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Kikusui Hoko of Gion Matsuri Festival
Kikusui Hoko of Gion Matsuri Festival
The information of Kikusui Hoko (Kikusui Boko) is presented here. Kikusui Hoko is a large-sized Yamahoko float (Hoko float), and its symbol is the 16-petaled chrysanthemum flower (hoko-gashira) attached to the tip of the shingi (pillar), which extends vertically to the sky. Hayashi-kata (music group) playing Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) and Chigo doll “Kikumaru” board Kikusui Hoko during Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). The name Kikusui Hoko comes from the well “Kikusui-i” in the residence of the tea master Takeno Juou.
- Location Map & Directions
- History and Brief Overview
- Features (subject to change)
- Events (confirmation required)
【Kikusui Hoko Location Map & Directions】
Address: Kikusuihoko-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Subway Shijo Station (about 8 minutes on foot), Hankyu Karasuma Station (about 6 minutes on foot)
Location: Kikusui Hoko is located on Muromachi-dori, about 60 meters north of the intersection of Muromachi-dori (north-south) and Shijo-dori (east-west).
【Kikusui Hoko (Kikusui Boko) History and Brief Overview】
The origin of Kikusui Hoko (菊水鉾) is not clear. In the “Gionshaki (Records of Yasaka Shrine)”, which describes the names of Yamahoko floats and places in the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573) before the Onin War (1467-1477), it is written as “Kikusui Hoku 菊水ほく 留水ほく (between Nishikikoji and Shijo)”, and Kikusui Hoko is said to have already been founded before the Onin War.
Kikusui Hoko was destroyed in the Dondon-yake (Great Fire of Genji) in 1864 at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868), and was revived in 1952 for the first time in 88 years, and participated in Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) with a temporary Yamahoko float, and a completion ceremony was held in 1953, and Kikusui Hoko returned to Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade).
★The name “Kikusui Hoko” comes from the famous “Kikusui-i well” that was located in the Daikoku-an of Takeno Juou, a tea master and teacher of Sen no Rikyu, in the town during the Sengoku period (1493-1590). It is said that Takeno Juou came to Kyoto at the age of 24, studied the classical literature and renga (poetry) with Sanjonishi Sanetaka, and tea ceremony with Fujita Sori and others, and built the Daikoku-an in search of “Kikusui-i well”, where he lived until he returned to Sakai Osaka at the age of 36. Takeno Juou created “Wahishiki”, which further simplified “Wabi-cha of yojohan (four and a half tatami)”.
★Takeno Juou is said to have been born in 1502 as the son of Takeda Nobuhisa in Yoshino District, Yamato Province (Nara). Takeno Juou is said to be the grandson of Takeda Nakakiyo, a member of the Takeda clan, the Shugo daimyo of Wakasa Province (Fukui), and when his grandfather was killed in battle during the Onin War, his father wandered around the country, and under the protection of the Miyoshi clan of the same clan, Takeno Juou lived in Sakai Funamatsu (Osaka) and made a fortune by running a leather shop. After that, Takeno Juou moved to Kyoto and studied the classical literature and renga (poetry) with Sanjonishi Sanetaka. Takeno Juou also studied the tea ceremony with Murata Soju, a disciple of Murata Juko, and Jushiya Sogo. Takeno Juou created “Wahishiki”, which further simplified “Wabi-cha of yojohan (four and a half tatami)”, and his disciples include Sen no Rikyu, Tsuda Sokyu, and Imai Sokyu, who are said to be “Tenka-no-Sansosho (three great masters of Japan)”.
*reference・・・Kikusui Hoko website
【Features (subject to change)】
★Kikusui Hoko is about 25.00 meters high, 6.95 meters long, 3.95 meters wide, 10.31 tons in total weight, and has a minimum turning radius of 6.60 meters. (2008 Data)
★Chigo doll “Kikumaru” represents the dancing figure of “Kikujido (Makurajido)”, who drank the dew of the amagiku (chrysanthemum flower) and is said to have had a long life of 700 years.
★The hoko-gashira, which attached to the tip of the shingi (pillar) is the 16-petaled chrysanthemum flower in gold openwork carving.
★The tennoza of the shingi (pillar) enshrines the doll of Hoso, who a hermit of longevity in Chinese mythology.
★The roof is in the karahafudukuri style, and the kegyo of the phoenix is decorated on the hafu, and the suiren is hung under the eaves. The Ebisu on the roof was the goshintai (sacred object) of Ebisu Yama.
★The “Karajishi-zu (Lion) by Minagawa Geka” of the do-kake (side), the “Hikaku-zu (Flying Crane) by Minagawa Geka” of the mae-kake (front), and the “Kujaku-zu (Peacock) by Minagawa Geka” of the miokuri (back) were made. Then the shita-mizuhiki by Yamaga Seika and the niban-mizuhiki by Minagawa Taizo were also made, and in 1963, a ceiling painting by Miwa Chosei brush was also painted. In addition, the metal fittings by Kobayashi Shomin, the ten-mizuhiki by Miwa Akisei brush, the shita-mizuhiki by Minagawa Geka, and the miokuri (back) “Miyama Kikusui Tsudureori by Iwasawa Shigeo brush” were also made, Kikusui Hoko showed a great example of the Showa period (1926-1989) Yamahoko float.
★Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) of Kikusui Hoko includes “Jibayashi”, “Age (Agebayashi)”, “Idutsu”, “Hatsune”, “Sanbanso”, “Atoari”, “Kagura”, “Karako”, “Karako-tsuki Jibayashi (Karakoage)”, “Hatsuka”, “Sanko”, “Modorijibayashi”, “Modoriage”, “Kiku”, “Hinode”, “Momiji”, “Okina”, “Sazareishi”, “Shishi”, “Seiran”, “Modoriage”, “Koi”, “Ichinisan”, “Tomoe”, “Tsuru”, “Tata”, “Shiki”, “Midare”, “Midareage”, “Warawa”, “Ei”, “Ofuku”, “Kirin”, “Nagashi”, “Hiyori Kagura”, and others.
★Chimaki, which has the benefits of longevity and prosperity, hand towels, sensu (fans), amulets, etc., are available for purchase. The purchase of chimaki and other items may allow you to board Kikusui Hoko. (Confirmation required)
【Events (confirmation required)】
★In De-bayashi in early July, Kikusui Hoko and Shijokasa Hoko perform Gion-bayashi at Kawaramachi Opa (OPA).
★In Former Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 12th, newly assembled Kikusui Hoko is pulled a short distance, just as in the actual Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 17th.
★In Kikusui Hoko Ocha-seki from July 13th to July 16th, the Japanese sweet “Shitatari” is served with tea, which is derived from Chigo doll “Kikumaru”, which represents the dancing figure of “Kikujido (Makurajido)”, who drank the dew of the amagiku (chrysanthemum flower) and is said to have maintained a long life of 700 years.
★In Former Festival Yoiyama from July 14th to July 16th, Komagata-chochin lanterns of Kikusui Hoko are lit and Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) is played in the evening.
★In Hiyori-Kagura on July 16th, Hayashi-kata (music group) of Kikusui Hoko go to Yasaka Shrine Otabisho while playing Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music), and dedicate Gion-bayashi to pray for good weather on the next day, and for the safety of Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade).
★In Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 17th, Yamahoko floats, including Kikusui Hoko depart from Shijo-Karasuma and parade along Shijo-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, and Oike-dori. Kikusui Hoko is the 9th, 13th or 17th in the procession of Former Festival Yamahoko-Junko, and tsuji-mawashi (turning of streets) is performed at the intersections. The order of the 9th, 13th and 17th floats of Kikusui Hoko, Niwatori Hoko and Tsuki Hoko is decided by Kujitori-shiki on July 2nd.
【Kikusui Hoko of Gion Matsuri remarks】
*Events may be rescheduled or cancelled. Also, the content of the event may have changed.
祇園祭2025日程一覧(宵山屋台・山鉾巡行・・・)