“Goban no Gi” at Imamiya Shrine

Language:Japanese

“Goban no Gi” ceremony is a ceremony in which children who have reached the age of five jump off a Go board. This is done with the hope that they will grow up to be just as disciplined and healthy as the lines on the Go board.

Originally a traditional Imperial event, it was called the “Hakamagi-no-Gi” ceremony, in which boys put on hakama for the first time, or the “Fukamisogi-no-Gi” ceremony, in which the tails of a boy’s hair are trimmed to celebrate his growth, but in recent years it has become a Shichi-Go-San ceremony held at many shrines for both boys and girls.

Here at Imamiya Shrine, “Goban no Gi” is held in the worship hall on weekends for worshippers who come to celebrate the Shichi-Go-San festival in November.

Shichi-Go-San is a Japanese event held in the years when children turn 3, 5, and 7 years old.

*Shichi-Go-San is written in Japanese numerals as “7 5 3.”

In the Goban no Gi, a child steps on a blue stone placed on the board and jumps off towards the south, holding a fan in his right hand and a tachibana (Citrus Tree) in his left.

In Onmyodo, the go board represents the universe, the blue stones placed on the board represent the earth, the moon, the colors of spring, and pure water. The fan held in the right hand represents the wish to fly out into the world, and the tachibana held in the left hand represents the wish to stay healthy forever.

Why use a “Go board”?

The reason why Go boards are used at Imperial events seems to be deeply connected to the origins of Go and Onmyodo.

There are various theories about the origin of Go, but it is said to have originated in China over 4,000 years ago, and was introduced to Japan between the Nara period (710 AD) and the Heian period (1185 AD), and is also mentioned in The Tale of Genji and The Pillow Book. It was depicted and was favored as a courtesy for aristocrats.

Since Emperor Gyou (a legendary gentleman in Chinese folklore) is said to have ruled the world through divination using Go, it seems likely that within the imperial family it also had a significance in governing the country.

In Onmyodo, it is said that the creation of heaven and earth is when players form a formation by placing Yin and Yang Go stones (white and black Go stones), and the Go board is the universe, the Go stones are celestial bodies, and the four corners of the board are four seasons The total number of marks carved on the Go board, 361 (19 vertically and 19 horizontally), is said to represent one year, and the stars arranged around the central Tengen (center point of Go board) are said to represent the eight directions of east, west, north, south, and east.

In addition, the grid of the grid that we wish for our children to grow up properly and finely is called “Tachimori” and is made by coating a Japanese sword with evenly rolled lacquer and carving it by dropping it onto the draft line without making any slight difference. Apparently, it is.

Knowing this, I feel that the “Goban no Gi” is a more sacred event.

Imamiya Shrine precincts

Although it is not famous as a spot for viewing autumn leaves, you can see beautiful autumn leaves in the temple grounds during the Shichi-Go-San festival season. You can also find the famous “aburi mochi” on the east approach to the shrine.