| DATE: | February 3, 2007 | |
| PLACE: | Heian-jingu Shrine, Okazaki Nishitenno-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto |
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| DIRECTION: | City Bus #5, #57, or # 100 to Kyoto Kaikan Bijutsukan-mae | |
| TEL: | 81-75-761-0221 | |
| ADMISSION: | Free | |
| TEXT: | Setsubun literally means the division of seasons. It refers to certain days before the first days of spring, summer, fall, and winter. The setsubun known for the phrase “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (Demons out, good luck in) is February 3, the day before risshun (the first day of spring). There are customs associated with the day, such as placing sardine heads pierced with holly branches at entrances, or throwing roasted soybeans known as oni uchi mame (demon-hitting beans). During the Setsubun Festival held at Heian-jingu Shrine purification rituals appropriate for the last day of winter in the lunar calendar, such as the traditional ceremony of Daina-no-gi, take place throughout the day. Daina-no-gi originates from the tsuina or oni-yarai purification ritual performed at the Imperial Court during the Heian Period (794-1192). Visitors can directly witness the ancient Japanese demon exorcism ritual performed in accordance with the traditional order of the ceremony. One of the highlights of this festival is when the demons exorcised at the Daina-no-gi ceremony reenter from the Oten Gate and are driven away again with roasted soybeans thrown at them. The event is spectacular. The festivities end with Fukumame-maki (a bean-throwing ceremony), in which local celebrities, toshi otoko and toshi onna (people born under the same Chinese zodiac sign as that of the year) give out good luck beans to visitors to ward off evil and bring good luck. |