 Image search results - "warrior" |
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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Sign near Bannaji temple saying that the warrior procession would start at 7 pm.
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On the way to Bannaji temple, this statue of the Ashikaga lord.
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Gate to Bannaji temple. It is actually an arched bridge.
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Gate to Bannaji temple.
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Behind the gate to Bannaji temple.
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After going through the gate, there's this path to the temple hall. Now lined with food stalls during the festival.
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Plum trees
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Bannaji temple main hall. National Treasure built by Ashikaga Takauji's father. A rare example of a main temple hall from the Kamakura Period.
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Carrying wooden boxes of beans.
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At one point along the procession route (a major road), there was a rest station where they served free ama-zake (sweet sake). The hot drink warmed us up.
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On Feb. 3, the Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival is held in the evening with a warrior procession going to Bannaji. Start of the warrior procession consisting of local children, men, and women. The procession started at Orihime Kominkan. 織姫公民館
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Since it is held at night in the middle of winter, dress warmly.
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Going over the arched bridge at Bannaji temple.
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.
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Once in a while, they would shout a war cry.
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.
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I saw at least two foreigners also dressed up as well.
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Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival, Ashikaga, Tochigi.
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They all entered Bannaji temple by crossing the narrow arched bridge.
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Within the grounds of Bannaji temple, they all gathered at this small outdoor stage.
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After a few speeches, they got boxes of beans and threw them at us, but only the people up front got hit with beans.
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The bean throwing was very short, both time-wise and distance-wise.
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The bean-throwing was disappointing at Yoroi Toshikoshi Shuko festival in Ashikaga, Tochigi. Few beans and they hardly reached anybody.
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Japan's oldest school.
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Statue of Lord Ii Naomasa (井伊 直政 1561-1602 ) in front of JR Hikone Station in 2007.
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Statue of Lord Ii Naomasa (井伊 直政 1561-1602 ) in front of JR Hikone Station. One of the four great generals (徳川四天王) who helped Tokugawa Ieyasu win the Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原合戦) in 1600 to unify Japan and become shogun.
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Ieyasu rewarded Naomasa with the strategic domain of Hikone (mainly Hikone, Maibara, Nagahama, Taga), making Naomasa the first Hikone daimyo (feudal lord 大名) in Omi Province (近江国).
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Sawayama Castle (佐和山城) came with the domain, but Naomasa did not like it, being outdated and the former castle of Ishida Mitsunari (石田 三成) who lost at Sekigahara.
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Naomasa planned to build a new castle, but died in 1602 from an old Sekigahara gunshot wound before construction began.
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In front of Hikone Station, welcome banners for Hikone Castle's 400th anniversary in 2007 surround a statue of Ii Naomasa.
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