May 2, 2024 : Shinsenen Festival 2024
© 安岡喜晴 (JoyShine)
Today I saw the Shinsenen Festival.
Shinsenen is an imperial garden built adjacent to the inner court of Heian-kyo (ancient Kyoto), and this garden has a very long history, being built at about the same time as the capital was moved to Kyoto in 794.
It is believed that Shinsenen was a place where emperors and courtiers held banquets and entertainments.
The "Nihon Kouki" records that Emperor Saga held a banquet at Shinsenen in 812, which is believed to be the first recorded cherry blossom viewing.
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Furthermore, in 863, when an epidemic broke out in Kyoto, a ceremony was held at Shinsenen to appease evil spirits,
and in 869, 66 floats were erected at Shinsenen and a portable shrine was sent out from Gion Shrine (Yasaka Shrine).
This is said to be the origin of today's Gion Festival.
So this place, Shinsenen, has a very, very long history.
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