Hello, how are you all doing? Here we will introduce some fun events in Japan.
This article is designed so that you can also view and study in Japanese.
Japanese name：京都五山送り火（きょうとごんざんおくりび）
Event period：August
Venue：Kyoto
The flame of prayer burning in the thousand-year-old capital
名称：京都五山送り火（きょうとござんおくりび）
開催期間：8月
会場：京都
千年の都に灯る祈りの炎
【history】
The Kyoto Gozan Okuribi is a traditional event held every year on August 16 in Kyoto, originating from the ‘sending-off fires’ meant to guide the spirits of ancestors, who are welcomed during Obon, back to the spirit world. Its history is very old, with no clear records remaining, but it is believed to have already been practiced during the Muromachi period, becoming deeply rooted in the daily life and spiritual culture of the people of Kyoto.
Moreover, the Gozan Okuribi is not merely a tourist event; it is a religious and communal practice that has been passed down through generations by local groups and preservation societies. For the people of Kyoto, it is cherished as ‘a night to honor ancestors and pray quietly.’
京都五山送り火は、毎年8月16日に京都で行われる伝統行事です。お盆に迎えた先祖の霊を天界へ導く「送り火」に由来しています。その歴史は非常に古く、明確な記録は残っていませんが、室町時代にはすでに行われていたと考えられており、京都の人々の日常生活や精神文化に深く根付いています。
また、五山送り火は単なる観光行事ではなく、地域団体や保存会によって代々受け継がれてきた宗教的、共同的な慣習です。京都の人々にとって、「祖先を敬い、静かに祈りを捧げる夜」として大切にされています。
【Feature】
The most notable feature of the Gozan no Okuribi is the five enormous fire characters and shapes lit on the mountains of Kyoto. Each has its own meaning, and the order in which they are ignited is also predetermined.
The five fires of the sending-off
五山送り火の最大の見どころは、京都の山々に灯される5つの巨大な火の字と形です。それぞれに意味があり、点火する順番も決まっています。
送り火の5つの火
【Content】
| Name of the mountain | Text and shapes | Ignition timing | Meaning |
| 東山如意ヶ嶽 | 「大」 | 20:00 | The most famous. A symbolic fire for sending off the spirits of ancestors. |
| 松ヶ崎西山・東山 | 「妙」「法」 | 20:05 | “Myōhō” represents the Lotus Sutra and expresses a wish for the Buddha’s protection. |
| 西賀茂船山 | 船形 | 20:10 | Represents a ship that carries souls. |
| 大北山 | 「大」 | 20:15 | It is called ‘Hidari Daimonji’ and forms a pair with the ‘Dai’ of Higashiyama. |
| 嵯峨曼荼羅山 | 鳥居形 | 20:20 | A torii gate symbolizing the entrance to the afterlife. |
The Gozan Okuribi is not an event with flashy performances like a tourist attraction. Rather, it is a ceremony carried out quietly and solemnly, with prayers.
Flow of the event (general understanding):
１．During the Obon period, each household prepares altars and lights to welcome the
spirits of their ancestors.
２．On the night of August 16, fires are lit sequentially on the five mountains.
３．People in Kyoto watch the flames from their homes, bridges, or temple grounds,
sending off the spirits of their ancestors.
４．After the fires are lit, the firebeds on the mountains are carefully cleaned and
maintained by preservation societies in preparation for the following year.
The flames of the Okuribi are not just “fire”; they have been passed down as a light imbued with “gratitude to ancestors” and “prayers for daily safety”.
五山送り火は、観光地のような派手なパフォーマンスを伴う行事ではありません。祈りを込めて、静かに厳粛に執り行われる儀式です。
行事の流れ（概要）：
１．お盆の時期には、各家庭で仏壇や灯りを準備し、祖先の霊を迎え入れます。
２．8月16日の夜、五山で順番に火が灯されます。
３．京都の人々は、家や橋、寺の境内などからその火を眺め、祖先の霊を送ります。
４．火が灯された後、山の火床は保存会によって丁寧に清掃され、
翌年に備えて維持されます。
送り火の炎は単なる「火」ではありません。 「ご先祖様への感謝」や「日々の安全への祈り」を込めた灯りとして受け継がれてきました。
How was it? There are still many fun things in Japan. Please be sure to try them when you visit Japan.
Let’s Enjoy！
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