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Kitakannon Yama of Gion Matsuri Festival
Kitakannon Yama of Gion Matsuri Festival
The information of Kitakannon Yama is presented here. Kitakannon Yama is a large-sized Yamahoko float (Hikiyama float), and its symbol is a pine tree reaching vertically to the sky. Hayashi-kata (music group) playing Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) board Kitakannon Yama during Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). From the time of the Onin War (1467-1477) until the Edo period (1603-1868), Kitakannon Yama was paraded in Yamahoko-Junko on an annual rotation with Minamikannon Yama in the neighboring town, but since the Meiji period (1868-1912), Kitakannon Yama has been paraded annually together with Minamikannon Yama.
- Location Map & Directions
- History and Brief Overview
- Features (subject to change)
- Events (confirmation required)
【Kitakannon Yama Location Map & Directions】
Address: Rokaku-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Subway Shijo Station (about 12 minutes on foot), Hankyu Karasuma Station (about 10 minutes on foot)
Location: Kitakannon Yama is located on Shinmachi-dori, about 70 meters north of the intersection of Shinmachi-dori (north-south) and Takoyakushi-dori (east-west).
【Kitakannon Yama History and Brief Overview】
According to an old document in the town’s possession, Kitakannon Yama (北観音山) was founded in 1353 during the Nanbokucho period (1337-1392). In the “Gionshaki”, which describes the names of Yamahoko floats and places in the middle of the Muromachi period (1336-1573) before the Onin War (1467-1477), Kitakannon Yama is written as “Yauyuu Yama やうゆう山 (between Sanjo Karasuma and Muromachi)”. From around the time of the Onin War (1467-1477), Kitakannon Yama was paraded in Yamahoko-Junko on an annual rotation with Minamikannon Yama in the neighboring town. In 1788, during the late Edo period (1603-1868), Kitakannon Yama was burned down by the Tenmei-no-taika (Great Fire of Tenmei) except for the face of Yoryu Kannon, but Yoryu Kannon was restored by Hashi Sadaharu. In 1833, a kazari-yane (decorative roof) was added and Kitakannon Yama was changed from Kakiyama float to Hikiyama float. Since the Meiji period (1868-1912), Kitakannon Yama has been paraded together with Minamikannon Yama every year. Kitakannon Yama used to be called “Noborikannon Yama (Ascending Kannon Yama)”, while Minamikannon Yama is called “Kudarikannon Yama (Descending Kannon Yama)”.
★Kitakannon Yama is derived from the fact that the statue of Yoryu Kannon and Idaten are enshrined on the float. Yoryu Kannon is one of the Sajusan Kannon (33 Kannon), and her mission is to provide relief from illness and suffering. Yoryu Kannon is called “Yoryu Kannon (楊柳観音)” because he holds a willow (柳) branch in his right hand. However, there are cases where a willow branch is inserted into a water bottle. Idaten is one of the eight generals of Zochoten, and is considered the guardian deity of the temple complex, and in Japan, Idaten is worshipped as the guardian deity of Zen Buddhist temples such as Sobo or as the god who removes sick demons from children.
★Kannon Bosatsu is also known as Kanzeon Bosatsu, Kanjizai Bosatsu, Kuse Bosatsu, and Kannon-sama. It is said that Kannon Bosatsu hears people’s cries for help and relieves them of their suffering. It is said that Kannon Bosatsu changes her appearance, depending on the shape of the person she saves. The Kannon Sutra describes the Sajusan Ogeshin (33 Ogeshin) in various forms.
*reference・・・Kitakannon Yama website
【Features (subject to change)】
★Kitakannon Yama is about 17.00 meters high, 6.36 meters long, 3.95 meters wide, 9.27 tons in total weight, and has a minimum turning radius of 6.10 meters. (2008 Data)
★The shinmatsu (pine tree) is a remnant from the time of Kakiyama float, and the two branches on the left side of the pine tree have a long-tailed bird (onagadori) attached to them. However, it is said that the long-tailed bird has a short tail and looks like a pigeon. Every year, two pine trees, one from Kitakannon Yama and the other from Minamikannon Yama, are delivered from Narutaki and selected by rock-paper-scissors and lottery in Matsu-torishiki on July 19th.
★The statue of Yoryu Kannon, which is the Goshintai, has an ink inscription of “Daibushi (Great Buddhist Sculptor) Hokyo Joshun”. In addition, the old costume of Yoryu Kannon has an inscription dated 1651 in the early Edo period (1603-1868).
★The carving of the “Unkaku-zu (Cloud and Crane)” on the hafu of the decorative roof and the surrounding metal fittings were made by Yusuke Kataoka in 1833 in the late Edo period (1603-1868).
★The ten-mizuhiki is the “Kannon Karakusa (Kannon Arabesque)” design and the “Unryu-zu (Cloud Dragon)” design, and is used every two years. The figures in the “Kantei Matsuri-no-zu (Kantei Festival)” of the shita-mizuhiki are draft designs by Nakajima Raisho. The second and third mizuhiki were the teorinishiki made by Yamaga Seika, but in 2006, the second mizuhiki was replaced by the tsudureori with peony and arabesque pattern, and the third mizuhiki was replaced by the karaori with the red and white peony pattern. The mae-kake, ato-kake, and do-kake were the 17th to 18th century Indian carpets with floral patterns, but the mae-kake and ato-kake were replaced by the 19th century Persian carpet replicas, the east side of the do-kake was replaced by the Turkestan carpet replica, and the west side of the do-kake was replaced by the Indian carpet replica with a diagonal lattice floral pattern.
★Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) of Kitakannon Yama includes “Jibayashi”, “Ichiban”, “Niban”, “Sanban”, “Yonban”, “Goban”, “Rokuban”, “Hachiban”, “Kyuban”, “Kagura”, “Karako”, “Fuku”, “Asahi”, “Tsuki”, “Shishi”, “Yachiyo”, “Hana”, “Sanbaso”, “Shobu”, “Naruko”, “Kasumi”, “Yanagi”, “Karakusa”, “Komagata”, “Rokkaku”, “Tokiwa”, “Hyakuban”, “Nagashi”, “Kotobuki”, “Ei”, “Iwai”, and others.
★Chimaki is not sold, but only distributed to the participants.
【Events (confirmation required)】
★In Matsu-torishiki on July 19th, Kitakannon Yama and Minamikannon Yama select two pine trees cut down in Narutaki by the rock-paper-scissors and the lottery.
★In Latter Festival Yamahoko-hikizome on July 20th, newly assembled Kitakannon Yama is pulled a short distance, just as in the actual Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko on July 24th.
★In Latter Festival Yoiyama from July 21st to July 23rd, Komagata-chochin lanterns of Kitakannon Yama are lit and Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) is played in the evening.
★In Hiyori-Kagura on July 23rd, Hayashi-kata (music group) of Kitakannon Yama 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 Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade).
★In Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 24th, Yamahoko floats, including Kitakannon Yama depart from Karasuma-Oike and parade along Oike-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, and Shijo-dori. Kitakannon Yama is kuji-torazu (without drawing lots) and the 2nd or 6th every other year in the procession of Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko, and tsuji-mawashi (turning of streets) is performed at the intersection.
【Kitakannon Yama 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・・・)