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Koi Yama of Gion Matsuri Festival
Koi Yama of Gion Matsuri Festival
The information of Koi Yama is presented here. Koi Yama is a small-sized Yamahoko float (Kakiyama float), and its symbol is a pine tree reaching vertically to the sky. Another symbol is a 1.5 meter long carp, which is the origin of Koi Yama’s name. The carp is the Goshintai (deity figure) of Koi Yama, and is said to have been created by the master carpenter Hidari Jingoro.
- Location Map & Directions
- History and Brief Overview
- Features (subject to change)
- Events (confirmation required)
【Koi Yama Location Map & Directions】
Address: Koiyama-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Subway Shijo Station (about 7 minutes on foot), Hankyu Karasuma Station (about 5 minutes on foot)
Location: Koi Yama is located on Muromachi-dori, about 50 meters north of the intersection of Muromachi-dori (north-south) and Takoyakushi-dori (east-west).
【Koi Yama History and Brief Overview】
The origin of Koi Yama (鯉山) 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 “Reumonnotaki Yama れうもんの瀧山 (between Sanjo-cho and Rokaku)”, and Koi Yama is said to have already been founded before the Onin War. It is also said that Koi Yama was already founded in the Muromachi period, as it appears along with Hashibenkei Yama in the Kyogen play “Kujizainin”, in which townspeople discuss Gion Matsuri Festival. After that, Koi Yama was damaged by the Tenmei-no-taika (Great Fire of Tenmei) in 1788 during the late Edo period (1603-1868), but it is said that it was rebuilt during the Tenpo period (1830-1844). However, in 1864, at the end of the Edo period, Koi Yama was destroyed by the Genji-no-taika (Great Fire of Genji, Kinmon-no-hen) except for the carp figure, tapestries, and textiles, and in 1865, the following year, an imatsuri (festival) was held in which Koi Yama was not parade in Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade). In 1867, Koi Yama was paraded as the karabitsu procession, and in 1872, Koi Yama was rebuilt, and the decorations were renewed at the end of the Meiji period (1868-1912).
★Koi Yama is derived from the legend that a carp that climbs the Ryumon-no-taki (Longmen Waterfall), a difficult part of the Koga River in China, becomes a dragon. The Ryumon-no-taki (Longmen Waterfall) is a rapid waterfall that was created by Emperor U of the Ka dynasty in China as a flood control project by cutting through the sacred mountain Longmen Mountain, located in the upper reaches of the Koga River in Santon Province. It was said that the Ryumon-no-taki (Longmen Waterfall) could not be climbed by ordinary carp because of the rapids, and that the carp that climbed it had spiritual power and became a dragon. After that, the name “Toryumon”, which is derived from the Ryumon-no-taki (Longmen Waterfall), came to be likened to a barrier to success in life and important examinations (tests), based on the story of the legend of Rishoden in the Gokansho, and it is said that in Japan during the Edo period (1603-1868), the Koinobori (carp streamers) began to be erected at home in the hope of children’s growth and career advancement.
*reference・・・Koi Yama website
【Features (subject to change)】
★Koi Yama weighs about 0.81 tons. (2008 Data) Koi Yama is marked by a pine tree reaching into the sky.
★The carp of the Goshintai is said to have been created by Hidari Jingoro. The carp is about 1.5 meters long and represents the unbridled courage to climb the Ryumon-no-taki (waterfall).
From the examination of the wood chips, it was found that the carp of the Goshintai was created in the early Edo period (1603-1868). The white mao hanging from the side is likened to a waterfall, and the metal fittings such as the ranbuchi are in a wave pattern.
★At the back of Koi Yama, there is a vermilion-painted torii gate and a small shrine, and like Yasaka Shrine, it enshrines Susanoo-no-Mikoto (main deity).
★The mae-kake (front), two do-kake (sides), two mizuhiki, and miokuri (back) were originally cut from the ketsudure made in Brussels, Belgium in the 16th century, but in recent years they have been replaced by replicas in recent years. The old mae-kake (front) and others were found to have been made in Brussels, Belgium, according to the B.B. initials. In addition, according to a survey by the Royal Belgian Museum of Art and History, it is a design for the story of the Trojan War in the Iliad (by the bard Homer), depicting King Priam of Troy and his queen Hecuba, and it seems to be one of the five made between 1575 and 1620. In addition, the old mae-kake (front) and others are designated as important cultural relics. The mae-mizuhiki with gold background fruit pattern was newly created in 2009, and the ato-mizuhiki with gold background flower arabesque pattern was newly created in 2010.
★Chimaki, which has the benefits of success in life, good luck, and safety for the family, hand towels, sensu (fans), amulets for success in life, etc. are available for purchase.
【Events (confirmation required)】
★In Latter Festival Yoiyama from July 21st to July 23rd, Komagata-chochin lanterns of Koi Yama are lit and Gion-bayashi (Gion Matsuri music) is played in the evening.
★In Latter Festival Yamahoko-Junko (Float Procession, Yamaboko Parade) on July 24th, Yamahoko floats, including Koi Yama depart from Karasuma-Oike and parade along Oike-dori, Kawaramachi-dori, and Shijo-dori.
【Koi 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・・・)