祇園祭前祭のあと：2024年7月18日（木）

昨日午前9時に，長刀鉾が四条烏丸を出発して始まった祇園祭前祭の山鉾巡行は無事に終了した。今年，９番目の鬮取りを引いた鶏鉾が四条通で車輪の一部が壊れて途中で町内に引き返すというハプニングや，蟷螂山に乗るカマキリの鎌の先が外れるハプニングなどが起きたが，それ以外は無事に終了した。山鉾巡行の観客数は約14万人だったという。行事にはハプニングが付き物であるが，年に一回の山鉾巡行のための維持修繕管理の徹底が如何に大変かを示す出来事である。

　祇園祭は，八坂神社の祭礼と思っている人が多いかもしれないが，祇園祭の発祥の地は神泉苑（京都市中京区門前町，御池通沿い）であり，東寺真言宗の寺院である。1200年前の824年に空海が雨乞いを行った場所と言われている。1868年に神仏分離令が発令されるまで神仏習合の形式で行われてきた神泉苑と八坂神社の合同の『御神水交換式』の儀式に象徴されるように，祇園祭では水への祈りが重要な役割を占める。

　四条通の南側の山鉾（大船鉾を除く）は，前祭の山鉾巡行が昨日終わり，朝方に，仏光寺通近辺を通ってみると，まるで何もなかったかのように，道路には祭りで出たごみもなく，きれいな状態に戻っていた。ただ，通りを歩いている家族や数人の小集団から聞こえてくる会話は日本語ではなく，異国情緒が漂う。ゲリラ豪雨に悩まされた今年の宵山ではあったが，梅雨が明けたかのような日射しと高温である。本日は36℃まで気温が上昇する見込みだという。

　例年，梅雨末期に起きる大雨で鴨川での洪水が懸念されてきたが，祇園祭のご利益により，今年は大丈夫だったようだ。

After the Gion Festival Sakimatsuri：July 18th (Thursday)，2024

Yesterday, at 9:00 AM, the Naginata-hoko float departed from Shijo-Karasuma, marking the start of the Gion Festival Sakimatsuri Yamahoko Junko, which concluded safely. There were a few incidents, such as the Niwatori-hoko float, which drew the ninth lot, having part of its wheel break and had to return to its neighborhood halfway through on Shijo Street. Additionally, the tip of the mantis' sickle on the Tohro-yama float fell off. Apart from these, the parade ended without issues. It is estimated that approximately 140,000 people attended the event. Although incidents are part of such events, these occurrences highlight the challenges of maintaining and repairing the floats for the annual parade.

Many may think that the Gion Festival is a ritual of Yasaka Shrine, but the origin of the Gion Festival is actually at Shinsen-en (Monzencho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, along Oike Street), which is a temple of the Toji Shingon sect. It is said that this is where Kukai performed a rainmaking ceremony 1,200 years ago in 824. Until the separation of Shinto and Buddhism was decreed in 1868, the festival was conducted in a syncretic manner, symbolized by the "Goshinsui Exchange Ceremony," a joint ritual of Shinsen-en and Yasaka Shrine. Prayers for water play a crucial role in the Gion Festival.

After the Sakimatsuri Yamahoko Junko for the south side floats on Shijo Street (excluding the Ofune-hoko float) ended yesterday, walking around the vicinity of Bukkouji Street in the early morning, the streets were clean and free of festival litter, as if nothing had happened. However, the conversations heard from families and small groups walking along the street were not in Japanese, giving a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Despite the guerrilla downpours that plagued this year's Yoi-yama, the sun was shining brightly as if the rainy season had ended, and the temperature is expected to rise to 36°C today.

In previous years, heavy rains at the end of the rainy season raised concerns about flooding in the Kamo River, but thanks to the blessings of the Gion Festival, it seems we were spared this year.

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