Shichi-Go-San

I know it has been a while since my last post, but how are you all doing?

As for me, it suddenly got cold in Japan and it seems that autumn has passed in an instant, so I have been feeling a little sick. How is it in your area? I hope you are not getting sick.

Now, there are several events in November in Japan, and this time I would like to talk about "Shichi-Go-San," which is mentioned in the title of this article.

 

Shichi-Go-San is one of the traditional events in Japan.

To give a rough explanation, it is "an event in which a family goes to visit a shrine with their children dressed in formal kimono. I guess.

This is too general, so I would like to explain a little more seriously.

Shichi-Go-San is an event to celebrate and pray for the healthy growth of children.

As the name suggests, it is held at the ages of 3, 5, and 7.

Each age ceremony has a different name and meaning, and the age at which the ceremony is held differs for men and women.

There are various theories about the origin of Shichi-Go-San, but it is said to be based on three ceremonies that were held at court since the Heian period (794-1185). In the old days, when medical care was less developed and hygiene was not as good as it is today, the mortality rate of children was very high and they were treated as "kami no uchin (children of God)" until the age of seven, when they were recognized as full-fledged human beings.

It was a great joy to see a child grow up safely, and as parents, we could not help but wish for healthy growth. Therefore, the origin of Shichi-Go-San is said to be that people thanked the gods for their growth and celebrated the milestones of 3, 5, and 7 years of age, which eventually spread among samurai families and merchants as the prototype of the current Shichi-Go-San in the Edo period. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), it was called "Shichi-Go-San" and spread to the general public, and it is widely believed that the present form was created in the Taisho period (1912-1926) or later.

The reason why the ages of 3, 5, and 7 were set as milestones was because when the calendar was introduced from China, odd numbers were thought to be yang, or auspicious, and also because they were considered milestones of growth: understanding language at age 3, gaining wisdom at age 5, and having baby teeth at age 7. Among these, the age of seven was considered to be a time of great celebration, as it was the age at which a child was fully born into this world as a human being from "kami no uchi (God's child)," and many regions placed importance on the seven-year-old ceremony among the Shichi-Go-San.

Shichi-Go-San has developed uniquely in each region, and the culture may differ slightly from region to region, but the following three ceremonies seem to have originated in the region.

 

3-Year-Old Boys and Girls "Hair Placing Ceremony”

During the Heian period (794-1185), it was customary for both boys and girls to shave their heads on the seventh day after birth and to keep their heads shaved until the age of three. It was believed that keeping the head clean prevented diseases and that healthy hair would grow back later. It is said that the ceremony was celebrated by placing a piece of white thread or cotton gray hair on the head to pray for longevity.

“Hakama-fitting Ceremony" for a 5-year-old boy

During the Heian period (794-1185), boys between the ages of 5 and 7 years old were required to wear hakama, the formal attire of the time, for the first time. This ceremony, also known as "hakama dressing," is believed to be the first time a boy put on haori hakama, the formal attire of the time. Initially, this ceremony was performed for both men and women, but during the Edo period (1603-1867), it was changed to a ceremony for boys only. In the ceremony, the boy first stands on the Go board, which has the meaning of "catching the sky," facing the direction of good fortune, and puts on the hakama starting from the left leg, which is considered auspicious. It is also said that they put on a crown and worshipped the gods of the four directions, which is said to express the wish to win over enemies from all four directions. In the modern imperial family, the "Hakama-no-gi" ceremony is still held for boys at the age of five, followed by the "Fukasogi-no-gi" ceremony in which the boy jumps down from the top of the Go board. Following the Fukasogi-no-gi, there are shrines throughout Japan that hold the "Go-ban-no-gi" ceremony, in which the boy jumps off the Go board, during the Shichi-Go-San pilgrimage period.

“Obi Undo Ceremony" for a 7-year-old girl

During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), a ceremony was held to mark the growth of a girl's kimono, in which the sash was tightened for the first time by removing the cord used to attach it to the kimono. This ceremony was established in the Muromachi period (1333-1573) as the "Obi-Uniwa Ceremony," and was originally held at the age of 9 for both boys and girls. The "Obi Undo Ceremony" was also known as "Cord Oshi" or "Yotsumimi Celebration." In the Edo period (1603-1867), the "Hakama Kofuku Ceremony" was performed at age 5 for boys and at age 7 for girls, and it was recognized that after this Obi Undo ceremony, the child would begin her journey to adulthood.

During the Shichi-Go-San ceremony, a visit to a shrine is made to thank for the growth of the child. Generally, it is customary to visit a nearby shrine where the local deity (Ujigami-sama) is present.

Chitoseame is such an indispensable candy for the Shichi-Go-San celebration. During the Shichi-Go-San Festival, when people express gratitude for the growth of their children and wish for their longevity, they pay a visit to a shrine or temple and celebrate by eating Chitose-ame. The word "Chitose" means "thousand years" or "long years. The long and slender shape of Chitose-ame and its ability to be stretched to any length when pulled, is associated with "long and thin" and "longevity," and Chitose-ame is meant to encourage people to live long and tenaciously, and to stay healthy and long.

Incidentally, Chitose Ame has a fixed size, being no longer than 1 meter in length and 1.5 centimeters in diameter.

The origin of Chitoseame is said to date back to the Edo period. At that time, sugar was very precious, so the sweet and tasty Chitoseame was very much appreciated as a celebratory sweet for the Shichi-Go-San. There are various theories about the origin of Chitoseame, but here are three that have been handed down from generation to generation.

 

“Chitoseame" by Asakusa Shichibyoue

The first theory is that during the Genroku and Hoei periods (1688-1711), a candy seller named Shichibyoe in Asakusa, Edo, began selling stick-shaped red and white candies under the name "Sennename. The name "Sennen" and the festive red-and-white appearance of the candy earned it the reputation of "good luck" and "long life. It was sold in front of shrines in long paper bags with pine, bamboo, plum, cranes, and turtles painted on them.(Pine, bamboo, plum, and crane and turtle are considered lucky charms.)

“Senzai Ame"(Senzai candy) by Hirano Jinzaemon in Osaka

The second is said to have originated in 1615, when Hirano Jinzaemon, a businessman in Osaka, went to Edo (present-day Tokyo) and began selling candy in the precincts of Sensoji Temple. At that time, Chitose-ame was called "Senzai-ame. Later, it is said that the same kanji characters were used, but the reading was changed to "Chitose-ame. It seems to have attracted a lot of attention with its sales slogan, "Eat a long Chitose Ame and you will live a long life. It was not only bought for oneself, but was also valued as a gift.

“IwaiAme”(Celebration Candy) at Kanda Myojin

The third theory is that it originated from "IwaiAme" sold in the precincts of Kanda Myojin in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. Ukiyoe painted by Hiroshige Utagawa in the Edo period (1603-1868) shows a young boy visiting Kanda Myojin with a Chitose Ame. Also, a photograph from the Meiji era (1868-1912) shows Chitoseame being sold in the precincts of the shrine. Kanda Myojin has inherited the old custom and still gives Chitoseame to children who come to the shrine for Shichigosan pilgrimage.

So far, I have written about Shichi-Go-San and Chitoseame.

I am afraid that you may have stopped reading halfway through this blog because it has become the longest one ever.

Now, do you have any events to celebrate your children's growth in your area?

I hope to hear about it someday.

See you again in the next blog.

P.S. I plan to write the next one as soon as possible, so please wait for it.