Camellia Tea Ceremony

🎎PLUM BLOSSOM FESTIVAL🌸

In the Kyōto calendar there are a few times each year when the public is able to rub shoulders with maiko and geiko for a small fee.
During 'Baika-sai' (梅花祭) geisha and maiko serve tea beside Kitano Tenman-gū's (北野天満宮) plum orchard.

#baikasai #梅花祭 #ume

Feb 26 at 7:47amWeb
Show threadCamellia Tea CeremonyFeb 26
The February 25th 'Plum Blossom Festival' (梅花祭), 'Baika-sai', commemorates Sugawara-no-Michizane's (菅原道真) tragic death in 903.
Brought down by his enemies, Michizane was exiled in all-but-name to a demoted post in Dazaifu (大宰府), Kyūshū.
He deeply loved plum blossoms.
Show threadCamellia Tea CeremonyFeb 27

To celebrate Baika-sai at Kitano Tenman-gū (北野天満宮), geisha and maiko from the Kamishichiken district (上七軒) serve hundreds of eager guests in an outdoor tea ceremony.

laughing politely
while tea is served...
Buddha
摂待のあいそに笑ひ仏かな
-Kobayashi Issa.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.

Show threadCamellia Tea CeremonyFeb 27
Kamishichiken (上七軒) is the oldest of Kyōto's Hanamachi (花街 'geisha districts').
The name translates as '7 Upper Houses' and is thought to be a reference to the 7 teahouses constructed with leftover material from the rebuilding of Kitano Tenman-gū in Muromachi times.
#Kyoto