Matsuri are Japanese festivals of sacred Shinto origin, related to the rice-farming and the spiritual well-being of local communities.
Japanese live on rice. We are very particular (fussy) about rice. I often hear some people say that today’s rice is good, or this year’s rice is not good, or The rice at that restaurant is good or the rice in Niigata prefecture is very good, etc. The rice used in sushi is called ‘gin-shari’ that literally means silver-coloured Buddaha’s ashes, because people think rice is as precious as god’s ashes glittering like silver. In rice farming, seeds are sown first in spring, and rice plants are transplanted to paddies early in summer. They grow rapidly under the scorching summer sun, and bear grains which are harvested in autumn. Rice-growing farmers repeat this process every year.
In ancient Japan, agriculture was the core of all industries, and people used to be greatly concerned about the seasons and climates. People in those days lived throughout the year in accordance with rice farming schedules. It is for this reason that Japanese matsuri festivals are closely associated with rice farming.
Today, Japan is rapidly getting less agriculture-oriented and is moving towards the production of high tech-devices, however, the nation has inherited rice farming traditions from generation to generation such as Oshougatsu, Mamemaki, Akimatsuri etc.
Nenchugyoji are annual and seasonal observances of Chinese or Buddist origin. In Chinese, odd numbers are lucky as they represent activeness governed by the sun. Whereas even numbers are unlucky as they represent passiveness governed by the moon, so annual events are held in odd numbered months. January oshougatsu, March doll festival, May Boy’s festival, July star festival, September the Chrysanthemum festival.
There are other customs which symbolize the national character of the Japanese people who really appreciate the beauty of nature. We enjoy communicating with nature through events such as Cherry blossom-viewing, moon-gazing, autumn leaves-viewing and snow-viewing.
Cherry blossoms, sakura, are the national flower of Japan. Most Japanese love them.
People enjoy outdoor parties under the
cherry blossoms in full bloom.
The flower-viewing
season, however, hardly lasts a week as the life of the cherry blossoms is
short making the cherry blossoms all the more desirable.
The Japanese people tend to have a special feeling when the cherry blossoms are falling. That kind of sentiment is called Monono-aware in Japanese and the Japanese love that kind of feeling.
A British scholar said that the most difficult
word to translate into English was ‘monono-aware’. It is really difficult to
explain not only in English but in Japanese. ‘monono-aware’ can be translated
like’ beauty of impermanence’, ‘ephemeral beauty’ ,or ’the kind of beauty only
a very sensitive heart can appreciate’.
