Ahoy Mateys!
Tanabata is right around the corner! Everyone knows the basic story of Tanabata, but do you know the actual history of Tanabata?
Tanabata is a Japanese star festival, which originated in China, where it is called the QiXi Festival.
In Japan, Tanabata originates from Kikkoden (乞巧奠), which means `The Festival to Plead for Skills,` which was the basis for the QiXi festival in China. It was celebrated in China, then adopted by the Kyoto Imperial Palace from the Heian period. The festival spread to the public during the Edo period, however it was mixed with Obon and other bon festivities, as Obon used to be held in July (July 15th), so Obon and Kikkoden were celebrated together. During this time, girls wished to get better at sewing, and boys wished to have better handwriting. They would write their wishes on strips of paper. Obon is now held on the 15th of August, or 8/15, and Tanabata is held on the 7th of July, or 7/7, making the two separate events.
The word Tanabata used to be read as Shichiseki (七夕). People believe that during that time, there used to be an ancient Shinto ceremony where a priestess would weave special cloth called `Tanabata,` near a river and offer it to the gods and pray for protection of the village`s harvest. Eventually Tanabata and Kikkoden merged into one and became the Tanabata that we know today!
In Korea, the festival is called the Chilseok festival. The stories are quite similar to the Japanese versions, however the Chinese variations of the stories of Tanabata are quite different from the Japanese and Korean versions.
In one particular Chinese version, the princess Zhinü, who weaved colorful clouds in the sky, fell in love with a human named NiuLang, got married, and had two children. Once the Goddess (Zhinü`s mother) found out, she was very angry because Zhinu, who was a celestial being, married a human. She forced Zhinu to return to heaven. NiuLang was very sad, but one day his ox began to talk and told him that if he killed him and wore his hide, he could travel to heaven to find Zhinu. He was very sad to kill his ox but he did so and wore the ox`s hide and took his two children along with him to find Zhinu. The Goddess was very angry, and used her hairpin to cut a river into the sky (the milky way). Zhinu and NiuLang were forever separated by the heavenly river, however, every year, the magpies (black birds) would take pity on the couple and form a bridge for them to meet once a year.
There are many different variations of the story. In another Chinese variation, Zhinu is the daughter of the Jade King.
Even Vietnam has their very own Tanabata Festival, however it is called Ngày mưa ngâu, which means `Continual Rain Day.` On the day of Ngày mưa ngâu, the two lovers meet and cry and cry, causing an endless rain through out the entire day.
So how will you spend your Tanabata, QiXi, Chilseok, or Ngày mưa ngâu?
Until next time!!
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Today`s Word Box:
Plead: 願う
Basis:基本
Adopt:採用する
Spread:広がる
Harvest:収穫された作物
Variation:色々な
Celestial: 天空の
Hide:動物の皮
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下北沢英会話スクール ビートンボックス