View source for Jidai Matsuri

{{Short description|Traditional Japanese festival in Kyoto}}
{{for|the Tokyo festival of the same name|Festivals in Tokyo}}
{{Italic title|reason=[[:Category:Japanese words and phrases]]}}
{{Expand Japanese|時代祭}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name  = Jidai Matsuri
|type          = shinto
|image         = JidaiMatsuri_Gohouren.jpg
|imagesize     = 250px
|caption       = 
|official_name = 
|nickname      = Jidai
|observedby    = [[Kyoto]], [[Japan]]
|litcolor      = 
|longtype      = Religious
|significance  = 
|scheduling    = same day each year
|date          = 22 October
|firsttime  = 1895 -<br/>({{How Long Ago|year=1895|month=1|day=1}})
|celebrations  = 
|observances   = 
|relatedto     = [[Fukagawa Matsuri]], [[Sannō Matsuri]]
}}
The {{Nihongo|'''''Jidai Matsuri'''''|時代祭|extra="Festival of the Ages"}} is a traditional Japanese festival (also called [[matsuri]]) held annually on October 22 in [[Kyoto]], [[Japan]]. It is one of Kyoto's three major festivals, with the other two being the ''[[Aoi Matsuri]]'', held annually on May 15, and the ''[[Gion Matsuri]]'', which is held annually from 17 to July 24.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kyoto Jidai Matsuri|accessdate=2009-01-19|publisher=Japan Atlas|url=http://web-japan.org/atlas/festivals/fes15.html}}</ref> It is a festival enjoyed by people of all ages, participating in its [[historical reenactment]] parade dressed in authentic costumes representing various periods, and characters in Japanese feudal history.<ref name="fashions">{{cite journal|last=Morton|first=Don|title=Old fashions: a proud parade of period costumes brings Japanese history to life at Jidai Matsuri|journal=Gain: Hitachi Electronic Component News|publisher=Hitachi Inc.|location=Tokyo, Japan|volume=16|issue=4|date=Nov 1997|pages=2–3}}</ref>

The Jidai Matsuri traces its roots to the relocation of the Japanese capital from Kyoto to [[Tokyo]] during the [[Meiji Restoration]] in 1868. This involved the relocation of the [[Emperor of Japan]] and the Imperial family, the Imperial Palace, and thousands of government officials and subjects to the new city. Fearing for Kyoto's loss of glory and interest from her people, and to commemorate its history, the city government and the Kyoto prefectural government commemorated the 1100th anniversary of the founding of Heian-kyō (平安京), which was the former name of Kyoto, in 794 by {{nihongo|[[Emperor Kanmu]]|桓武天皇|''Kanmu-tennō''}} (737–806). To inaugurate the first Jidai celebration in 1895, the city government built the {{nihongo|[[Heian Shrine]]|平安神宮|Heian jingū}} to enshrine the spirit of Emperor Kanmu. To add meaning to the festival, it staged a costume procession representing people of each era in Kyoto history. In 1940, the local government decided that on top of honouring Emperor Kanmu, the Jidai festival was also to be held in honour of {{nihongo|[[Emperor Kōmei]]|孝明天皇|''Kōmei-tennō''}} (July 22, 1831&nbsp;– January 30, 1867) for his work in unifying the country, the power of the imperial court and the affirmation of Kyoto as the center of Japan at the decline of the [[Tokugawa shogunate]] and the end of the [[Edo period]].<ref name="fashions"/>

The Jidai Matsuri begins in early morning with the [[mikoshi]] (portable shrines) brought out of the [[Kyoto Imperial Palace]] so that people may pay their respects. The mikoshi represents both Emperor Kanmu and Emperor Kōmei. The five-hour, two-kilometer costume procession begins in the afternoon, with approximately 2,000 performers dressed as [[samurai]], military figures, and common people, from the earliest eras to the [[Meiji era]]. These are followed by Japanese women who are dressed in elaborate {{nihongo|'''[[jūnihitoe]]'''|十二単衣|''juunihitoe''}}. Finally, the mikoshi are carried from the palace and are accompanied by a costumed military band that plays the [[gagaku]]. The procession ends at the [[Heian Shrine]].<ref name="fashions"/>

The Jidai Matsuri in 2019 was rescheduled to 26 October due to the [[Enthronement of the Japanese emperor|Enthronement ceremony]] of [[Emperor Naruhito]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.heianjingu.or.jp/festival/jidaisai.html | title=&#91;公式&#93;平安神宮 &#124; 京都三大祭 時代祭について }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.casadeilibri.com/jidai-matsuri | title=Jidai Matsuri | date=29 July 2020 }}</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Jidai Festival.jpg
Image:JidaiMatsuri_Bugyo.jpg
Image:Jidai Matsuri-Yoshino Period 1.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Jidai Matsuri}}

{{coord missing|Kyoto Prefecture}}

[[Category:Cultural festivals in Japan]]
[[Category:Festivals in Kyoto]]
[[Category:Historical reenactment events]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Kyoto]]
[[Category:Festivals established in 1868]]
[[Category:Festivals established in 1895]]
[[Category:Arts festivals in Japan]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in Japan]]
[[Category:Autumn in Japan]]