Basic ideas for Gion Matsuri
Now July started and we are on Gion Matsuri that shows us the old faiths are still alive. The first Gion Matsuri, or Gion Goryo-e, commenced in 869 in order to get rid of epidemics.
Before Gion Goryo-e, people thought petals of flowers bring them epidemics when they fall off in spring. This shows us the most basic and important idea to understand Gion Matsuri: The cause of epidemics existed outside of a community.
In the 8th century, the centralized government was established and annual Matsuri were organized. One of them is Hanashizume no Matsuri (鎮花祭). In the Matsuri, priest Ekijin (疫神), the Kami, or Shinto deity, causes epidemics.
Traditionally, we find Kami behind nature and natural phenomena. And matsuri is the way to welcome them with hospitality. 祭(Matsuri) stands for a hand put a piece of meat on an altar. Ancient people thought when they do good to Kami, they also do good to them and vice versa.
The faith of Goryo
The establishment of the government gave rise to political conflicts. People started to consider the causes of epidemics are the grieving souls of the ousted court nobles and officials. The first Goryo-e on record is the one held in 863 in order to calm the souls of Sawara Shino, the brother of Emperor Kanmu, and others. The first Gion Goryo-e must have been held in order to ease their souls. I assume they were considered as Ekijins. This Goyo-e was held on the faith of Goryo.
In Goryo-e, priests, monks, and people “entertained” the deceased souls and “let them go away, ” i.e., remove the cause of epidemics.
As time went on, people found the cause of epidemics is Gozu Tennno, the most famous and Ekijin. Gozu Tennno is a deity of Buddhism and Onmyodo. Onmyodo is a philosophy that decribes the world with Yin-Yang and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, gold, and water). For instance, Eto is based on it. He is a deity from overseas and was enshrined in Gion-sha temple (known as Yasaka shrine today), located outside of Heian Kyo city.
And people find easier way to save their lives: Taking advantage of the enormous power of Gozutenno. They asked him to keep epidemics away from them. This concept is the faith of (Gozu) Tenno and Gion Matsuri is carried on this faith today.
Yasaka shrine that holds Gion Matsuri enshrines Susanoh no Mikoto instead of Gozu Tenno today but they had been enshrined there for over one thousand years. In 19th century, the fusion of Shinto and Buddhism were abolished “in terms of law” but as a matter of fact, it never fails the test of time and is still alive among us.合掌
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