Hosenji Setsubun 宝仙寺 節分追儺会
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Title • File Name • Date • Position  |
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Sanmon Gate 山門
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Hosenji temple in Nakano-ku, Tokyo. Belongs to the Shingon-shu Sect, Buzan School. 宝仙寺
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Hondo hall 本堂
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Hondo hall 本堂
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Kobo Daishi statue
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Inside Hondo hall 本堂
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Inside Hondo hall 本堂
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Three-story pagoda 三重塔
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Goeido Hall housing Kobo Daishi image. 御影堂
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Temple grounds as seen from the Hondo Hall
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Pagoda and pile of setsubun boxes
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Wooden boxes containing the beans (peanuts) and mikan tangerines to be thrown to the crowd.
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Ceremony area
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Warrior monk procession 僧兵行列
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It is unusual or unique to see such a procession for Setsubun. 僧兵行列
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In 1951 when they were rebuilding the temple destroyed by the war, they found some items which were supposedly used by a warrior monk. 僧兵行列
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So from 1953, as part of the Setsubun ceremonies on Feb. 3, they started this procession of people dressed as warrior monks.
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They are not real warrior monks. Monks do not go to battle as they once did centuries ago. Also see the video at YouTube. 僧兵行列
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Rear view
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Warrior monks entering Hosenji temple. 僧兵行列
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This man must be the leader.
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Blowing a conch shell. One of the signals of battle.
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The warrior monk costume is interesting. The collar makes them look bigger and more fearsome. 僧兵行列
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The procession started at 3:30 pm at a nearby shrine.
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They arrived Hosenji at around 4 pm.
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Memorial service 柴燈大護摩供
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Instrument players
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柴燈大護摩供
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Setting afire
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柴燈大護摩供
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People line up to receive mikan
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Here you go.
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Bean-throwing started at 4:30 pm. 豆まき
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Bean throwing is called mame-maki. 豆まき
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Even this was unusual since they were also throwing mikan tangerines. 豆・みかん(?)まき
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People at the very front are not ignored.
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A tangerine hitting your head is probably painful.
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Tangerines are easily squished in your hands (juice squirting out) if you catch one.
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