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Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki of Gion Matsuri (July 23rd, 2024)
Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki of Gion Matsuri
The information of Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki is presented here. Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki is held every year on July 23rd. Ohake Kiyoharai-shiki purifies the ohake (gohei) where the spirits of three mikoshi reside and rest before Kanko-sai on July 24th. The ohake (gohei) is made by placing the imidake (bamboo) in the four corners and stringing the shimenawa (sacred straw rope), and placing three gohei on the imishiba.
- Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki 2024 Schedule
- Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki map & access
- Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki brief overview
【Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki 2024 Schedule (confirmation required)】
Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki 2024 will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024 at 14:00.
●Gion Matsuri Festival 2024 will start on July 1st, 2024 and end on July 31st, 2024.
Gion Matsuri Festival Schedule (July 1st-31st)
【Yasaka Shrine Matatabisha Location Map & Directions】
Address: Sanjo-Kuromon, Goko-machi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Horikawa Sanjo bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Sabway Nijojo-mae Station (about 8 minutes on foot)
【Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki of Gion Matsuri brief overview】
Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki(オハケ清祓式) of Gion Matsuri (祇園祭) is held every year on July 23rd. Ohake Kiyoharai-shiki purifies the ohake (gohei) where the spirits of three mikoshi (Nakagoza Mikoshi, Higashigoza Mikoshi, and Nishigoza Mikoshi) reside and rest before Kanko-sai (Okaeri) on July 24th. The ohake (gohei) is made by placing the imidake (bamboo) in the four corners and stringing the shimenawa (sacred straw rope), and placing three gohei on the imishiba, which is 7 shaku wide and 2 shaku deep (about 2 meters wide and about 60 cm deep). Yasaka Shrine Matatabisha (Gokusha) was once the southern end of Shinsen-en, where Gion Goryoe, the origin of Gion Matsuri Festival, was held, so the imishiba represents the waterside.
★Shinsen-en was originally a forbidden garden (Imperial Garden) that was built south of Dai-dairi in 794 when the 50th Emperor Kanmu moved the capital to Heian-kyo. Shinsen-en was built incorporating large pond, spring, stream, small mountain, and forest, and palaces such as Kenrinkaku, Ukaku, Sakaku, Nshi-Tsuridai, Higashi-Tsuridai, Takidono, and Koden were built. In 863, a plague epidemic broke out, and a Goryoe was held to suppress the disease. Gion Goryoe held in 869 is said to be the origin of the Gion Matsuri Festival.
★Nakagoza Mikoshi carries the divine spirit of Susano-no-mikoto, the main deity of Yasaka Shrine. Higashigoza Mikoshi carries the divine spirit of Kushiinadahime-no-mikoto, the wife of Susano-no-mikoto. Nishigoza Mikoshi carries the divine spirits of Yahashira-no-mikogami, the eight children of Susano-no-mikoto.
★Gohei is also called “nusa” or “heisoku”, and is used in Shinto rituals. Gohei can be used as a yorishiro for a god or as an object of worship. By the way, gohei usually consists of two shide (white paper) sandwiched between heigushi (bamboo or wood). In addition, it is also said that gohei has changed from something that was once offered by sandwiching it between trees when offering fuhaku to the gods.
★The origin of Yasaka Shrine Matatabisha (Gokusha) is not clear. Matatabisha was once located at the southern end of Shinsen-en, where Gion Goryoe was held in 869 to quell an epidemic that was spreading in Kyoto, and was the origin of Gion Matsuri Festival. At Matatabisha, the saijo (ceremony site) was set up during Gion Goryoe, where three mikoshi (portable shrines) from Yasaka Shrine were enshrined, and food, drink and other offerings were offered to the gods of heaven and earth. This is the origin of the name of Gokusha. Today, three mikoshi are enshrined at Yasaka Shrine Matatabisha during Kanko-sai of Gion Matsuri Festival on July 24th and a ritual is held there. Later, in 1906, it became a branch shrine outside the grounds of Yasaka Shrine.
【Ohake Kiyoharae-shiki 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・・・)