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【Chichibu Night Festival】

History of the Night Festival

The Chichibu Night Festival (chichibu yomatsuri) is held on December 2 and 3 to honor and express gratitude to the deities that are enshrined in Chichibu Jinja Shrine. During the festival, six floats are paraded through the neighborhood of the shrine, stopping for live performances of music, dance, and Kabuki theater that take place within the floats themselves. The six floats include two “flower parasols” (kasaboko), lantern-covered platforms carrying halberds that act as physical representations of the deities, and four yatai floats, which carry musical ensembles. The festival has continued in its current form for over 300 years and is regarded as one of Japan’s “three great float festivals” (nihon sandai hikiyama matsuri).

It is uncertain exactly how long ago the festival was established, but it is thought to predate Chichibu Jinja Shrine, which was founded over two millennia ago. The shrine is located in the center of the Chichibu Basin and looks out at Mt. Bukō. The shrine’s sacred grove, Hahaso Forest, was a place to worship the mountain from afar, and it is also regarded as the residence of the Buddhist deity Myōken (Sanskrit: Sudarśana), one of the deities enshrined at Chichibu Jinja Shrine.

According to legend, Myōken (considered a female deity) and the male dragon deity of Mt. Bukō are in love, but the dragon deity is officially married to the spirit of Suwa Jinja Shrine. Each year on December 2, Myōken travels from the sacred grove to Suwa Jinja Shrine to beg for a single night with her lover. By tradition, when the float from Motomachi passes it along the parade route, the musicians quiet their instruments and the onlookers whisper so as not to disturb the negotiations. If all goes well, Myōken and the deity of Mt. Bukō meet at Kamenoko Rock, a statue of a turtle enshrined in Chichibu Park near Chichibu City Hall.

Most elements of the modern festival, such as the floats and fireworks, have evolved or been added over time. During the Kamakura period (1185–1333), around the same time that Myōken was incorporated into Chichibu Jinja Shrine, sacred horses were donated by the shogunal government. This donation is reprised each year with two sacred horses that accompany the floats on their tour of the local shrines and are donated to Chichibu Jinja Shrine at the end of the festival.

The modern Night Festival largely developed during the Edo period (1603–1867). At the time, a festival known as the “Great Festival to Myōken” or “Great Festival of the Eleventh Month” was held in early November. The festival was spurred by the economic success of the “grand silk market” (kinu no takamachi) that was held near the shrine. Silk merchants came from the surrounding regions to sell their wares and then took part in the festivities. As the region blossomed economically, the scale and splendor of the festival increased as well.

For a period of years, the six floats that have come to represent the Night Festival were made illegal. The floats were introduced sometime in the mid-seventeenth or early eighteenth century. During the last century of the Edo period, in response to what was seen as the degeneration of the common people, the government heavily restricted nightlife culture, including float-parades and Kabuki theater. Then, beginning in 1827, religious festivals were halted outright. Six districts in Chichibu resisted the government restrictions, and for 50 years until the ban was lifted, they continued holding annual festivals—three of the districts one year and the other three districts the next. These six towns are represented today by the six floats that circulate during the festival.

The floats are made using traditional Japanese wood joinery techniques, and do not contain a single nail.

Chichibu Festival Exhibition Hall

The second floor of the Chichibu Festival Exhibition Hall, located near Chichibu Jinja Shrine, contains a variety of exhibits detailing the history of the Night Festival, as well as many of Chichibu’s other unique festivals and cultural events. The first floor contains replicas of the yatai and kasaboko floats, as well as a small theater where visitors can watch a short film introducing each of Chichibu’s main annual events. The display has a projection mapping system and powerful audio setup that bring the replicas and exhibition space to life, recreating the atmosphere of the Night Festival right inside the building. The Chichibu Festival Exhibition Hall is open throughout the year, including the days of the festival itself, until 5:00 p.m.

秩父夜祭

秩父夜祭的歷史

秩父夜祭於每年12月2日和3日舉辦，是向秩父神社中供奉的神靈表達敬意的祭典。夜祭期間，六台「山車」（花車）於神社一帶巡遊。眾人合力拉拽山車行至各停留點時，山車內的舞台便上演鼓笛奏樂「屋台囃子」、祭典神樂「曳踴」和歌舞伎。其中兩台掛滿燈籠的「笠鉾（花之陽傘）」山車上，立著一把以花朵製成的神傘，其貫穿傘蓋的傘柄稱「鉾」，被視為神靈的化身。另外四台則載有「屋台囃子」奏樂班。該祭典以現有形式已延續300多年，被視為「日本三大曳山祭」（日本三大山車祭）之一。

祭典起源的確切時間雖已無可考證，但一般認為其歷史可以追溯至秩父神社創立之前——也就是兩千多年前。秩父神社位於秩父盆地中央，因其可一覽武甲山全景，而環繞神社的鎮守之森——「柞之森」也被作為瞻仰朝拜遠山的遙拜場所。人們認為這裡是秩父神社供奉的佛教神——妙見菩薩棲身的神聖森林。

傳說妙見菩薩（多認為是女相菩薩）和男性神靈「龍神武甲山」彼此相愛，而龍神的正妻是諏訪神社中的神靈。每年12月2日，妙見菩薩從鎮守之森前往諏訪神社，請求諏訪神允許自己與戀人龍神武甲山一夜相會。按照古來慣例，為了不打擾她們的交涉，從本町巡行而來的山車，途經神社時會停止鼓笛奏樂，眾人也會壓低嗓音細聲交談。如若諸事順利，妙見菩薩便能和武甲山神於秩父市役所旁秩父公園內供奉的「龜子石」（石龜像）前相會。

構成現代祭典的山車、煙火等絕大部分元素，都是隨著時代推演不斷進化添增而來。鎌倉時代（1185-1333），妙見菩薩與秩父神社的神靈被合併供奉的同時，當時的幕府向神社捐贈兩匹祭馬，人們為紀念此次捐贈，每年的御神幸（抬神轎）隊列中均會加入兩匹祭馬。祭典結束後祭馬會被奉養於神社之中。

現代夜祭主要在江戶時代（1603-1867）發展形成，當時被稱作「妙見大祭」或「霜月大祭」，於每年11月上旬舉辦。彼時神社附近開辦的絲綢市集「絹大市」萬商雲集，絲綢商人從周邊地區趕來販售絲綢、參加祭典，積極帶動了夜祭的發展。隨著地區經濟日益繁榮，祭典的規模和豪華程度也逐年俱增。

六台山車雖是現代秩父夜祭的象徵，卻有過被嚴令禁止的歷史：17世紀中葉到18世紀初，山車曾在祭典中熠熠生輝，但在江戶時代後期卻因被認為「擾亂平民風紀」，山車巡遊和屋台歌舞伎等夜間文化活動遭幕府嚴格限制；1827年，宗教慶典也被完全禁止，唯有秩父的六個地區抗拒政府的這項規定，在禁令施行的50年間堅持舉辦祭典，並每年由三處輪流執行。如今，祭典期間遊巡各處的六台山車正是代表這六個地區。山車採用日本傳統的木工技術製作，不用一顆鉚釘即可組裝完成。

2016年，涵括「秩父祭屋台活動和神樂」在內的33項「山·鉾·屋台活動」被聯合國教科文組織列入無形文化遺產。

秩父祭會館

秩父祭會館位處秩父神社附近，會館二樓展示著夜祭的歷史過往，以及關於秩父其餘眾多獨特的祭典和文化活動的資料。一樓除展示屋台和笠鉾山車的模型之外，還設有一個小劇場，在此可觀看秩父地區例年主要活動的介紹短片。光雕投影和逼真震撼的音效為山車模型及展示廳注入嶄新活力，在整座建築中營造出一種夜祭的氛圍。秩父祭會館營業至下午5點，全年無休（包括秩父夜祭期間）。

秩父夜祭

秩父夜祭的历史

秩父夜祭于每年12月2日和3日举办，是向秩父神社中供奉的神灵表达敬意的祭典。夜祭期间，六台“山车”（花车）于神社一带巡游。众人合力拉拽山车行至各停留点时，山车内的舞台便上演鼓笛奏乐“屋台囃子”、祭典神乐“曳踊”和歌舞伎。其中两台挂满灯笼的“笠鉾”山车上，立有一柄以花朵制成的神伞，其贯穿伞盖的伞柄称“鉾”，被视为神灵的化身。另外四台则载有“屋台囃子”奏乐班。该祭典以现有形式已延续300多年，被视作“日本三大曳山祭”（日本三大山车祭）之一。

祭典起源的确切时间虽已无从探知，但一般认为其历史可以追溯至秩父神社创立之前——也就是两千多年前。秩父神社位于秩父盆地中央，因其可一览武甲山全景，故环绕神社的镇守之森——“柞之森”也被作为瞻仰朝拜远山的遥拜场所。人们认为这里是秩父神社供奉的佛教神——妙见菩萨栖身的神圣森林。

传说妙见菩萨（多认为是女相菩萨）和男性神灵“龙神武甲山”彼此相爱，而龙神的正妻是诹访神社中的神灵。每年12月2日，妙见菩萨从镇守之森前往诹访神社，请求诹访神允许自己与恋人龙神武甲山一夜相会。按照古往惯例，为了不打扰妙见菩萨与诹访神交涉，从本町巡行而来的山车，途经神社时会停止鼓笛奏乐，众人也会压低嗓音细声交谈。如若交涉顺利，妙见菩萨便能和武甲山神在供于秩父市役所旁秩父公园内的“龟子石”（石龟像）前相会。

构成现代祭典的山车、烟花等绝大部分元素，都是随着时代推进，不断演化或添增而来。镰仓时代（1185-1333），妙见菩萨与秩父神社的神灵合祀。几乎同一时期，当时的幕府向神社捐赠两匹祭马，人们为纪念此次捐赠，每年的御神幸（抬神轿）队列中均会加入两匹祭马。祭典结束后祭马会被奉养于神社之中。

现代夜祭主要在江户时代（1603-1867）发展形成，当时被称作“妙见大祭”或“霜月大祭”，于每年11月上旬举办。彼时神社附近开办的丝绸市集“绢大市”风生水起，丝绸商人从周边地区赶来贩售丝绸、参加祭典，极大地推动了夜祭的发展。随着地区经济日益崛起，祭典的规模和豪华程度也逐年俱增。

六台山车虽是现代秩父夜祭的象征，却有过被严令禁止的历史：17世纪中叶到18世纪初，山车曾在祭典中熠熠生辉，然而，江户时代后期却因被认为“扰乱平民风纪”，山车巡游和屋台歌舞伎等夜间文化活动遭幕府严格限制；1827年，宗教庆典也被完全禁止，唯有秩父的六个地区抗拒政府的这项规定，在禁令施行的50年间坚持举办祭典，并每年由三处轮流举办例行祭典。如今，祭典期间游巡各处的六台山车正是代表这六个地区。山车采用日本传统的木工技术制作，不用一颗钉卯即可组装完成。

2016年，涵括“秩父祭屋台活动和神乐”在内的33项“山·鉾·屋台活动”被联合国教科文组织列入非物质文化遗产。

秩父祭会馆

秩父祭会馆位处秩父神社附近。会馆二楼展示着夜祭的历史过往，以及与秩父其余众多独特祭典和文化活动有关的资料。一楼除展示屋台和笠鉾山车的模型之外，还设有一个小剧场。在此可观看秩父地区例年主要活动的介绍短片。光雕投影和逼真震撼的音效为山车模型及展厅注入崭新活力，在整座建筑中营造出一种夜祭的氛围。秩父祭会馆营业至下午5点，包括秩父夜祭期间均全年无休。