One of the functions of the shaman in ancient societies was as guardian of the tribe’s identity. This often meant memorising great chunks of mythology and history. Keeping a record of the past not only tells you who you are, but it honours the memory of the ancestors. In other words, it’s part of what is known as ‘ancestor worship’.
Modern Shinto fulfills the same role as ancient shamanism, carefully keeping the past alive in the countless festivals that occur in the country throughout the year. What’s interesting about this report below is that the festival was started in 1941 and the shrine in 1940. Was it connected to the patriotic spirit of the time? Was it simply a matter of exploiting local lore? Or was there some ulterior motive in picking up the subject of clocks?
Whatever the reason, I like the way Shinto acts to keep Japanese history a part of contemporary life. Each year the past is renewed. And each time the national identity is reinforced. It’s an important part of Japaneseness.
(30 second video of the ritual)
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Festival celebrating Japan’s first clock held in Shiga shrine
OTSU – Women and men clad in ancient Japanese court dress took part in an annual clock festival Friday at a shrine to a seventh century emperor in Shiga Prefecture who is said to be the founding father of the clock time system in Japan.
As musicians played flutes and drums, the participants, including representatives of the clock industry, offered the latest products from Japanese clock makers to Omi Shrine to show its deity, Emperor Tenji (626-672), how clocks have developed.
According to the shrine in Otsu, Emperor Tenji introduced a water clock known as rokoku in Shiga’s capital, where the shrine is situated, on April 25, 671. The emperor is said to have believed in the importance of clocks to Japan’s development.
The ringing of the bell of the first clock in Japan was recorded in the “Nihon Shoki” (“The Chronicles of Japan”), an ancient book of history.
April 25 corresponds to June 10 in the solar calendar, thus June 10 was designated as Clock Day in Japan in 1920. The shrine, built in 1940, started holding the festival every June 10 in 1941.
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