Fox Shrine Festival (Inari Matsuri)

[ . BACK to TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　

Fox Shrine Festival (Inari Matsuri)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Late Spring
***** Category: Observance

*****************************
Explanation


For other kigo related to INARI see below.



Fox God Festival, Inari Matsuri　稲荷祭　いなりまつり
visiting Fushimi Fox God Shrine Festival
... Inari Matsuri oide 稲荷祭御出、稲荷祭のお出
... Inari Shinkoosai 稲荷神幸祭, 還幸祭
Fox God Ceremony Group, Inari koo　稲荷講

visiting the Fox God Shrine for the first time, Inari hatsu oode 稲初荷詣


This tradidional Japanese festival occurs on the first day of the horse according to the Asian lunar calendar.

There are many Fox Shrines in Japan and this is the first large festival of the New Year.
The great fox god shrine festival at Fushimi, Fushimi Inari in Kyoto is the most famous.


年中行事絵巻　稲荷祭（© 伏見稲荷大社蔵）



Click HERE to look at some photos !


INARI refers to the Fox as the divine messenger and thus a deity himself.
KITSUNE refers to the fox as an animal. See below.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Other kigo for the First Day of the Horse

first day of the horse, hatsu uma hatsu uma 初午
horse festival, uma matsuri 午祭
first horse, ichi no uma 一の午

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Inari 稲荷　＜＞　The Fox Cult and Daruma
by Gabi Greve

Fushimi Fox God Shrine and Daruma
by Gabi Greve


ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo


Inari is one of the most well known kami in popular folk Shinto. He (or she) is the god of rice and is related with general prosperity. In earlier Japan, Inari was also the patron of sword smiths and merchants. Primarily, however, Inari is associated with agriculture, protecting rice fields and giving the farmers an abundant harvest every year.

One of the main myths concerning Inari tells of this kami coming down a mountain every spring when it is planting season and ascending back up the mountain after the harvest for the winter. Both events are celebrated in popular folk festivals.

Read the details here　and then come back :

INARI = Shinto Rice Kami
Mark Schumacher

*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU

spring rain--
showing a sake cup
calling foxes

harusame ya sakazuki misete kitsune yobu
春雨や盃見せて狐よぶ

by Issa, 1810
Tr. David Lanoue
http://cat.xula.edu/issa/


More Fox Haiku by Issa

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


*****************************
Related words

***** Fox God Festival at Oyama
Inari Ooyama sai 稲荷大山祭
kigo for the New Year


***** Fox God Arrow Shooting Festival
Inari no Busha sai 稲荷の奉射祭
kigo for the New Year
At the Fushimi Fox God Shrine (Fushimi Inari) in Kyoto. To pray for good harvest and luck in the new year, arrows are shot in all directions to war off evel spririts and bad luck.


***** Inari Sushi (inarizushi いなり寿司)
kigo for summer
Food. Cold rice wrapped in a sheet of tofu.




***** WKD : Horse (uma)


***** Fox (kitsune　狐)
kigo for all winter

The Fox and the Badger (tanuki) are well known in Japanese legend as tricksters.

Fox Haiku by Issa (Tr. David Lanoue)


Tanuki, a badger posing as Daruma
by Gabi Greve


Will-o'-the-wisp (kitsunebi, onibi) Japan


*****************************


Back to the Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::