Thursday, April 8, 2010

四月八日(shigatsu yoka): April 8

It was fine but very cold today.

April 8 is known as hanamatsuri (花まつり) in Japan. Hanamatsuri literally means flower festival, but actually it is Buddha's birthday. He was born on April 8 in the Chinese calendar, but in Japan we adapted the Gregorian calendar, therefore Buddha's birthday is celebrated on April 8 or May 8 in many Japanese temples.
On this day all temples hold the event called Kanbutsue (潅仏会), the celebration of Buddha's birthday. The first event was held at Asuka era (飛鳥時代:asuka jidai) in 606. Japanese people pour ama cha (甘茶), literally sweet tea, on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers as if bathing a newborn baby.
Unfortunately I have never seen this event by myself.

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