asakusa-e.com/Festival March

Jigen-e

At Asakusa Temple on March 18th

"Jigen" means the gods and deities appearing in front of human beings in various appearances to save and comfort their souls. "Asakusaji Engi" a document on genesis of Asakusa Temple tells that early in the morning on March 18th in the year 628 , two brothers casting a net at Sumida River found a mystic statue. They showed it to their land lord, and the land lord recognizing that the statue was the" jigen" of Kannon, the Goddess of Mercy, he became a priest and rebuilt his residence into a temple which became the foundation of Asakusa Temple. At the mass on the day of Jigen-e, special amulets wrapped in red paper are provided.

Three people who rendered the important part in recognizing the appearance of Kannon are dedicated in Sansha Kengen Shrine (Asakusa Shrine). This is why Sanshasai was originally a festival in March, which the date has been changed to May in Meiji period according to the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism. On the night of the 17th, three portable shrines are carried by the worshippers, kept outside the temple over night, and then carried back to Asakusa Shrine the next day as the memorial ceremony for the three. This ceremony is scheduled on March 30 and 31 this year. The image is of 2001.

*Information on Hyakumi-kuyo
Asakusa Temple hold Hyakumi Kuyo on March 18 and November 18 each year and is receiving the application for fixed number of one hundred to participate the parade. Special memorable sash, amulet, and offering are given to the participants . Donation of 10,000 yen is requested. For further information and application, inquire Hondo.

Monday, March 18 at Asakusa Temple

Kinryu-no-mai is performed twice a year on March 18 and October 18, and regarded as one of the Three Great Dances of Asakusa along with "Fukuju-no-mai " in February and "Shirasagi-no-mai" in November. It is said to be created in 1958 to commemorate the completion of Kannon Hondo.

The image is of 2002 March 18