😇👋A MONTH OF NO GODS🧳⛩️
There is a quaint belief that in the 10th month the gods of Japan congregate for a great gathering to discuss matchmaking at Izumo-taisha (出雲大社) in Shimane Prefecture.
Only hard-of-hearing Ebisu & the Sun Goddess miss this annual pilgrimage.
#Japan
In the traditional calendar the 10th month is known as 'Kannazuki' (神無月), which nowadays has come mean 'Month Without Gods'.
Because the gods are said to gather at Izumo-taisha, in Izumo Province the 10th month was called 'Kamiarizuki' (神有月 'Month With Gods').
#folkore
It seems that originally the 10th month was called the 'Month of Gods' across Japan, as the character '無' was used for its sound ('na') rather than its meaning. In fact it's possible that when imported from China, the characters '神無' were only used for their phonetic value.
Since medieval times Izumo-taisha has proudly asserted that the gods do indeed gather at the shrine each year to discuss important matters. Arriving on October 10th, the gods get down to business from the 11th-17th, staying at the shrine. From October 18th they depart once more.
Gods that miss the gathering are known as 'rusu-gami' (留守神 'absent gods'). Perhaps the most famous rusu-gami is Ebisu (恵比寿), one of the only gods to skip the annual event. Because he remains at home, many communities hold festivities during this time at his shrines.
#Japan
🦌GOODBYE ANTLERS🪚
In poetic circles the melancholy sound of a deer's cry was deeply linked to fall...a nostalgic image that turned thoughts to sunnier (happier) days.

Kagizen's (鍵善良房) 'shikanaku' (鹿鳴く) shows a stag in deep autumn, calling out with frosty breath.
#Nara
From late October (since 1671) an antler cutting ceremony called 'Shika-no-tsunokiri' (鹿の角切り) takes place at Nara Park.

Killing one of Nara's sacred deer was punishable by death for many centuries. The law was last enforced in 1637.

Photo thanks🙇‍♂️-sankei-nara-iga.jp
when the deer cries
the red leaves too
fall like tears
鳴鹿に紅葉もほろりほろり哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1805.

Autumn deepens at Mizuya-chaya (水谷茶屋).
The old teahouse sits in a small clearing between Tōdai-ji and Kasuga Taisha in Nara.
#Nara #奈良 #鹿 #水谷茶屋 #Japan
Deer mating season begins in October and carries on through autumn, the mournful barks of bucks common as they gather to tussle for mates🗨️🦌

Mizuya-chaya (水谷茶屋) was created in 1948, recycling timber from an older, Taishō-period building🍵🍜🍁

#Nara #奈良 #水谷茶屋 #autumn
🍁THE CHILL BEGINS🥶
October 23rd-27th in the traditional calendar is known as 'first frost' (霜始降). 'Hada-samu' (肌寒) describes that deepening autumn chill.
Although the daytime is mostly warm, mornings & evenings can feel surprisingly cold ('asa-samu' 朝寒/'yo-samu' 夜寒).

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More from @camelliakyoto

Oct 26
through the smoke
a glimpse of olden times...
fallen leaves
けぶらして昔めかする木の葉哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1807.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #銀杏 #ginkgo #autumn
The Great Yellowing is not yet upon us (ginkgo leaves will reach their golden peak around November 23rd), but you've probably already smelt autumn in the air.
When the fruit from female ginkgo trees falls & begins to rot, the butyric acid in the skin gives off a vomit-like odor🤢
🌳THE UPSIDE DOWN GINKGO🔃

Nishi Hongan-ji's (西本願寺) famed 400 year old 'sakasa-ichō' (逆さ銀杏 'upside down ginkgo') is so-named because when the leaves have fallen it looks surprisingly like roots reaching up to the sky.
#Kyoto #ginkgo #京都 #西本願寺 #folklore #逆さ銀杏
Read 6 tweets
Oct 25
👹'TOMB OF THE BEASTS'😱

In 1611, during excavation of the Takase Canal (高瀬川), Suminokura Ryōi (角倉了以) discovered a stone pagoda. Further investigation revealed that he had unearthed the tomb of the 'traitor' Toyotomi Hidetsugu (豊臣秀次 1568-95).
#folklore #Kyoto #京都
Hidetsugu was the nephew and heir of Japan's de facto ruler, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉), but in 1595 he dramatically fell from grace and was forced to commit seppuku at Mt Kōya.

His grave became known by many names, including the "Beast's Mound" (畜生塚 "Chikushō-zuka").
It is unclear why Hidetsugu was so abruptly put to death, but the most likely explanation is the unexpected birth of Hideyoshi's son in 1593.
When Hideyori (秀頼) survived his first years, Hideyoshi no longer needed an adopted heir & Hidetsugu may well have thought about a coup.
Read 24 tweets
Oct 23
🪟WINDOW TO AUTUMN🍁

The great leaf change is almost upon us, and the countdown to 'momijigari' (紅葉狩り 'autumn-leaf viewing') has begun.

back window-
the deer strikes a pose
the dog sleeps
うら窓や鹿のきどりに犬の寝る
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1820.
Trans. David G. Lanoue. ImageImageImageImage
Fall colours arrive at a different time each year, but the Japan Meteorological Agency has a handy tracker...
🗾🍁➡️n-kishou.com/corp/news-cont…

It seems that ginkgo will be at their peak around November 23rd & maple leaves around December 2nd (a bit later than last year) in Kyōto. ImageImageImageImage
One annual event we eagerly await is Yūhisai Kōdō-kan's (有斐斎弘道館) competition to find the best 'kyōgashi' (京菓子 - traditional Kyōto-style confectionery) on a given theme...which this year is Sei Shōnagon's (清少納言 966-1025?) 'The Pillow Book' (枕草子 'Makura-no-sōshi'). ImageImageImageImage
Read 6 tweets
Sep 13
📿KYŌTO'S SHIKOKU PILGRIMAGE🙏

even in Kyoto-
hearing the cuckoo's cry-
I long for Kyoto
京にても 京なつかしや ほととぎす
-Matsuo Bashō (松尾芭蕉 1644–1694).

Around the New Year I like to complete a small pilgrimage, not particularly well known, on a mountain close to my house.
Are you interested in undertaking the Shikoku Pilgrimage (四国遍路), but find yourself without any real time to do so?🤔

Not to worry...close to our Camellia Garden Teahouse there is a way to complete the pilgrimage without ever leaving Kyōto🙌
#Kyoto #Japan #京都 #四国遍路
Snaking up and down the slopes of Jyōju-san (成就山), a mountain that rises behind Ninna-ji (仁和寺), is a tiny version of the Shikoku Pilgrimage.

Kūkai (空海 774-835), founder of Shingon Buddhism (真言宗), is alleged to have first created the circuit of 88 temples on Shikoku👣
Read 10 tweets
Sep 12
🤕SCARS OF HISTORY⚔️
Every now and then, when wandering around the city, you can actually see historical moments captured in time.
A good example of this are the sword marks on Sanjō Bridge's balustrade caps. These were from the 'Noticeboard Incident' of September 12th 1866.
In the summer of 1866 an official signboard was erected by Sanjō Bridge, calling Chōshū Domain (長州藩) an enemy of the imperial court.
On September 10th, after anti-shōgunate rebels tore the sign down for a second time, the government ordered the Shinsengumi to guard the bridge.
At midnight on September 12th (October 20th - modern calendar), 8 men from Tosa Domain (土佐藩) arrived to destroy the noticeboard but were surprised by 34 Shinsengumi soldiers!
The Tosa ringleader, Fujisaki Kichigorō (藤崎吉五郎 1845-66), was killed, but 5 of his men escaped.
Read 21 tweets
Sep 12
🐰🎑MOON MORSELS🥮🥰
When the Harvest Moon (お月見) and Feast of Chrysanthemums (菊の節句) arrive together, you know plates will be groaning and bellies will be full🙌

one for the dog
one for the crow...
rice cakes
犬の餅烏が餅もつかれけり
-Issa (小林一茶).
Trans. Lanoue.
#京都 ImageImageImageImage
Nao-san tucks in to Kameya Yoshinaga's (亀屋良長 @yoshimura0303) 'hane-usagi' (はねうさぎ).
Break open the cute moon rabbit and add hot water to create delicious oshiruko (お汁粉), a sweet bean soup.

#お月見 #moonviewing #moonrabbit #月の兎 #wagashi #和菓子 #Kyoto #京都 #お汁粉
Each rabbit comes with a random kohaku (琥珀) moon. The phase of the moon-sweet determines your fortune...a full moon represents the best luck you can have.

Nao-san got...🥁...a full moon!🎉

A thread all about kohaku and other types of sweets⬇️

#亀屋良長 ImageImageImageImage
Read 9 tweets

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