Sign of Spring, Grass Burning Ceremony

Every year , "Grass Burning Ceremony" in Mt. Wakakusa is held on the forth Saturday of January. This ceremony is the most spectacular and popular event in winter Nara. This year it was held on 26th January.

Since ancient times, fire has long been used for purification and cleansing both in Buddhism and Shintoism in Japan.

There are many spots to enjoy watching the event. I watched it at the foot of Mt. Wakakusa.

  300 firefighters are ready for "Grass Burning Ceremony" with their fire engines.

Before the ceremony, a dancing entertainment is  held on a temporarily built stage.

 "Passion"

Elegant and exotic with Chinese fragrance.

Sento-kun is a holy boy with deer antlers, who was chosen as a mascot for the 1300th anniversary of the transfer of the capital to Heijo-kyo Nara in 2010.

 Now he is a super star.!

The sacred fire is carried to the foot of Mt. Wakakusa.  They make a bonfire. 

The Buddhist monks of Todai-ji Temple and Kofuku-ji Temple, and Shinto priests of Kasuga Grand Shrine perform a small ritual.

A number of fireworks are launched. They are so big!! 

300 firefighters set the mountain on fire.

Huge walls of fire and smoke appear and overwhelm us. Walls are swelling and swirling,
 being buffeted by gusts of wind.  What a dynamic scenery it is!!

The area of 33 hectares is burnt down in 30 minutes.

"Grass Burning Ceremony" dates back to 1760. But its origin is not clear. One theory says the mountain was set fire to solve the boundary dispute between temples and a shrine near the mountain. Other theory says someone started to set fire to console the ghost's spirit which haunted around a small tomb on the top of the mountain. Also it is said that the mountain was burnt to drive away wild boars. 

People in Nara see every phase of seasons in every festival or ceremony. "Grass Burning Ceremony" has long been seen as  a harbinger of spring.  The subtle hint of spring exists even in the icy air. When spring comes here, fresh sprouts will spring up out of the ashes.  To burn the mountain is also for rejuvenation of the mountain.

My related blog,  "Fire for Purification".(Click here.)

On 28th January, two days after the ceremony, Nara Park was covered with snow.

 Mt. Wakakusa is over there.

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Sound of Silence

In your language  how is snow falling described?  In Japanese it is mentioned like this  - Snow is falling " shin shin to". " Shin shin to" is onomatopoeia , meaning silently.  This expression "Shin shin to" makes us imagine the world blanketed with snow without sound -  totally silent and tranquil world.

 In Kabuki plays,  the quiet sound of a small drum is used to depict the silence of snow falling.  It sounds　gently  "ton ton ton ton・・・・・".

It might seem to be contradictory that silence has onomatopoeia or the sound - sound of silence.  But the sound of silence  expresses  the depth of silence more eloquently.

           Sow is falling shin shin to on the five-storied pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple,the symbol of Nara .

Snow is falling shin shin to on Ume, Japanese apricot blossoms.

Snow is falling shin shin to on Great Buddha Hall of Todaiji Temple.

Snow is falling shin shin to on the deer .

Some of them are taking shelter under a big tree.

 She is bowing to beg deer crackers.

And some of them are running and playing.

Some of them are searching for some chocolate for Valentine Day.

Most eye-catching thing about the deer in Nara Park  is  they practice Japanese custom

- bowing to people as we bow when we greet.

There live about 1100 deer. All of them are wild animals

and considered as holy messengers of Kasuga Shinto god.

Sow is falling shin shin to on the neighborhood

This is a lovely  lane lined with cherry trees . Now they look like bearing white flowers.

In spring, they will be in full bloom.

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　　Horn gather antlers

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Entrance to Great Buddha's Wlorld

On February 11th, Nara had more than 10cm fall of snow  for the first time in tree years.  I grabbed my camera and rushed to Todai-ji Temple.

This is Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple, the largest wooden　building　in　the　world,  where the　lagest　bronze　Buddha sｔatue(Great Buddha）　is　enshrined. Designated as a World Heritage Site. 

                         Going  through the main gate,  the gentle deer always welcome you.
                  Over there you will see Great Buddha Hall, the main hall of  Todai-ji Temple.

Snow made the silent black and white world.

I saw the subtle reflection of Great Buddha Hall on its approach.  Even though I  had visited this place

many, many times, I had never found this reflection.  What a transient and dim image like mirage!!

This is the entrance to Great Buddha's World.

           On the way back, I found crimson Japanese apricot blossoms blanketed with pure snow.

 They looked like crimson flowers in white blossoms.

According to the myth, Feb 11th is Birthday of Japan  when the first Emperor Jinmu established the Imperial Government about two thousand seven hundred years ago.

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 Fire for Purification

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