Title : Festival at the Koto Hachiman Shrine

Artist : Harada Keigaku

Date : 1844

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Source : Minneapolis Institute of Arts
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Description : Located on the southeast shore of Lake Biwa in Shiga prefecture, Himure Hachiman Shrine has a long history dating back to the Japan's prehistoric time. The legend goes that when Emperor �jin, one of the mythical founders of Japan, came to visit the shrine in the year 275, the locals guided the emperor to the shrine, bearing flaming torches. The Hachiman festival has been held every summer in this area to commemorate this event. The highlight of the festival is a parade of the men holding oversized torches. As depicted here, carrying a heavy, flaming torch was not an easy task. Viewing them waving against the night sky is both thrilling and mesmerizing. Another group of men carries a large drum held between two long sticks on their shoulders. As everyone arrives at the shrine, the festival reaches to its climax when prayers are offered to the deity Hachiman and to Emperor �jin.

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