Shogo-in Temple Setsubun Festival
Last Updated on January 28, 2025
calendar_month DATE | Feb 01 2025 - Feb 02 2025 |
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schedule TIME | 9:00 am - 7:30 pm |
payments Cost | FREE |
info Website | Official Website |
location_on Location | Shogoin Temple |
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map Area | Kyoto |
category CATEGORY | Festival |
Event Overview
Setsubun is a time of seasonal change, and is known for the custom of throwing beans saying “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi” (“Demons out, good fortune in”) to drive away evil and bring in good fortune.
Demons are primarily seen as symbols of misfortune and disaster, but this is not the case at our Setsubun festival and Oni-oi Shiki ceremony.
In other words, when monks and ascetics throw beans at the demons and chant mantras, the demons will have a change of heart and become “lucky demons” who will bestow good fortune on everyone, just like the lucky men and women.
En no Gyoja, the founder of Shugendo, the sect of Shogoin, had a married demon couple as his disciples.
After En no Gyoja subjugated these two demons, Maeoni and Usagi, and reformed them, they have continued to help ascetic monks through generations to this day.
The demon ancestors of the distant past showed us the example of taking the opportunity to reflect on one’s behavior and strive to do good deeds.
For this reason, at Setsubun at Shogoin, after a demon is subjugated, it is not banished, but rather people simply chant “Fuku wa uchi” (good fortune in), inviting good fortune along with the demon.
At the end of the ceremony, the subjugated demon also joins in the bean-throwing, and after the memorial service, the reformed demon may directly bestow a blessing upon you.
A metal club is used in the Oni-oi Shiki blessing, but rest assured that the metal club of the reformed demon is gentle on the human body.
Both the lucky beans and the darani beans are available for 300 yen per bag.
The lucky beans are the three colors of red, blue, and yellow, which are the colors of the lucky demons, and are used to pray to the principal deity, Acala, for protection from misfortune and good fortune.
The darani beans come as a card-type amulet with the beans attached. Please take advantage of this opportunity to receive the lucky beans and spend the year in good health.
Order of events
Most events occur on the 2nd day of this festival. On the 1st day, the Shogoin Yamabushi and children from Mibu-dera kindergarten will parade around the temple and perform a memorial service, after which a large goma prayer will be held in front of the main hall at 2:00 pm.
Starting at 10am on the second day, the Yamabushi (Heian Rengokai) of Shogoin Temple will be serving freshly brewed sweet sake. As it is a very cold season, please come and warm your body and soul, and take your time to explore the temple grounds.
At 1pm on the second day, the Oni-oi Shiki takes place. Beans are thrown at demons to drive away misfortune and disaster. The demon are subjugated and invited in along with good luck.
From 3pm on the second day, the secret Shugendo technique, the Saito Daigoma Ku, will be solemnly performed in the south garden of the Shinden Hall.
During this goma rite, the mountain ascetics recite sutras loudly, and Setsubun talismans are offered for prayer, which are applied for from all over the country as they are believed to be effective in warding off misfortune and bringing good fortune.
The ancient goma ritual is also a rare opportunity to see the living traditions of Shugendo, and the smoke from the goma that flows to the audience is said to ward off evil.
Starting at 6pm on the second day, a mountain ascetic will use the embers from the goma fire to perform a ritual to remove the spirits and amulets that have been used over the past year and burn them.
Old amulets can be left to be burned on both days, regardless of the temple or shrine from which they were received or the sect they belonged, until the time when the old amulets are burned. Old amulets should be placed in the old amulet storage area on the grounds or given to a monk directly.
Venue Information
Location: Shogoin Temple, 15 Shogoin Nakamachi, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, 606-8324, Japan
Dates: 1st February until 2nd February 2025
Opening Times: 9:00 to 19:30 daily.
Entry Cost
Free.
Getting There
The temple is a 15 minute walk from Jingu-Marutamachi Station on the Keihan Main Line.