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/desire (貪欲)
💚ill-will/anger (瞋恚)
🖤ignorance/folly (愚痴)

#Setsubun #節分 #鬼

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

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.

#Kyoto #京都 #Japan

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?

Rozan-ji's (廬山寺) 'Tsuina-shiki Oni-no-Hōraku' (追儺式鬼法楽 'Driving Out Demons through Piety') ends as most Setsubun celebrations do with the oni cast out.
Arrows are symbolically 'fired' in all directions to dispel misfortune for the year ahead...

#Setsubun #節分 #Japan