Setsubun

Setsubun ( Japanese 節 分 ) is the “division of the seasons” in the traditional Japanese lunisolar calendar and describes the day before the beginning of 4 of the 24 stations ( 二十 四 節 気 , nijūshi sekki ) of the year according to the Chinese calendar . Today the term Setsubun is primarily used for the last day of the "Great Cold" ( 大寒 , Daikan ) and marks the traditional celebrations at the beginning of spring ( 立春 , risshun ), usually on February 3rd or 4th (according to the Gregorian calendar ) .

The rituals taking place on this occasion, which mostly have the symbolic expulsion or defense of the Oni (demons) as their theme, are celebrated throughout Japan in the various religions, with numerous regional variants. Setsubun is not a national holiday in Japan .

Mame-maki

Part of a print by Hokusai selling an oni made from soybeans.

Setsubun at Kimpusen-ji Temple , 2018

The ritual sprinkling of beans ( 豆 ま き , mame-maki ) probably comes from the Muromachi period . Roasted soybeans ( 豆 , mame ) are thrown either at a person disguised as an Oni or in the house twice in a direction that is considered happy and twice in a direction that is considered unhappy and the words “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! ”( 鬼 は 外！ 福 は 内！ , in German:“ Demons out! Luck in! ”). It is said to be particularly lucky if the number of beans corresponds to the age of the thrower plus one and they are wrapped in paper together with a few coins.

The role of the thrower ( 年 男 , toshi otoko ) or the thrower ( 年 女 , toshi onna ) is usually assumed in private households by the head of the family or someone born in the Chinese zodiac sign of the coming year. At temples or shrines there are often several monks, priests or celebrities (politicians, actors, athletes, etc.) who put the beans in small bags together with sweets, toys, etc. Throw the like into the assembled crowd.

This part of the Setsubun is similar to the Lemuria festival in ancient Rome, where the head of the house also scattered beans around the house - but here to drive away the spirits of the ancestors.

Tsuina

Tsuina-Oni at Renge-ji ( 蓮花 寺 ) in Miki (Hyōgo Prefecture), February 5, 2006

The tsuina ( 追 儺 ), also known as oni-yarai ( 鬼 や ら い ; 鬼 遣 い ; 鬼 遣 ) is a custom that originated in Tang China and was traditionally observed on the evening before the New Year. In this rite, which is cultivated at shrines or temples, the participants first address the kami with saimon ( 祭文 ; prayer texts). Afterwards they drive away participants disguised as Oni with dances and arrows who try to enter the sanctuary.

Yaikagashi

The yaikagashi ( 焼 嗅 が し ) is a custom that has largely gone out of fashion in modern times , in which sardine heads are speared on branches of the sacred shrub Hiiragi ( 柊 ; Osmanthus heterophyllus ) and hung over the frame of the front door. This is to prevent the Oni from entering the house.

Ehomaki

These Ehōmaki rolls are eaten at Setsubun

Nowadays, Setsubun also eats Ehōmaki ( 恵 方 巻 ), rice rolls ( Maki ), which are larger than the usual Maki, taste a bit sweet and contain several special ingredients that would otherwise not be used, such as B. Shiitake .

Ehōmaki traditionally come from Osaka and the surrounding area. Seven Eleven began selling in western Japan in 1995 and across Japan in 1998. Subsequent advertising campaigns in Combinis made it popular across the country. This is in line with the trend of eating special dishes only at certain times ( Osechi-ryōri for New Year's Eve, eel in summer) in a 2006 survey, 92.5% of respondents said they knew Ehōmaki, and 54.9% had it Year also ate Ehōmaki at Setsubun. The market in 2005 was estimated at 14.4 billion yen.

Web links

Commons : Setsubun  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Endō Jun:  "Setsubun" . In: Encyclopedia of Shinto. Kokugaku-in , February 24, 2007 (English)
• Steve Renshaw and Saori Ihara: Get Out Ogre! Come in happiness! Setsubun in Japan; A Lunar “New Years' Eve,” February 2000 - English
• Photos from the Setsubun festival on Narita-san (Shinshō-ji) in Narita (Chiba Prefecture)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 今では,どこでも見られる恵方巻ですが.... . (No longer available online.) In: セ ブ ン - イ レ ブ ン ま る わ か り 豆 知識 . Seven Eleven Japan, archived from the original on March 24, 2010 ; Retrieved February 3, 2010 (Japanese). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ Takashi Waguri: 予 約 殺到 の コ ン ビ ニ 「恵 方 巻」 の 意外 な 仕 掛 け 人 を を 発 見！ 商品化 に 至 っ た 理由 と は？ . In: nikkei Trendy net. KK Nikkei BP, January 24, 2009; accessed February 3, 2010 (Japanese). 
3. ↑ 【酢 的 生活 マ ガ ジ ン vol.16】 節 分 （２ 月 ３ 日） に 家族 で 作 ろ ろ う “七 福 手 巻 き”！ . Mizkan Group, December 26, 2006, accessed February 3, 2010 (Japanese, 54.9% = 46.8% + 8.1%). 
4. ↑ 一年 の 幸運 を 願 っ て お 寿司 を が ぶ り！ 「節 分 に は“ 恵 方 巻 え ほ う ま き ”」 全国 に 定 着 . Mizkan Group, January 13, 2006, accessed February 3, 2010 (Japanese).