七夕 – Tanabata in Japan
Tanabata in Japan happens every year on July 7th. It is a time to celebrate the tale of two galactic deities, Orihime and Hikoboshi. It has it’s origins in China but Japan has added it’s own twist to this tradition. Let’s take a look.
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The Chinese Origin’s of Tanabata
Tanabata in Japan has it’s origins in Chinese Qixi Festival also known as the Qiqiao Festival. is a Chinese This is a celebration that commemorates the annual reunion of Zhinü and Niulang according to Chinese mythology.
These two characters are personifications of two stars. First, Vega, the primary star of the constellation Lyra represents the weaver girl Zhinü. Next Niulang or the Ox-herder is represented by the star Alter in the Aquila constellation. Since these stars can be seen in the summer night, Chinese mythology came up with the tale of the two meeting only once a year on the 7th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar. Nowadays though, in Japan it would be the 7th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar. Which we will talk about later.
Tanabata Adoption in Japan
The Chinese Qiqiao Festival, 乞巧奠 ( kikkouden ) in Japanese, blended with native Japanese traditions. This is how Tanabata developed in Japan. This festival is dedicated to the improvement of women’s sewing and craft abilities. Just as Zhinü, Orihime in Japanese was a weaver.
https://japaneseuniverse.com/2024/02/18/pac-man-in-japaneseconcepts-behind-development-to-global-icon/
kikkouden was introduced in the Nara period to the imperial court, starting as an event for the imperial family and nobles of the day. Later the festival would be adopted by the general population. This would be how Tanabata formed to become what it is today. The story behind the festival of the Weaver and Ox-herder intertwined with the native Japanese story of Tanabatatsume.
棚機津女 – Tanabatatsume
Now we know the Chinese origins of Tanabata in Japan. Prior to the Kikkouden festival however, there were other native Japanese traditions that combined to form Tanabata.
Originally, the name Tanabata referred special weaving machine. This machine was used by chosen girls who would weave kimono. They would shut themselves away in a small weaving house by the river and weave kimonos as an offering to the gods or kami. The girls that weaved the kimono were known as 棚機津女 Tanabatatsume. The girls would weave on the night prior to Tanabata then the next day people would purify themselves at the water side.
This tradition also has a story behind it. One of these Tanabatatsume were weaving a kimono for a water god. After making him a kimono, he came done to the river and then the Tanabatatsume became his wife.
The Tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi in Japan
The story behind Tanabata has different versions inside and out of Japan. However, the main version in Japan goes like this:
The Supreme Deity or lord of heaven, 天帝, (Tentei) had a daughter named 織姫 (Orihime). She was a great weaver and everyone depended on her. Also in heaven there was a hardworking cowherder named 彦星 (Hikoboshi). Tentei allowed Orihime and Hikoboshi to get married. After marriage the two were enjoying married life to the point of neglecting their work. This angered Tentei so much that he separated the two on opposite sides of the Milky Way. After that they were only allowed to meet once a year on July 7th. Each year a Magpie comes making a bridge with its wings so the can cross to the other side of the Milky Way to meet. But, when it rains on Tanabata the water levels get too high to cross and they are unable to meet. So, when it rains on this day it is said to be Orihime and Hikoboshi’s tears.
Tanabata Celebration in Japan
Japan has festivals, decorations, cuisine and so on. But, one of the most, if not the most popular custom is 短冊 ( tanzaku ) or strips of paper. These are rectangle papers where people will write their wishes on and decorate bamboo grass.
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