Aoi Matsuri

The ancient records known as the Honchō getsurei (本朝月令) and Nenchūgyōji hissho (年中行事秘抄) reveal that a succession of disastrous rains with high winds ruined the grain crops, and epidemics had spread through the country.

According to the historical record known as the Shoku Nihongi (続日本記, so many people had come to view this equestrian performance on the festival day in the 2nd year of the reign of Emperor Monmu (r. 697–707) that the event was banned.

[1] In the ninth century, Emperor Kanmu established the seat of the imperial throne in Kyoto.

Emperor Kanmu recognized the deities of the Kamo shrines as protectors of the Heian capital, and established the Aoi Matsuri as an annual imperial event.

The festival is named after the hollyhock (aoi) leaves used as decoration throughout the celebration as well as offerings to the gods.

[7] The six hundred people are all wearing traditional dress of Heian nobles (ōmiyabito),[6] while the oxcart (gissha) is adorned with artificial wisteria flowers.

[2] Historically the Saiō-Dai was a woman of the imperial house who was chosen from the sisters and daughters of the emperor to dedicate herself to the Shimogamo shrine.

Traditional Heian court dress for women would be wearing several layers of exquisitely colored silk robes.

[8] During the Heian period, the Saiō-Dai and the Imperial messenger would be accompanied by ten dancers and twelve musicians.

[5] Also featured at the Aoi Matsuri are horse races (kurabe-uma),[11] and demonstrations of mounted archery (yabusame).