First Kick-Ball Game

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

First Kick-Ball Game (mari hajime)

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: New Year
***** Category: Humanity

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

During the Edo period, the first game took place on the first day of the monkey.
The tradition was almost lost, but during the Meiji period it revived and now there are groups in Kyoto which preserve this ancient sports.

The first game takes place on January 4 at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto.　

first game, hatsumari　初鞠, mari hajime 鞠初
..... kemari hajime　蹴鞠初め

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Players in Elegant Court Costumes Exhibit Skills



A New Year ritual, "Kemari Hajime," meaning first ball kicking of the year, took place on January 4 at Shimogamo Shrine in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. Players dressed in colorful court costumes of the Heian Period (8-12C AD) performed Kemari, an ancient ball-kicking game, in front of visitors who were paying their first visit of the year to the shrine. As the ball was kicked with rhythmical sounds high into the air, onlookers burst into cheers and applause.

Kemari was introduced to Japan from China along with Buddhism. A group of players form a circle, and kick a ball while preventing it from touching the ground. It became quite popular among noble people in the Heian Period, and its ritual procedures and styles are believed to have been established in the Kamakura Period (13-14C AD).
Although it once died out during the rush to westernization after the Meiji Restoration in the 19th century, this traditional court sport was revived with the establishment of the Kemari Preservation Society in 1903, and has continued to the present.

Seventeen members of the preservation group, dressed in ancient formal wear of "Suikan" jackets, "Hakama" trousers, and "Eboshi" caps, appeared on the 15-meter-square Kemari court specially set up in front of the shrine's main hall. A team of eight players formed a circle on the court, and elegantly passed the deerskin ball to one another. They skillfully controlled the ball using only the instep of their right feet while shouting the names of the Kemari's deities; "Ari," "Ya" and "Oh." Spectators focused their cameras at the players, clapped their hands and enjoyed the wonderful ball handling.

© Kyoto Shimbun 2006.1.4 News
http://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/kp/topics/eng/2006jan/01-04b.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Folding Screen from the Momoyama Period
A sceene from the Tale of Genji

The scroll paintings evoke the ideal of the aristocratic society in early eleventh-century Japan. The work incorporates the arts of painting, calligraphy and decorated paper. A fusion of traditions of monogatari, Yamatoe painting and kana calligraphy, the work emerges as the very epitome of Haian aesthetics.

More in English is here:
http://www.library.ubc.ca/finearts/genji.html


桃山時代(16世紀)以降の近世、絵画は現世主義的な生活観を背景に、 明快な可視的効果を希求し、いちだんと装飾性を強めます。そうした時代風潮にあって、 障屏画とならんで大画面に金地濃彩を用いて描く屏風絵は、画家たちがその感性や 伎倆を発揮するのにまさに格好の画面形式でした。
《蹴鞠図》は公卿風俗図です。



桃山時代 六曲屏風 １双
各159.4×358.5 紙本金地著色
伝土佐長隆筆
蹴鞠(けまり)は鹿革のまりを地上に落とさぬように足でけって次々に渡す遊び。四隅に桜・柳・松・楓などを植えた懸(かか)り、または鞠壺(きくつぼ)と呼ばれる専用の庭で行われた。中国から伝来し、平安貴族の間に盛んに行われ、平安末期には飛鳥井・難波の二つの師範家もできた。まりけ。まり。しゅうきく。

Click HERE to see the second screen !


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx




Fujiwara Narimichi 藤原成通
and the three Spirits of Kemari
Tosa Koi, 17th cent.


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

The Ball, made from Deer Skin


http://www.geocities.jp/mbox_interesting/mari1.jpg



CLICK for more photos !


Click HERE to look at more first kick-ball game photos !


Click HERE to look at more kick-ball photos !


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemari


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

China

Bronze Mirror with Kick-Ball Players



１９９９年，在瑞士国家博物馆举办的中国文物展览中，前国际足联主席阿维兰热观赏后赞叹道：“足球运动源于中国。”究竟是什么文物让他发出这样的赞叹呢？就是蹴鞠铜镜。
www.sg.com.cn/2004style/ FGBJ/t20050328_90216.htm


Click HERE to see more kemari photos from CHINA !

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

Malaysia

. Sepak takraw kick volleyball .

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




at shrine Shimogamo Jinja 下鴨神社


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

first kick-ball game -
so many beads of sweat
on the old costumes

Gabi Greve, Japan, January 2006


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


烏帽子　結いなおすも作法　鞠初
eboshi yuinaosu mo sahoo mari hajime

first kick-ball game !
fastening the court hat again
is part of the rules
(tr. Gabi Greve)

塚田青女


xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


冬の月蹴鞠の行方知れずかな
fuyu no tsuki kemari no yukugata shirezu kana

winter moon -
maybe just a kemari ball
gone astray
(tr. Gabi Greve)

ningyo-hime. Look at the moon-ball here !

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

***** kajimari 梶の鞠（かじのまり）paper mulberry kickball
for the Tanabata star festival rituals
Tanabata no kemari 七夕の蹴鞠（たなばたのけまり）

***** . temari 手まり、手毬 hand ball .


***** Soccer, Football, Fussball



[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::