{"id":1171,"date":"2013-02-20T15:09:18","date_gmt":"2013-02-20T06:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/welcome.city.matsumoto.nagano.jp\/modules\/xpressme\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2013-02-20T15:09:18","modified_gmt":"2013-02-20T06:09:18","slug":"koshin-sama-%ef%bc%88%e3%81%8a%e5%ba%9a%e7%94%b3%e3%81%95%e3%81%be%ef%bc%89festival-in-asama-azusagawa-on-22nd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.visitmatsumoto.com\/en\/sightseeing\/koshin-sama-%ef%bc%88%e3%81%8a%e5%ba%9a%e7%94%b3%e3%81%95%e3%81%be%ef%bc%89festival-in-asama-azusagawa-on-22nd\/","title":{"rendered":"Koshin sama \uff08\u304a\u5e9a\u7533\u3055\u307e\uff09Festival in Asama & Azusagawa on 22nd"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the night of Koshin (\u5e9a\u7533\uff09<\/strong>, traditional Japanese conduct a special ritual. \u00a0The 22nd of February, Koshin festivals will be held at Koshin – do (\u5e9a\u7533\u5802\uff09 in both Asama Hot Spring<\/em> and Azusagawa Ueno district<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \u2190(photo taken by Fujinoyu<\/a>)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Koshin\u3000(\u5e9a\u7533\uff09<\/strong> is a name of a day which comes to 57th of the sexagenary cycle of Japanese lunar calendar (traditional calendar with Chinese zodiac signs). \u00a0 According to Taois\uff4d, the night of “Koshin”, the “three worms \uff08\u4e09\u5c38\u30fb\u3055\u3093\u3057\uff09” <\/strong>the spiritual figures which believed to live in our body will come out from the human while the owner of the body is sleeping, \u00a0and these three bugs will go to heaven to make a report on humans ill deeds to Tentei (\u5929\u5e1d\uff09, <\/strong>the god. \u00a0 The heavenly god will make a judgement \u00a0for each people’s life span after hearing from these three worms report\uff53. \u00a0\u3000In order to prevent from “three worms’ declaration to god”, \u00a0Japanese folks had made a ritual to stay awake on the night on Koshin. \u00a0 That was a beginning of Koshin Festival. \u00a0 In “Makurano soshi (\u6795\u8349\u5b50\uff09<\/strong>” (very early essay book written by a noble lady in A.D. 996), there are some descriptions about the night of Koshin, \u00a0therefore this festival has been held for more than a thousand years by Japanese folks.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2191<\/a> image of three worms \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2191\u3000Symbol of Koshin with three monkeys<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> \"\"
\n\u2191<\/a> Shinkoji Temple in Azusagawa Ueno, the western foothill region of Matsumoto<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

To find the temple, just follow the red flags. \u00a0The color red is a symbol of Koshin so as monkeys.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \u2190 Three monkeys in Shinkoji temple<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

At Hot Plaza\u00a0Asama<\/a> (communal onsen) <\/strong>, \u00a0there will be a welcome service hosted by local ladies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Inside of the temple, monks are reciting sutras all night long, locals are selling lucky Daruma figures.<\/p>\n

Asama Hot Spring <\/a> \u2190 click to open the map<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shinkoji Temple<\/a> \u2190\u3000Map<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hope you have a chance to eyewitness this ancient ritual here in Matsumoto.<\/p>\n