Omizutori

Omizutori
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links,
but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline
citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise
citations. (June 2014)
This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve
this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may
be challenged and removed. (December 2009)
In the main event of Omizutori at Nigatsu-do, monks carry torches across the balcony.
Omizutori (お水取り), or the annual, sacred water-drawing festival, is a Japanese Buddhist

festival that takes place in the Nigatsu-dō ofTōdai-ji, Nara, Japan. The festival is the final rite in
observance of the two-week-long Shuni-e ceremony. This ceremony is to cleanse the people of
their sins as well as to usher in the spring of the new year. Once the Omizutori is completed,
the cherry blossoms have started blooming and spring has arrived.
Description[edit]
The rite occurs on the last night of the Shuni-e ceremony, when monks bearing torches come to
the Wakasa Well, underneath the Nigatsu-dō Hall, which according to legend only springs forth
water once a year. The ceremony has occurred in the Nigatsu-do of the imperial temple at Nara,
of the Todai-ji, since it was first founded. These annual festivals have been dated back to 752.
The earliest known records of the use of an incense seal during the religious rites in Japan were
actually used during one Omizutori.
Eleven priests, who are called Renhyoshu, are appointed in December of the previous year to
participate in the Omizutori festivals. Much preparation goes into this yearly festival, and the
priests are tasked with cleaning the sites for the rituals, making circuit pilgrimages to surrounding
shrines and temples, and preparing various goods that are used in the rituals. During the time
leading up to Omizutori, the priests are forbidden to speak at all or leave their lodgings. Each
priest is very firm in the practice of his duty in specific, strict orders, and preparing himself for the
ceremonies to come.
Torches are lit at the start of the Omizutori, during the ittokuka, which is held in the early morning
on the first of March. There is an evening ceremony, called Otaimatsu, in which young ascetics
brandish large torches that are burning. While waving the torches in the air, they draw large
circles with the fire it emits. It is believed that if a person viewing the ceremony is showered with
the sparks from the fire, that the person will then be protected from evil things.
Omizutori is the largest ceremony on the night of 12 March. The next day, the rite of drawing of
the water is held with an accompaniment of ancient Japanese music. The monks draw water,
which only springs up from the well in front of the temple building on this specific day, and offer it
first to the Buddhist deities, Bodhisattva Kannon, and then offer it to the public. It is believed that
the water, being blessed, can cure ailments. The Omizutori ceremony is the acceptance of water
from a well. This well is said to be connected by an underground tunnel to the town of Obama on
the coast of the Sea of Japan. The water is sent from Obama annually by the priests of the
syncretic Jinguji temple in Obama in a ceremony called "the sending of the water". The water is
actually drawn into two pots, one pot containing water from the previous year, and another that
contains the water from all previous ceremonies. From the pot of water that holds the water of
the current year, a very small amount of the water is poured into the pot which holds the mixture
of water from all of the previous ceremonies. The resulting water mixture is preserved each year,
and this process has taken place for over 1,200 years.[citation needed]
The Legend of Omizutori[edit]

There are different legends of the origin of Omizutori. One of these legends suggests that the
founder of Shuni-e, Jitchu, invited 13,700 of the gods to the ceremony. One of the gods,Onyu-
myojin was late to the ceremony because he was fishing on the Onyu River. To make up for the
fact that he was late, he then offered scented water from the Onyu River, and the water suddenly
sprung up from the spot where the god once stood.
The story of how Shuni-e came to be continues to portray the original founder of Shuni-e, Jitchu,
as the central character. It is told that the priest, Jitchu, made a journey deep into the mountains
of Kasagi in 751 where he witnessed celestial beings performing a ceremony that was meant to
cleanse and ask for repentance. Jitchu was so overwhelmed by the ceremony that he decided to
bring the rite to the human world. He was warned that this would be a daunting task, but his
desire was so strong that he believed he could overcome the task of transferring the rite between
the heavens and the world of man. He decided that if he could perform the religious ceremony
1,000 times a day at running speed, he could bring the god's ceremony into his world.
The festival was held on March 1 to March 14, 2010.
This event goes back 1,000 years. Buddhist priests draw up healing waters
and run about with huge pine torches.
Priests at Todai-ji Temple, famous for its enormous statue of Buddha, confess
their sins before the Eleven-faced Kannon enshrined in Nigatsu-do Hall, and also pray for world peace and a rich
harvest for 14 consecutive days. This ritual, called Shuni-e, has continued since 752.
During this period, an event known as Otaimatsu is really worth seeing. Priests run to and fro along the corridors
of Nigatsu-do waving huge pine torches. It is believed that if you are showered with these fire sparks, you will be
protected from evil things.
The Omizutori, the highlight of this event, is performed early on the morning of the 13th. Water which only springs
forth in front of the temple building on this very day is drawn up and offered to the Buddhist deities. This water is
said to have special powers for curing all disease.
This spring water is believed to reach Todai-ji after passing underground for more than 10 days from Obama City,
Fukui Prefecture. Even today, the Omizuokuri ceremony is performed on March 2nd at Jingu-ji Temple in Fukui
Prefecture to see off the departure of the divine water.
Water that has been drawn up is poured into a pot the following day, and to this pot they add water taken from a
different pot which has been continuously replenished for over 1,200 years - the resulting mixture being
preserved anew.
Information
[Walk]5 minutes' walk from Daibutsuden Kasuga-Taisha-mae bus stop.Daibutsuden Kasuga-Taisha-mae bus
stop is on the Shinai-Junkan Bus route from JR Kintetsu Nara Station.
Event Information
Place: Todai-ji Temple
Dates: March 1st-14th
Dates and functions are subject to change without notice. Be sure to check the latest information in advance.
City: Zoshi-cho, Nara City

Omizutori

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Omizutori

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Omizutori

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Omizutori

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Omizutori (お水取り), or the annual, sacred water-drawing festival, is a Japanese Buddhist

The Legend of Omizutori[edit]

You might also like