🫘👹🪓DANCING DEMONS❤️💚🖤
One of Setsubun's (節分) liveliest festivals takes place at the small temple of Rozan-ji (廬山寺).
At 3pm three oni (one red, one green, one black) appear before the main hall. Clasping flaming torches and mean-looking weapons, they begin a slow and stomping dance!
The 3 colours of the oni symbolize the 'sandoku' (三毒 the '3 kleshas').
In Buddhism kleshas are mental states that cloud the mind, poison the heart, and manifest in unwholesome actions.
❤️ = greed and desire (貪欲)
💚 = ill-will and anger (瞋恚)
🖤 = ignorance and folly (愚痴)
Although oni are a common sight at Setsubun, Rozan-ji (廬山寺) has an origin story for its own 3 demons.
When the temple's founder, Ryōgen (良源 912-85), was in training he was bothered by 3 troublesome oni (or spirits, depending on what version of the tale you read).
Legend has it that Ryōgen cast out the irritating oni with the power of prayer and a waving of his 'sanko' (三鈷 'trident vajra').
The event became a regular celebration at the temple from the 10thC, though the 'oni odori' (鬼踊り) only dates to the Taishō period, and the current event to Shōwa times.
The red oni leads the group in a dance to spook onlookers, threatening with sumo-like movements, raised weapons and a cold stare.
driving demons
into the darkness...
laughing
闇がりへ鬼追出して笑ひ哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1813.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.
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