため、現在ではこうした月見の行事は九月始めから十月始めに行われる。また、月見には、すすきを飾り、団子やこの時期収穫される里芋などを供えることから、この夜の満月を「芋名月」と呼ぶ地方もある。

すすきの穂は指を切るほど切り口が鋭いため、その鋭さが魔除けになるとされ、月見の飾りに使われるようになった。また、月見のお供え物は子供にとられると縁起がよいとされていた。畑の野菜も、たすきや前掛けに包める程度の量であれば許されていた。この夜訪れる神に盗まれること、つまり受容されたとして、吉兆と考えられていた。

Jūgoya (directly translated as "fifteen night") originated from the old lunar calendar on the fifteenth night of the eighth month and is on the night of a full moon. The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon phrases, and the full moon is the easiest to mark the cycle. The eighth month is considered to be the best time to gaze at the full moon because of the clear air which makes the moon seem brighter. The moon is called "Chūshū no Meigetsu (Mid-Autumn Moon).” The court nobles during the Heian period (794-1185) held festivals to gaze at the moon. Today, the moon viewing custom is held somewhere between late September to early October. The moon on this night is also called "imo meigetsu (taro moon)," for the reason being, people serve tsukimi dango (moon viewing dumplings) and newly harvested taro roots with susuki (Japanese silver grass) decorations.

The tip of the silver grass is so sharp that one can easily cut themselves by just touching it; the sharpness of the grass became a symbol to ward off the bad spirits. People also considered it to be a good omen if the offerings to the moon were taken by children. Also on the night of Jūgoya, people were allowed to steal a handful of crops from the farms. It was considered a blessing to have the crops taken by the spirits visiting during the night. 


十五夜の風景 / A scene of Jūgoya


ススキ / Japanese silver grass

月とウサギ / Moon and Rabbit

古来ウサギは人間と密接な関わりを持つ動物とされ、ウサギにまつわる様々な説話や地名が各地に伝えられている。特に、月にはウサギがいるという説話がよく知られているが、これはもともとインドの仏教説話で、、平安時代後期の説話集「今昔物語集」の巻第五に「三獣行菩薩道、兎焼身語 第十三」として伝わっている。

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今は昔、天竺にウサギとキツネとサルが、仏道を求めていた。帝釈天はこの三匹の仏心をためすため、疲れ果てた老人に姿を変え、三匹に。食べ物を恵んでくれと言った。サルは木に登って果物を、人間の畑から穀物を取り、狐は供え物の魚などを取ってきて老人を養った。ウサギは昼夜を問わず、食べ物を探しまわったが、何も手に入らなかった。ウサギは老人に、美味しいものを持ってくるから火を焚いて待つように頼んだ。サルとキツネは火をおこしてウサギを待ったが、ウサギは何も持たずに帰ってきた。キツネとサルがウサギをなじったところ、ウサギは「私には食べ物を取る力がない。だから我が身を焼くのでそれを食べてくれ」といい、火の中に飛び込み、自分の身を老人にささげた。老人は帝釈天の姿に戻り、ウサギの姿を月に映し、衆生の手本にしたという。

Rabbits have a close relationship with people through examples such as folk tales and geographic names. One of the most well-known myth is about a rabbit that lives on the moon. This belief originated from the Buddhist Jataka tales and retold in folk collection titled Konjaku monogatari shū (Tales of Times Past), compiled in the late Heian period (794 to 1185).

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Once upon a time, there were three animals, a hare, a fox and a monkey living together in India practicing the Way of the bodhisattva. The three believed that they were born as lowly animals because their previous existences were sinful, and thus they vowed to always avoid self-centeredness.

Observing the three animal’s good deeds, the heavenly deity, Taishakuten, wanted to test them for his trust if the three animals have truly good hearts. Taishakuten transformed himself into an old man suffering from hunger and fatigue and appeared in front of the animals and asked for some food. In an instant, the monkey climbed trees to collect nuts, fruits and vegetables and prepared the food as the old man liked. The fox went to the graveyard to collect the offerings of rice and fish. Taishakuten ate until he was full and deemed the monkey and the fox as true bodhisattvas.

However, no matter how hard the hare tried, he found no food. The monkey, fox and even the old man laughed at the hare. The hare thought about going to the mountains and villages to get some food for the old man but was afraid of the beasts and humans that might eat him. And thought his life would be more worthwhile if he gave his own body to the old man to eat.

The hare ordered the monkey and the fox to build a fire for he told them he will bring back something delicious for the old man this time. Soon, the rabbit returned with nothing in his hands and the two animals became angry. The rabbit replied, “I am not able to find food. So please, old man, roast and eat my body!” The rabbit jumped into that fire and burned to death.

In an instance, the old man transformed back into himself as the Taishakuten and relocated the hare’s body to the moon to be seen and remember by everyone. The pattern on the moon are the smoke of the fire the rabbit died.   

十五夜と和菓子 / Jūgoya to Wagashi (Jūgoya and Sweets)

十月には「十五夜」と言って旧暦の八月十五日に当たる時期に「月見団子」、また月に関係・縁のある形の和菓子が店に並ぶ。

Jūgoya is celebrated with wagashi, traditional Japanese confectioneries, called “tsukimi dango” or “full moon dumplings.” In stores, there are also sweets that are inspired by the full moon either in shape or in traditions.


月見団子 / Tsukimi dango


ウサギの和菓子 / Wagashi inspired by the rabbit

十五夜お月さん

十五夜お月さん ごきげんさん (Jūgoya otsuki-san Gokigensan)

婆やは お暇(いとま)取りました (Bāya wa Itoma torimashita)

 

十五夜お月さん 妹は (Jūgoya otsuki-san Imōto wa) 

田舎へ貰(も)られて 行きました (Inaka he morarete Ikimashita)

十五夜お月さん 母(かか)さんに (Jūgoya otsuki-san Kaka-san ni)

も一度私は 会いたいな (Mo ichido watashi wa Aitaina)

 

Mr. Moon on Jūgoya night, how are you?

Grandma took a break

 

Mr. Moon on Jūgoya night, my sister

Was taken to the countryside

 

Mr. Moon on Jūgoya night, I just want to 

See Mom again