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- ** LIFE IN JAPAN:CRUCIAL TIPS FOR FOREIGNERS ** -
01/04/2011 [Tue] NO.0003 ----------------------------------------------
////////////// Presented by YUEISYA http://www.yueisya.com
////////////// and Asian-Curd http://asian-curd.asia
-** FEATURES OF THIS ISSUE **-
[1] ESSAY: JAPAN'S NEW YEAR HOLIDAY - "OSHOGATATSU"
[2] THE PUBLISHER'S POSTSCRIPT
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FEATURES
[1]
--** ESSAY: JAPAN'S NEW YEAR HOLIDAY - "OSHOGATATSU" **--
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ ODA MITSUO
THE PRESIDENT OF VOLUNTARY GROUP OF "ASIAN CURD" AND CHIEF
TRANSLATOR OF "YUEISYA"
EVERYONE, A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 FROM JAPAN!
I am Oda Mitsuo, one of this newsletter's publishers.
Today I send a special essay for the new year: "Oshogatsu(お正月)" - Japan's
new year holiday.
The origin of Japan's "Oshogatsu" can be traced back to the ancient Chinese
civilization.
Ancient Chinese celebrated (and they still celebrate) New Year's Day of their
calendar as the beginning of springtime, because traditional Chinese calendar
were set to begin from early spring. This New Year Festival of ancient China
had spread gradually into east Asia region around China, such as Korea, Mongol,
and Vietnam.
Japan's "Oshogatsu" is also one of them.
But the date of Japan's "Oshogatsu" ceased to celebrate according to traditional
Chinese calendar, unlike modern China or Korea, where people still celebrate their
New Year Festival according to traditional calendar.
With Meiji restoration in 19th century Japan fully adopted western calendar and
threw away Chinese traditional calendar. From that time on, Japanese people have
held their "Oshogatsu" just in the beginning of January. Contrary to that,
modern Chinese people, for example, hold New Year Festival around 1 month later
than Japanese people, although cultural backgrounds of both festivals share the
same root.
In "Oshogatsu", Japanese people have a tradition to go and pray to shrines and
temples for this year's good luck. It is called "Hatsumode(初詣)" - that you probably
know about more or less.
From the midnight of January 1st on, Japanese people are packed in shrines and
temples in every city and neighborhood. This is the tradition that Japanese people
have kept from old times in history.
There are many traditions for "Oshogatsu" Japanese people have inherited from the
past.
One of them is "Shichifuku-jin(七福神)", whose meaning is "seven lucky deities".
"Shichifuku-jin" becomes iconic deities in Japan's Oshogatsu.
Many cities have seven designated shrines that each of "Shichifuku-jin" are enshrined,
that people have a tradition in Oshogatsu to go round each of them and pray their
luck of this year.
Also there is a tradition of "Takarabune(宝船)", whose meaning is "treasure ship", that
is a picture of seven deities riding on a ship and sailing on the sea. This picture is
believed to bring a good luck when one goes to bed at New Year's night putting the picture
under the pillow and have a sweet dream after sleeping. This tradition is called
"Hatsuyume(初夢)", that begins from Edo era(1600-1867).
Although composition of "Shichifuku-jin" has altered from ages to ages, the followings
are chosen as for the present time's seven deities :
Ebisu(恵比寿)
Daikoku(大黒)
Bishamonten(毘沙門天)
Benten(弁天)
Hotei(布袋)
Fukurokuju(福禄寿)
Jurojin(寿老人)
These seven deities are, in truth, the international team of Japan's indigenous deities
and deities whose origins are abroad.
Ebisu and Daikoku are Japan's indigenous deities. They are referred to in Japan's ancient
historical book and legend "Kojiki(古事記)" and "Nihon Shoki(日本書紀)".
Ebisu becomes highly revered as a deity of fishery and trade, and Daikoku becomes also
revered as a deity of agriculture.
The origin of Bishamonten and Benten is in India.
Bishamonten becomes revered as a deity of Buddism, whose role is said to guard northern side
of Mount Sumeru, that is located in the center of the world and where supreme deities resides,
according to ancient Indian legend. Buddism also adopted ancient Indian legend and Bishamonten
became an important deity guarding Buddists by his power.
Benten was also brought in Japan through Buddism, and her origin was the goddess of Indian
legend Sarasvati, who is revered as a guardian of knowledge and art. Both Bishamonten and
Benten were introduced in Japan through Buddism, and now become revered by Japanese people.
Hotei was a Zen Buddist monk who lived in late Tang dynasty of China. His Buddist name was
Qieci(契此). After his death, he became believed by Chinese people that he was an avatar of
Budda Maitreya, so his figure (fat and laughing monk having a large bag) is seen in Chinese
temples as Budda Maitreya. Probably by traders this monk were introduced into Japan, and
Hotei became a popular lucky deity and adopted as one of Shichifuku-jin, although Japanese
people don't see him as a Budda, unlike Chinese people.
Also Fukurokuju and Jurojin are introduced in Japan from China. They are said to be two of
many Taoist deities.
As seen above, five of seven Shichifuku-jin are from abroad.
Throughout history, Japanese people had introduced foreign cultures and mixed them with
indegenious culture and created their own hybrid. That made Japan's tradition.
Japan is located in the eastern tip of Eurasia Great continent. This location enabled Japan
to receive and absorb a variety of foreign cultures in the wake of its history. In the
traditions of Japanese Oshogatsu too, foreign influences are highly integrated, like
Shichifuku-jin.
I end this essay by introducing you the formal procedure to pray in Japan's shrines.
After you step into the precinct of a shrine. you will be able find somewhere in it a
reservoir filled with water to wash hands and mouths.
This place is called "Temizuya(手水舎)".
First of all, let's wash your both hands with water in Temizuya.
More formal way recommends to wash your mouth with water, but you don't have to do it
if you dislike.
To wash hands (and a mouth) with Temizuya's water is to clean yourself before you pray
a shrine.
Inside the precinct of a shrine, there is a conspicuous building where people gather
and pray.
This building, usually built by wood, is called "Haiden(拝殿)", whise meaning is "praying
building".
After washing hands you will go and pray in front of Haiden.
You will able to see a clean road that leads to Haiden.
This road is called "Sando(参道)".
It is right you walk over Sando when you pray.
But it is not right you walk in the middle of Sando.
Because the middle of Sando is spared for deities to pass through.
It is right to walk either right or left side of Sando.
Then you will get in front of Haiden.
After you stand in front of Haiden, it is right you bow deeply two times.
After bowing two times, you clap your hands, clearly and solemnly, and two times.
Close you eyes, and pray for deities and recite your wish.
After praying, it is right you bow deeply again, this time only once.
This is called "Two bows, two hand-clapping, and one bow".
This is the formal way to pray in shrines.
You don't have to follow the formal way fully, of course.
Even Japanese people rarely follow.
But if you know about the formal way to pray in shrines and tell Japanese how to
pray, they surely will be surprised by your knowledge. You might have a knowledge
of Japan even Japanese people don't know...
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FEATURES
[2]
--** THE PUBLISHE'R POSTSCRIPT **--
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ ODA MITSUO
THE PRESIDENT OF VOLUNTARY GROUP OF "ASIAN CURD" AND CHIEF
TRANSLATOR OF "YUEISYA"
A HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 FROM JAPAN!
We send you the volume 3 of our newsletter as the new year special issue.
Japan's "Oshogatsu" is one of the most interesting holiday seasons in
Japan's calendar.
We hope you also get interested in the uniqueness of "Oshogatsu".
Our newsletter is still under development. And we wish to make it
better with the help of your voices.
So we are pleased to hear your opinions and requests.
If you are satisfied with our newsletter, we are glad with your action
to recommend your friends to subscribe too.
Both Entry and subscription of our newsletter are, as you know,
ALL FREE!
That's all for this issue.
See you next time...!
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---** PUBLISHER **-------------------------------------------------:)
-------------------------** PUBLISHER **---------------------------:)
Shosen-Daini Building 5F
269-4, Sasaya 4-Chome,
Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 6028453 Japan
Yueisya
Sumida Masanori
e-mail info@yueisya.com
Mezon-Eiwa 202,
487 Shimogawara-dori,Yasakatorii-mae Sagaru Shimogawaramachi,
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto 6050825 Japan
President of Asian Curd
Oda Mitsuo
mit@asian-curd.asia
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