Camellia Tea CeremonyThe 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/desire (貪欲)
💚ill-will/anger (瞋恚)
🖤ignorance/folly (愚痴)
More than just sybolizing greed, anger and ignorance, the oni also embody ill fortune and impurity.
Before the dance the red 'leader' oni blesses worshippers, taking on their 'klesha'.
When the demons are finally chased away and cast out, they take everyone's bad luck with them.
Although oni are a common sight at Setsubun, Rozan-ji (廬山寺) has an origin story for its own 3 ogres.
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).
#Kyoto #鬼
A sweet delivery for Setsubun...Oimatsu's "ofuku" (於福).
Ofuku is a cheerful, plump-cheeked woman that has become a symbol of Setsubun. The character '福' (fuku) in her name means 'luck'.
I wonder what the collective noun for a group of Ofuku is🤔 ......a 'blessing' of Ofuku?
And just like that the poor oni are defeated for another year👋
#Kyoto #京都 #Setsubun #節分 #Japan #Rozanji #廬山寺 #鬼踊り #onidance #spring
Although the festival's origins lie in the early 10thC, the 'oni dance' was a Taishō period invention, and the current celebration only emerged in Shōwa times.
Things kick off at 2:15pm. The oni are cast out by 4pm. Festivities end with roasted soybeans distributed and a bonfire.
Ericka Simone@camelliakyoto I can’t wait to come to Japan and have you show me around. What an honor it will be.