Camellia Tea Ceremony

Cherry blossoms don't only come in white and pinks, there are also rarer light green and delicate yellow varieties, much easier to miss amongst all the riot of flowers.

Cherry blossoms don't only come in white and pinks, there are also rarer light green and delicate yellow varieties, much easier to miss amongst all the riot of flowers.

Cherry blossoms don't only come in white and pinks, there are also rarer light green and delicate yellow varieties, much easier to miss amongst all the riot of flowers.

Cherry blossoms don't only come in white and pinks, there are also rarer light green and delicate yellow varieties, much easier to miss amongst all the riot of flowers.

I'm sure I am forgetting some blossom or other, so if you can think of any more seen in Japan around springtime then let me know!

And remember, not all blossoms are pink or white...💛💚🥹

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan #blossoms #sakura #桜 #梅 #springtime

Plum blossoms.

Plum blossoms.

Ripe plums.

Plum blossoms.

💜Plum (スモモ/酢桃)-

Easily confused with the ume (prunus mume), prunus salicina goes by many names, including the Japanese plum, Chinese plum, Asian plum and Willow-leaf cherry.
Although less commonly eaten than ume, sumomo are typically prepared in the same way.
#Kyoto #酢桃

Apricot blossoms.

A spectacular red and blue yokan, flavoured with apricot.

A spectacular red and blue yokan, flavoured with apricot.

Apricot blossoms.

🍑Apricot (杏)-
Ume ('prunus mume') are commonly known as 'plum' in English, but in reality they are related to both the plum and apricot families, so it's probably easier to call them by their Japanese name.

Apricot trees, 'anzu' (杏) in Japanese, are a far rarer sight.
#Japan

Sofa room doll display at Garden Teahouse.

A Hina Matsuri inspired tea bowl.

The tea room alcove decorated for Hina Matsuri.

The tea room alcove decorated for Hina Matsuri.

Some of the more elaborate displays will have many more items, such as silk lanterns (火袋 'Hibukuro'), a folding screen (屏風 'Byōbu'), accessories (三方飾 'Sanbō kazari'), covered bowl tables (掛盤膳 'Kakebanzen'), and diamond-shaped stands (菱台 'Hishidai') for Hishi-mochi.

Miniature ox and cart.

A doll soldier carried a halberd.

A doll boy musician holds a drum.

Our doll display at the teahouse.

7TH TIER:
Items for use outside the palace.
*Goshoguruma (御所車)- ox-drawn carriage for the Heian nobility (aka 'Gisha' or 'Gyūsha' 牛車).
*Hanaguruma (花車)- ox drawing a cart of flowers.
*Jubako (重箱)- nested lacquered food boxes.
*Gokago (御駕籠/御駕篭)- palanquin.
#Japan

Tiny doll shelves.

Tiny tea ceremony implements.

Tiny bowls and plates for the imperial doll household.

Tiny doll drawers.

6TH TIER:
Items within the imperial palace.
*Tansu (箪笥)- chest.
*Kyōdai (鏡台)- mirror stand.
*Haribako (針箱)- sewing kit.
*Nagamochi (長持)- kimono storage.
*Hasamibako (挟箱)- smaller clothing storage.
*Hibachi (火鉢)- braziers.
*Ocha dōgu (お茶道具)- tea ceremony utensils.

5TH TIER:
These are my favourite dolls...depicted as either imperial helpers 'Shichō' (仕丁) or guardians 'Eji' (衛士).
*Crying drinker 'Nakijōgo' (泣き上戸).
*Angry drinker 'Okorijōgo' (怒り上戸).
*Laughing drinker 'Waraijōgo' (笑い上戸).

Which one are you?😉
#雛祭り #Kyoto

4TH TIER:
Either bodyguards (of the emperor) or ministers 'Daijin' (大臣): 'Minister of the Right' (右大臣 'Udaijin') and 'Minister of the Left' (左大臣 'Sadaijin'-older because he's senior).
They are flanked by a mandarin tree (右近の橘) and a cherry blossom tree (左近の桜).

3RD TIER:
Five male musicians 'Gonin bayashi' (五人囃子)...
*Small drum (太鼓 'Taiko')-seated.
*Large drum (大鼓 'Ōtsuzumi')-standing.
*Hand drum (小鼓 'Kotsuzumi')-standing.
*Flute (笛/横笛 'Fue' or 'Yokobue')-seated.
*Singer (謡い方 'Utaikata'), holding a folding fan-standing.

2ND TIER:
Three court ladies 'San-nin kanjo' (三人官女), 2 standing & 1 sitting, (typically) serve saké to the imperial dolls. They hold serving utensils and a table.
Between the ladies are 'Takatsuki' (高坏 -stands with round table-tops), piled with seasonal sweets.
#hinamatsuri

TOP PLATFORM:
The imperial dolls 'Dairi-bina' (内裏雛), between 'bonbori' (雪洞) lamp stands.

The male doll, known as 'Obina', 'Tono' (殿) or 'Odairi-sama' (御内裏様), holds a ritual baton (笏).
The female doll, known as 'Mebina', 'Hime' (姫) or 'Ohina-sama' (御雛様), holds a fan.

Display of dolls for Hina Matsuri.

Display of dolls for Hina Matsuri.

Display of dolls for Hina Matsuri.

Display of dolls for Hina Matsuri.

Each region and family has their own way of arranging the dolls (choosing what paraphernalia to include), but there is a loose set of rules that I'll briefly mention here.

Due to limited space and money, many families have smaller sets that may include only the main dolls.

Hina Matsuri doll display.

Hina Matsuri doll display.

Hina Matsuri doll display.

Hina Matsuri doll display.

Originally for playing with, the expense of dolls gradually turned them into a decorative feature. A tiered doll stand called a 'Himadan' (雛壇) was created to keep the dolls from the reach of pawing hands.
The standard 'Himadan' has 7 tiers, each shelf with a particular role.

A giant stand featuring hundreds of dolls in Echizen.

A competition of sorts began to create more and more elaborate dolls in the early Edo period, but eventually rules were introduced that limited their size, and established the standard number of dolls in a Hinazakari set as 15.

#Japan #hinamatsuri #ひな祭り #雛祭り #Kyoto

Woodblock print of Hina Matsuri celebrations. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

Woodblock print of Hina Matsuri celebrations. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

Woodblock print of Hina Matsuri celebrations. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

Woodblock print of Hina Matsuri celebrations. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

In 1625, to celebrate the Peach Festival, the ladies at court had a set of dolls made for Okiko (興子), daughter of Emperor Go-Mizunoo.
Playing with (雛遊び 'hina asobi') and displaying dolls became linked to the old festival, and in 1687 the name was changed to 'Hina Matsuri'.
#hinamatsuri #ひな祭り

Peach shaped sweet.

Peach blossoms.

A sumptuous peach kakigori (shaved ice).

A sweet wafer decorated with iced peach blossoms.

Because peach trees flowered around the original date of the celebration, it was first known as the 'Peach Festival' (桃の節句 'Momo-no-Sekku').
When the Gregorian calendar was adopted the festival fell outside the blooming period, and so it was renamed 'Hana Matsuri'.
#Japan

Woodblock print of a koinobori (carp streamer) hung for Children's Day. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

Woodblock print of cleaning in preparation for New Year. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

Woodblock print of a chrysanthemum exhibition. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

Woodblock print of Tanabata decorations. Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/

Hina Matsuri evolved from 1 of the 'Go-sekku' (五節句), 5 events held on auspicious days throughout the year.

Imported by the imperial court from China, these festivals now coincide with the 1st January, 3rd March, 5th May, 7th July and 9th September.
#Kyoto #Japan #hinamatsuri

A set of dolls arranged to celebrate Hina Matsuri.

'Mebina', the 'empress doll'...one of the most important parts of the Hina Matsuri display.

'Obina', the 'emperor doll'...one of the most important parts of the Hina Matsuri display.

An empress and emperor doll outside a paper store in Kyoto.

Central to Hina Matsuri is a set of dolls, collectively known as 'Hinakazari' (雛飾り).

Traditionally girls received the main figures, a male doll 'Obina' (男雛) and female doll 'Mebina' (女雛), before their first birthday.
Even today an entire doll set can be fairly expensive!
#Hinamatsuri #雛飾り

The 'empress' doll on display for Hina Matsuri.

Hina Matsuri once coincided with the peach blossoms, and so many peach inspired sweets can be found at this time of year.

Hina Matsuri once coincided with the peach blossoms, and so many peach inspired sweets can be found at this time of year.

A chirashizushi (ちらし寿司 lit. 'scattered sushi') inspired sweet.

👋🎎DAY OF THE DOLLS🌸🥰

Some time in February families begin to unwrap and display a set of ornamental dolls called 'Hina-ningyō' (雛人形). These dolls lie at the heart of the 'Hina Matsuri' (雛祭り) celebrations on March 3rd.
In English it is known as "Doll’s Day" or "Girls’ Day".

#Kyoto #雛祭り

A set of dolls greet visitors for Hina Matsuri.

It's a little late, but the dolls are ready to greet the guests🎎🍑🙇‍♂️

#Kyoto #京都 #HinaMatsuri #ひな祭り #雛人形 #雛飾り #DollsFestival #Japan #DollsDay #dolls

Quince flowers.

Quince flowers.

Quince fruit.

Quince flowers.

🍏Japanese Quince (木瓜)-
These blossoms are far easier to tell apart, as they look a little like camellia flowers in miniature (and tend to come in darker pinks).

a nippy wind-
quince fruit
quince blossoms
うそ寒き風やぼけのみ木瓜の花
-Kobayashi Issa, 1808.

#Kyoto #quince #京都 #木瓜

A geiko walks through Kamishichiken.

A maiko poses for a picture.

The crest of Kamishichiken.

The spring geisha dances.

Kamishichiken (上七軒) is the oldest of Kyōto's Hanamachi (花街 'geisha districts').
The name translates as '7 Upper Houses' and is thought to be a reference to the 7 teahouses constructed with leftover material from the rebuilding of Kitano Tenman-gū in Muromachi times.
#Kyoto

Maiko and geiko serving tea at Baika-sai.

Maiko and geiko serving tea at Baika-sai.

Maiko and geiko serving tea at Baika-sai.

Maiko and geiko serving tea at Baika-sai.

To celebrate Baika-sai at Kitano Tenman-gū (北野天満宮), geisha and maiko from the Kamishichiken district (上七軒) serve hundreds of eager guests in an outdoor tea ceremony.

laughing politely
while tea is served...
Buddha
摂待のあいそに笑ひ仏かな
-Kobayashi Issa.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

Maiko and geiko serve matcha during Baika-sai.

A votive tablet featuring Sugawara-no-Michizane and plum blossoms.

Plum blossoms at Kitano Tenmangu.

A komainu enjoys the blossoms at Kitano Tenmangu.

The February 25th 'Plum Blossom Festival' (梅花祭), 'Baika-sai', commemorates Sugawara-no-Michizane's (菅原道真) tragic death in 903.
Brought down by his enemies, Michizane was exiled in all-but-name to a demoted post in Dazaifu (大宰府), Kyūshū.
He deeply loved plum blossoms.

Geiko and maiko prepare for Baika-sai at Kitano Tenmangu.

Maiko and geiko serve matcha during Baika-sai.

Plum blossoms in bloom at Kitano Tenmangu.

Maiko and geiko serve matcha during Baika-sai.

🎎PLUM BLOSSOM FESTIVAL🌸

In the Kyōto calendar there are a few times each year when the public is able to rub shoulders with maiko and geiko for a small fee.
During 'Baika-sai' (梅花祭) geisha and maiko serve tea beside Kitano Tenman-gū's (北野天満宮) plum orchard.

#baikasai #梅花祭 #ume

Almond blossoms.

A parrot perches amongst almond blossoms.

Almond pudding.

Almond blossoms.

🌰Almond (アーモンド)-
The flowers are very similar to sakura, but petals darken towards centre (they have a jasmine like aroma).

Only the leaves are gently stirred
By the soft breathing of the gale,
And in the almond-scented vale
The lonely nightingale is heard.
-Oscar Wilde.

Although there is little information, it is likely that small scale celebrations were held within the palace most years (with offerings and feasts).

On 6th November 1868 the Emperor's Birthday was finally made into a national holiday🙌
#天皇誕生日 #emperorsbirthday #Japan

a cat wearing a party hat is sitting on a bed with a birthday greeting in japanese ALT: a cat wearing a party hat is sitting on a bed with a birthday greeting in japanese

"Tencho Chikyu" (天長地久 "The Sky and the Earth, the Universe is Eternal") expresses hope that the emperor's reign (and life) will be long.

From November 10th 775, in the reign of Emperor Kōnin (光仁天皇), celebrating the emperor's birthday became an annual event🎂
#天皇誕生日

Portrait of the legendary Chinese philosopher Laozi, considered to be author of the 'Tao Te Ching' (one of the foundational texts of Taoism).

Statue of the legendary Chinese philosopher Laozi.

Portrait of the legendary Chinese philosopher Laozi, considered to be author of the 'Tao Te Ching' (one of the foundational texts of Taoism).

Portrait of the legendary Chinese philosopher Laozi, considered to be author of the 'Tao Te Ching' (one of the foundational texts of Taoism).

Renamed after WWII, the celebration was originally known as 'Chiaki-bushi' (千秋節) and then 'Tencho-setsu' (天長節). Together with the empress consort's birthday, 'Chikyū-setsu' (地久節), the names referenced an old Chinese idiom from Lao Tzu's (老子) "Tao Te Ching" (道德经).

The Emperor's coronation.

The Emperor with his family.

The Emperor's coronation.

Emperor Naruhito.

🎂TENNŌ TANJŌBI🥳

February's 2nd national holiday (February 23rd) celebrates the birthday of Emperor Naruhito (徳仁 b.1960).
Tennō tanjōbi (天皇誕生日), "The Emperor's Birthday", has been a holiday since 1868, changing with the accession of each new emperor.
#Japan #天皇誕生日