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Shinsen-en (Gion Matsuri,location,history)
Shinsen-en, Gion Matsuri
The information about Shinsen-en is presented here. In Shinsen-en, Gion Goryoe, the origin of Gion Matsuri Festival, was held in 869 during the early Heian period (794-1192), and Shinsen-en is said to be the birthplace of Gion Matsuri Festival. Currently, in Kanko-sai held on July 24th, Nakagoza Mikoshi stops at Shinsen-en to be enshrined, the monk reads out the saimon (sacred texts) and performs the shasuikaji, and the yokaro-taiko (drum) is dedicated. Nakagoza Mikoshi is held high above the head.
【Shinsen-en Location Map & Directions】
Address: 166 Monzen-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Shinsenen-mae bus stop (about 1 minutes on foot), Horikawa Oike bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Sabway Nijojo-mae Station (about 5 minutes on foot), JR Nijo Station (about 13 minutes on foot)
【Opening Hours & Closed (confirmation required)】
Opening Hours: 9:00-20:00
Closed: open year round
【Entrance Fees & Tickets (confirmation required)】
Individual: Free
【Shinsen-en History】
Shinsen-en Garden (神泉苑) was originally a forbidden garden (Imperial Garden) that was built in 794 when the 50th Emperor Kanmu moved the capital from Nagaoka-kyo to Heian-kyo, adjacent to the south of the Dai-dairi (Imperial Palace). Shinsen-en Garden had an area of eight cho, four cho in the north and south, and two cho in the east and west (about 500 meters from north to south and 240 meters from east to west). Shinsen-en Garden was built by incorporating large pond, spring, stream, small mountain, and forest, and palaces such as Kenrinkaku (Main Palace), Ukaku, Sakaku, Nshi-Tsuridai, Higashi-Tsuridai, Takidono, Umarachidono, and Koden were built. It is said that the 50th Emperor Kanmu visited Shinsen-en Garden in 800, and a gaen (banquet) was held there in 802. It is also said that the 52nd Emperor Saga held the kaen-no-sechi (flower banquet) in Shinsen-en Garden in 812. It is recorded that Emperor Saga visited Shinsen-en Garden 43 times. Later, in 824, Kobo-daishi Kukai, the founder of the Shingon sect, is said to have invoked Zennyo Ryuo from northern India to pray for rain at the order of the 53rd Emperor Junna. In 863, a plague broke out, and Goryoe was held in Shinsen-en Garden to suppress the plague. It is said that Gion Goryoe held in 869 is the origin of Gion Matsuri Festival of Yasaka Shrine (Gion-sha). In the early Heian period (794-1185), Shinsen-en Garden was considered a religious sacred site, where sutra chanting was performed to pray for rain and to stop rain, and song and dance were dedicated to the gods. There is Kiu-no-mai (rain dance) performed by Shizuka Gozen, a mistress of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Amagoi-no-uta (waka poet) by the poet Onono Komachi. From the middle of the Heian period (794-1185), Shinsen-en Garden was used for irrigation. In 1333, the 96th Emperor Godaigo, the 1st of the Southern Court, appointed Chikyobo Sonkyo, a monk of Saidai-ji Temple, as Shinsen-en Daikanjin-shoku and had Chofukuji Temple founded in Sanjo Omiya, entrusting him with the management of Shinsen-en. In 1601, Tokugawa Ieyasu, the 1st shogun of the Edo shogunate, began the construction of Nijo Castle, and most of the land on the north side of Shinsen-en Garden was incorporated into Nijo Castle, greatly reducing its size. Beginning in 1607, Itakura Katsushige who was saddened by the reduction in the scale of Shinsen-en, Katagiri Katsumoto, and Kaiga-shonin obtained permission from the imperial court to rebuild the temple complex and reestablish it as a temple under the jurisdiction of To-ji Temple. Due to the great fire of Tenmei in 1788, the temple complex as well as Taho-to (pagoda) were burned down. Over the next few decades, the temple complex was rebuilt. In 1847, Dai-Gensuido of To-ji Temple was moved to the ruins of Gomado, and Hondo (Main Hall) was rebuilt.
*reference・・・Shinsen-en website
【Shinsen-en Highlights (May be undisclosed)】
★Hondo (Main Hall, 本堂, Riseiden, 利生殿) was rebuilt in 1847 by moving Dai-Gensuido from To-ji Temple to the ruins of Gomado. Hondo houses the main statue of Sho Kannon. The statue of Sho Kannon was created by the 108th Emperor Gomizunoo as a memorial service to his son, the 110th Emperor Go-Komyo. The kohai and daiza (base) were created by his birth mother, Sono Mitsuko.
★Honden (Main Shrine, 本殿) of Zennyo Ryuo Shrine (善女竜王社) was rebuilt in 1813. In 2014, Honden and others were dismantled and restored as part of a project to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of Zenjo Ryuo’s invocation. Honden enshrines Zennyo Ryuo as a deity.
★Hojo-bashi Bridge (法成橋) is a bridge built over the Hojoju-ike Pond. Hojo-bashi Bridge is said to have been named after the Dharma power of Kobo-daishi Kukai. It is said that Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his mistress Shizuka Gozen met at Hojo-bashi Bridge. Hojo-bashi Bridge is a place of power where it is said that if you cross it while making a wish, your wish will come true. In 2014, the Hojoju-ike pond was drained for the first time in 55 years to commemorate the 1,200th anniversary of Zenjo Ryuo’s invocation.
【Events (confirmation required)】
★Shinsenen-sai (神泉苑祭) is held every year from May 2nd to May 4th. Shinsenen-sai is a festival of Zennyo Ryuo Shrine, in which a mikoshi (portable shrine) is enshrined in Haiden of Zennyo Ryuo Shrine and three kenhoko (sword spears) are erected in the precincts of Shinsen-en. Daihannyakyo (Sutra) Tendoku-hoyo and Zennyo Ryuo-sha Saishi are held. The Children’s Mikoshi Parade, Dedication of Gagaku, and Shizuka Gozen-no-mai (Dance) are also held.
★Kangetsu-e (観月会) is held every year on Chushu (the harvest moon in mid-autumn). In Kangetsu-e, a dedication performance is held at Haiden of Zennyo Ryuo Shrine. Matcha is also served on the Ryuo-sen boats at the Hojoju-ike Pond. The garden is also open to the public.
★Dai-Nenbutsu Kyogen (大念仏狂言) is held every year for three days from the first Friday in November. Dai-Nenbutsu Kyogen is a silent religious drama in which masked performers, accompanied by taiko (drums), kane (gongs), and fue (flutes), explain the mysteries of Nenbutsu, good and evil, and the principles of karma and retribution with easy-to-understand and humorous gestures.
★Shinsen-en Gion-sha Goshinsui Kokan is held every year around July 14th. In Shinsen-en Gion-sha Goshinsui Kokan, the Akai-sui (water) of Shinsen-en and the Seiryu-sui (water) of Yasaka Shrine are exchanged. The exchanged sacred water is used for the ritual of Gion Matsuri Festival.
●Gion Matsuri Festival 2024 will start on July 1st, 2024 and end on July 31st, 2024.
Gion Matsuri Festival Schedule (July 1st-31st)
【Flower Calendar (cherry blossoms, etc )】
★The best time to see cherry blossoms (桜) is from early April to mid-April. Cherry blossom trees such as Somei Yoshino and Shidare-zakura are planted in the temple grounds, and it is said that the scenery of the cherry blossoms, Hojo-bashi Bridge, and the Hojoju-ike Pond is beautiful.
【Telephone (Please refrain from making phone calls.)】
Tel: +81-75-821-1466
【Recommended Walking Route】
The recommended walking route from Shinsen-en is the route to Nijo Castle on the north side. Nijo Castle is a vast castle with the Ninomaru Goten (Palace), Ninomaru Teien (Garden), Kara-mon Gate, etc., which can be enjoyed while walking around. Since there are not many sights around Shinsen-en, it may be a good idea to walk to Kyoto Gyoen, Kyoto Imperial Palace, and Sento Gosho, which are located to the northeast.
【Remarks(access, parking, disclaimer, etc)】
If you plan to visit Shinsen-en, be sure to check the latest information.