#Gion matsuri

[yridenergyridenergy]

[missmyloko]

Kanzashi of The Month: July - Gion Matsuri 2024's Design

Way back in 2019, Kazurasei went and uploaded images of the yearly kanzashi at the time and I covered them like a normal kanzashi feature. However, they hadn't uploaded the Gion Matsuri design annually even after it resumed... until now! As always, the kanzashi are courtesy of Kazurasei.

Image is courtesy of Kazurasei. Chō (蝶) - Butterflies Tsuyu Shiba (露柴) - Dew On Grass Tessen (鉄線) - Clematis When this image was originally uploaded at the beginning of July it came as quite a shock as the yearly motifs aren't often leaked early, but boy was it a great thing that it was! 2024's design is actually very similar to 2019's on paper; it features an insect and dew on grass on top of clematis. However, unlike the shimmering wings and stick figure bodies of the dragonfly, we instead have the puffy wings and silver wire bodies of the butterfly! Silver paper butterflies accompany the main motifs on the katsuyama (bridge) piece, so it's interesting to see them used now as a main motif too, making the katsuyama absolutely full of fluttering butterflies! Oddly enough, the rule of colors seems to have changed for this year as junior maiko were seen wearing kanzashi sets with two light pink butterflies and one purple butterfly while senior maiko were seen wearing kanzashi sets with two purple butterflies and one light pink butterfly. Usually junior maiko wear deeper, darker colors to symbolize their inexperience and senior maiko wear pastels to show their seniority, but this year everyone shared the same colors!

Image is courtesy of the Shigemori Okiya. Last time the clematis was featured, it was simply the six petal kind with a rhinestone center. This time around, it still has six petals, but the main ones are white and the accents are pink and blue. It's not unusual to see cultivated clematis have main petals that are one color and smaller, inner petals that are another, so this type of tsumami clematis is emulating that. When put together, the motifs make for a very cooling and calming effect, as shown on maiko Fukunagi (ふく凪) of Shigemori (しげ森) in Miyagawa Cho above. 2024 has now become one of my favorite yearly designs that I can remember (my other favorite is 2018's fireworks and water design). What's yours?

[besidebloomingirises]

[tanuki-kimono]

Unusual pattern choice for this modern high end obi, inspired by the famous Zo to Kujira-zu byôbu (Elephant and Whale folding screens) painted by mid-Edo animal lover artist Ito Jakuchu.

Those folding screens were rediscovered in 2008. There is apparently no hidden allegory behind the whale/elephant pairing beside the fact that artist once saw an elephant and a whale and (rightly) went "well they're neat".

Those screens were ordered to be displayed during Gion matsuri, and whimsical patterns were often favored for this occasion.

[redsamuraiii]

Ato Matsuri at Gion, Kyoto by arisachw

It started in 869 A.D. when Kyoto suffers a an epidemic that Emperor Seiwa commissioned the ceremony to pray to Susanoo-no-Mikoto, the deity of Yasaka Shrine.

Today, the tradition continues as it becomes a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage because of how much it showcases Kyoto’s history, arts and culture.

More info on the event

[kyotodreamtrips]

Naginata Hoko (長刀鉾) during the Saki-Matsuri of the Gion Festival in Kyoto-Japan.

[bach-photography]

長刀鉾稚児社参

Kyoto Gion Matsuri 2024 (Gion Festival) - 京都 祇園祭

[strongbabe2907]

🥹

[ikana-graveyard]

2023年7月17日祇園祭 ・  7/17/2023 Gion Festival

[bunchanistan]

蟷螂山 my beloved

[miyajimacho-imvu]

Maiko Terutsuyo showing off her July look, before switching to the katsuyama hairstyle for Gion Matsuri

[yridenergyridenergy]

"Tomorrow is the last day.

It is.

Kyo"

[eduseyes]

祇園祭　Gion Matsuri 2023

[besidebloomingirises]

[tanuki-kimono]

Fantastic hikizuri (trailing kimono, probably a maiko's considering the sode-age sleeves tucks and pattern) depicting all-seasons sceneries & festivals.

[talesofedo]