Today in Japan: Gozan no Okuribi
On August 16 in Kyoto–today–some enormous bonfires are burning.
Gozan no Okuribi, Japan.
Spectacular okuribi bonfires on five Kyoto mountains signal the end of summer.
Gozan no Okuribi (五山送り火), more commonly known as Daimonji (大文字), is one of the iconic festivals of Kyoto. Five giant bonfires are lit on mountains surrounding the city to signify the moment when the spirits of deceased family members are believed to be returning to the spirit world—thus the name Okuribi (送り火) (roughly, “send-off fire”).
Specific families have the hereditary duty of organizing all the logistics of the bonfires, and they spend many hours annually providing volunteer labor to maintain this tradition.
Here’s the play-by-play:
- Daimonji (大文字), “large” or “great” and the most famous: on Daimonji-Yama/Higashi-Yama, Nyoigatake at 8:00 pm
- Myō/Hō (妙・法), “wondrous dharma” (Buddhist teachings): on Matsugasaki, Nishi-Yama/Higashi-Yama at 8:10 pm
- Funagata (舟形), the shape of a boat: on Nishigamo, Funa-Yama at 8:15 pm
- Hidari Daimonji (左大文字), again, “large:” on Daihoku-San, Hidaridaimonji-San at 8:15 pm
- Toriigata (鳥居形), a torii gate: on Toriimoto, Mandara-San at 8:20 pm.
By 8:30, all the characters are lit. Each bonfire lasts for 30 minutes.
Daimonji, Japan.
