Chinkasai Festival
Itsukushima Shrine’s Chinkasai Festival is held every December 31st, providing a show visitors are unlikely to forget. The festival is intended to protect both the Shrine and the town from disastrous fires, a real concern where, traditionally, close-set buildings were constructed largely of wood and paper. The way the festival approaches the problem, however, may seem a bit counterintuitive.Late in the evening, crowds of young men begin to gather in the area before the Shrine. An huge fire is lit and the men, working in teams, scramble to take hold of enormous torches made of bundled pinewood. With the torches blazing and smoking, the men dash for the Otorii gate and for a time the whole sea between the Shrine and the gate appears to be on fire. Chinkasai is sometimes translated as the “fire-sating” festival, and the idea seems to be that by feeding fire now, the Shrine and town will be spared its hunger later. An interesting idea, and a dramatic and exciting display.
More Info.:
The Otorii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine
Bugaku
The Kangensai Festival
The Tamatorisai Festival
Itsukushima Shrine
Making the New Year's First Prayers
1-1 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi
Miyajima Tourist Association: http://www.miyajima.or.jp
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