Hana matsuri

Overview

Hana Matsuri is a Buddhist event celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha, formally called Kanbutsue. It is held each year on April 8 (in some regions and temples on May 8) at temples throughout the country. The center of this event is placing a tanjobutsu (birth statue), shaped in the form of the newly born Shakyamuni, inside a small hall called a hanamido (flower hall) decorated with colorful flowers, and having worshipers celebrate by pouring amacha (sweet hydrangea tea) over that birth statue. The name Hana Matsuri is said to have been born in the Meiji period; before that it was called Kanbutsue, Busshoe, Gotanne, and the like. It is a heartwarming event celebrating, together with flowers, the birth of Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, in the season when spring flowers bloom in profusion.

History and Origins

Hana Matsuri (Kanbutsue) is an event celebrating the birthday of Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, and its origin reaches back to the history of Buddhism itself. Shakyamuni is said to have been born about 2,500 years ago, in the flower garden of Lumbini in northern India (near present-day Nepal), as a prince of the Shakya clan. The legends surrounding his birth are the origin of the rituals of Hana Matsuri.

The custom of pouring amacha, the center of the event, derives from the legend that when Shakyamuni was born, sweet dew (the rain of sweet nectar) fell from the heavens and washed and purified his body. Imitating this rain of sweet nectar, worshipers pour amacha over the birth statue. Amacha is a sweet beverage made by decocting the leaves of the amacha plant of the saxifrage family, and it has become indispensable to Hana Matsuri. Also, the hanamido is said to represent the flower garden of Lumbini where Shakyamuni was born, and is decorated with colorful flowers.

The birth statue is an image shaped in the form of the newly born Shakyamuni, standing in a distinctive posture with the right hand toward the heavens and the left hand toward the earth. This is based on the legend that Shakyamuni, immediately after birth, walked seven steps and, pointing with his right hand to the heavens and his left hand to the earth, proclaimed Tenjo Tenge Yuiga Dokuson. This phrase is interpreted as teaching that all human beings are equally precious existences.

It is said that the approachable name Hana Matsuri came to be generally used from the Meiji period onward. Before that, designations such as Kanbutsue and Busshoe were used. Because the hanamido is beautifully decorated with flowers, it came to be called Hana Matsuri, and this name became widely established. In the Edo period, it is said that on this day the whole town was wrapped in a festive atmosphere, and it is a Buddhist event that has been beloved by people since old times.

Highlights

The highlight of Hana Matsuri is, above all, the hanamido beautifully decorated with colorful flowers, and the solemn, heartwarming ritual in which worshipers pour amacha over the birth statue. The hanamido colored with spring flowers is splendid just to look at, calling to mind the scene of the flower garden of Lumbini where Shakyamuni was born. The sight of worshipers quietly pouring amacha with a ladle over the small birth statue placed at its center is a beautiful scene expressing the compassion of Buddhism and the heart that celebrates the birth of life.

Amacha is often also served to worshipers, and receiving amacha after worship is one of the pleasures of Hana Matsuri. Amacha is said to have the benefit of good health, and there is also a saying that grinding ink with that amacha and writing characters improves one's penmanship. The sight of children receiving amacha is a heartwarming scene characteristic of Hana Matsuri.

Depending on the temple, there are places where a chigo gyoretsu (children's procession) is held. The chigo procession, in which beautifully dressed children pull a float shaped like a white elephant (hakuzo) and parade, is a splendid highlight representative of Hana Matsuri. The white elephant is after the legend that Maya, the mother of Shakyamuni, had a dream in which a white elephant entered her body when she conceived Shakyamuni, and it often appears at Hana Matsuri. The spring procession woven by flowers, children, and the white elephant soothes the hearts of those who see it.

Event Information and Access

Hana Matsuri (Kanbutsue) is held, usually on April 8, at many temples throughout the country. However, depending on the region and temple, there are places that hold it on May 8 in accordance with the old calendar or a one-month delay. This event celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni is held at many Buddhist temples regardless of sect and is not held at one specific venue. At a nearby temple too, a hanamido is often set up and one can receive amacha.

If one wishes to participate in Hana Matsuri, it is best to look into information on temples in one's area of residence or on famous temples. At large temples, in addition to setting up the hanamido, various events such as a chigo procession, memorial services, and the serving of amacha may be held. As access, holding times, and whether there is a chigo procession differ by temple, it is advisable to confirm the information of each temple before visiting. Early April often overlaps with the cherry-blossom season, and together with the flowers blooming in the temple precincts, one can enjoy a springlike atmosphere. When worshiping, bearing in mind that it is a Buddhist event, one should approach it quietly and with respect.

Around the Area

As Hana Matsuri is an event held at temples throughout the country, one can touch this event while visiting noted temples in various places, not limited to a specific region. Participating in Hana Matsuri at a historic old temple, the solemn temple buildings and the hanamido decorated with spring flowers combine to make an even more profound experience. Ancient capitals such as Kyoto and Nara have many venerable temples that have conveyed the event celebrating Shakyamuni's birth since old times, making them ideal to visit together with spring sightseeing.

Around April 8, many regions overlap just with the peak of cherry blossoms. Participating in the Hana Matsuri event while admiring the cherry blossoms and spring flowers blooming in the temple precincts, one can fully savor the beauty of spring in Japan. Also, receiving amacha after Hana Matsuri or viewing the chigo procession are pleasures unique to this season. Around the temples are noted places unique to each land, shops serving shojin ryori (Buddhist vegetarian cuisine), and long-established Japanese confectionery shops, and together with Hana Matsuri worship, one can spend a leisurely spring day. Hana Matsuri, where Buddhist culture and spring nature harmonize, lets one feel the richness of Japan's annual events.

Related Information

Details on Hana Matsuri can be found in the information of each temple and in materials on Buddhist events. This event is the common name for the Buddhist event Kanbutsue celebrating the birth of Shakyamuni, held each year on April 8 (May 8 in some regions) at temples throughout the country. The center is placing a birth statue in a flower-decorated hanamido and having worshipers celebrate by pouring amacha; pouring amacha derives from the legend that the rain of sweet nectar fell from the heavens at Shakyamuni's birth. The name Hana Matsuri is said to have been born in the Meiji period; before that it was called Kanbutsue, Busshoe, and the like. The appearance of the white elephant (hakuzo) is after the legend that Maya, Shakyamuni's mother, conceived after dreaming of a white elephant. Note that there are also distinctive Hana Matsuri events in each region, such as the Hana Matsuri held at the gate of Eiheiji Temple in Fukui Prefecture, but these are held individually as events of each region. This event, celebrating the birth of the founder of Buddhism together with spring flowers, is a heartwarming annual event conveying to the present a part of the Buddhist culture deeply rooted in Japan.

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