A historica Parade covering every period of Japanese history
19.10.31
Blog
Jidai Festival is one of the three most popular festivals in Kyoto, alongside with the Aoi Matsuri Festival and the Gion Matsuri Festival and it has just held at Heian Shrine.
Normally it takes place every year on October 22th, which is the same day that Emperor Kanmu relocated the capital of Japan from Shiga to Kyoto about1,100 years ago and people have been considering the day as the “Birthday of Kyoto”.
But due to ceremonies related to the enthronement of the new Emperor of Japan, the parade was held on October 26th this year.
This festival includes a large parade with 2,000 participants dressed in precise costumes from almost every era of Japanese history. The parade begins with historical characters from Meiji Restoration in 1868, when the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, and it continues in reverse chronological order until Heian period when Kyoto became the capital of Japan.
The festival started in 1895 as same year as Heian shrine was established just a few years after capital moving.
When the capital was moved to Tokyo, it was a huge problem for Kyoto’s people.
Not only emperor moved to Tokyo but also a lot of aristocrats, merchants followed by and that made Kyoto less energetic so people tried to revitalize Kyoto city and they started this festival to celebrate Kyoto’s history and culture.
The very last group of the parade has been considered the most important figures because which represent the spirits of two Emperors, the first and last emperor to reign over Kyoto and also they are enshrined at Heian shrine. A large number of participants carry the last two mikoshi, portable shrines.
During the three hour parade, you can see the history and traditions of Kyoto and how the ancient capital changed to the modern Kyoto.
The photo is from this website
京都フリー写真素材