The Aoi Festival is one of Kyoto’s Big Three Festivals, though if like me you appreciate authenticity over pageantry you might say it’s one of Kyoto’s Big Two (together with Gion Matsuri in July). Like the Gion Festival, there are a lot of pre-events and preparatory rites before the main event, which consists of a long procession.
One of the pre-events for the Aoi Festival main procession (May 15) is the Busha Shinji on May 5, an auspicious date for purification by arrows. This follows the purification by water a couple of days earlier of the governing ‘saio’ or vestal virgin.
Purifying the compound. This arrow was launched over the entrance gate to dispell any lurking evil spirits.
This year’s event was carried out by the Ogasawara-ryu School of Archery, some of whom were venerable enough to nod off during proceedings.
Paying respects
The priestly officials supervising the occasion, with trademark aoi (hollyhock) leaves on their hats
Getting set and taking aim is done in deliberate ritual fashion
As in Japanese culture generally, precision, respect, care, harmony and concentration are the guiding principles
Shoulders are exposed for the firing of the arrows
Drawing the arrow to its full length requires strength and endurance. Such was the tautness that hands were visibly shaking. Most scored a direct hit on the target, representing a direct hit on any evil spirit that might have been planning to pollute the proceedings.
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For an earlier posting on this event, please see this link: https://www.greenshinto.com/2013/05/06/shimogamo-archery-pre-aoi-55/
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