Hello everybody!
I'm a new guy here. I'm from Vietnam. I have something I want to ask and survey my Japanese friends here. I learned that alot Japanese festivals (in Western Calendar) originated in Lunar Calendar Festival. But it was shifted to Western Calendar by Meji's Government about 100 years ago. For example:
- The Shogatsu (Jan 1) originated from Lunar New Year day (the Beginning of Spring). Now it leaves the trace in Setsubun.
- The Hinamatsuri (March 3) was shift plainly from 3/3 Festival (3rd day of 3rd month of Lunar Calnedar). Everybody knows that it takes more than 1 month from March 3 to 3/3 of Lunar Calendar.
- Hana-matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival in April 8): As a tradition of Mahayana Buddhist, Buddha's Birthday (Kanbutsu) occur on "the eighth days of the forth month" of the Lunar Calendar (8/4). The Japanese converted very plainly to 8/4 Western Calendar (April 8th). Everybody knows that from 8/4 Lunar Calendar to 8/4 Western Calendar, there are more than 1 month long.
- Kodomo no hi (boys' day in May 5th): Although it is not known precisely when this day started to be celebrated, it was probably during the reign of the Empress Suiko (593–628 A.D.). In Japan, Tango no Sekku was assigned to the 5th day of 5th month of Lunar Calendar after the Nara period. The 5/5 Festival (Lunar Calendar) is a very popular Festival in Vietnam. And you know there is 1 month between (5/5) Lunar Calendar and May 5th.
- Tanabata (July 7) was shift plainly from 7/7 Festival (7th day of 7th month of Lunar Calnedar). Everybody knows that it takes more than 1 month from March 3 to 3/3 of Lunar Calendar.
- Obon (August 13-15): This festival was originated from very old traditional festival in autumn in Japan to honor the spirit of ancesstor (similar in Vietnam). However, after Buddhist was adopted in Japan, it used to be considered as Ullambana (full moon day of the 7th month of Lunar Calendar). Nobody knows the initial name of this Festival, but the word "Bon" was originated from Sanskrit Ullambana (with the intermediary of Chinese language). The date of August 13-15 is very near to Ullambana, but it rarely fall into full moon day.
- Tsukimi: It was the same date of the Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam (the full moon day in 8th month of theLunar Calendar). But I wonder how Japanese know that date to celebrate it if they don't use Lunar Calendar. Is this day marked by government or calendar maker?
- Lunar Calendar (the exact name is "Lunisolar Calendar") isn't used in Japan. But I wonder if the full moon and new moon days was marked on the calendar or not.
The 1/1, 3/3, 5/5, 7/7, 9/9, 10/10 Festival of Lunar Calendar is very popular in Vietnam. I think that is better for Vietnam not to use Lunar Calendar and convert (as Japan can) their 1/1, 3/3, 5/5 festivals to Western Calendar, Vietnamese said:
- I only feel warm with my family in the Lunar New Year.
- I only feel "traditional" with the Lunar Calendar.
- I think Japanese regret that Meji's Government discarded the Lunar Calendar.
So I really want to survey if:
- Do you (Japanese) feel warm with your family in the Shogatsu?
- Do you (Japanese) feel "traditional" in the Shogatsu?
- Are Japanese people happy if your Authority use Lunar Calendar for your Festivals, holidays (as before Meji)?
A personal answer is all right for my survey.
And then, I know that 2008 is the year of Rat (Nezumi). Does a Japanese Child born in January 2008 (before Lunar New year) have age of Rat?
I found on the internet that members of Jodo (Pureland) eat shojin ryuri (a kind of Japanese Vegetarian) on 16th day each month. Is that a date of Lunar Calendar or Western Calendar.
I learned that In Meji Era, there are a group with Nagasane Motoda. They opposed strongly the Westernization. Did they oppose the policy of using Western Calendar for traditional Festival? Is there any historic document to show their argument? Is their any historic document about attitude of Japanese people that time. Were they surprise why they had to celebrate new moon or full moon festivals on other days.
Thank you in advance!
I'm a new guy here. I'm from Vietnam. I have something I want to ask and survey my Japanese friends here. I learned that alot Japanese festivals (in Western Calendar) originated in Lunar Calendar Festival. But it was shifted to Western Calendar by Meji's Government about 100 years ago. For example:
- The Shogatsu (Jan 1) originated from Lunar New Year day (the Beginning of Spring). Now it leaves the trace in Setsubun.
- The Hinamatsuri (March 3) was shift plainly from 3/3 Festival (3rd day of 3rd month of Lunar Calnedar). Everybody knows that it takes more than 1 month from March 3 to 3/3 of Lunar Calendar.
- Hana-matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival in April 8): As a tradition of Mahayana Buddhist, Buddha's Birthday (Kanbutsu) occur on "the eighth days of the forth month" of the Lunar Calendar (8/4). The Japanese converted very plainly to 8/4 Western Calendar (April 8th). Everybody knows that from 8/4 Lunar Calendar to 8/4 Western Calendar, there are more than 1 month long.
- Kodomo no hi (boys' day in May 5th): Although it is not known precisely when this day started to be celebrated, it was probably during the reign of the Empress Suiko (593–628 A.D.). In Japan, Tango no Sekku was assigned to the 5th day of 5th month of Lunar Calendar after the Nara period. The 5/5 Festival (Lunar Calendar) is a very popular Festival in Vietnam. And you know there is 1 month between (5/5) Lunar Calendar and May 5th.
- Tanabata (July 7) was shift plainly from 7/7 Festival (7th day of 7th month of Lunar Calnedar). Everybody knows that it takes more than 1 month from March 3 to 3/3 of Lunar Calendar.
- Obon (August 13-15): This festival was originated from very old traditional festival in autumn in Japan to honor the spirit of ancesstor (similar in Vietnam). However, after Buddhist was adopted in Japan, it used to be considered as Ullambana (full moon day of the 7th month of Lunar Calendar). Nobody knows the initial name of this Festival, but the word "Bon" was originated from Sanskrit Ullambana (with the intermediary of Chinese language). The date of August 13-15 is very near to Ullambana, but it rarely fall into full moon day.
- Tsukimi: It was the same date of the Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam (the full moon day in 8th month of theLunar Calendar). But I wonder how Japanese know that date to celebrate it if they don't use Lunar Calendar. Is this day marked by government or calendar maker?
- Lunar Calendar (the exact name is "Lunisolar Calendar") isn't used in Japan. But I wonder if the full moon and new moon days was marked on the calendar or not.
The 1/1, 3/3, 5/5, 7/7, 9/9, 10/10 Festival of Lunar Calendar is very popular in Vietnam. I think that is better for Vietnam not to use Lunar Calendar and convert (as Japan can) their 1/1, 3/3, 5/5 festivals to Western Calendar, Vietnamese said:
- I only feel warm with my family in the Lunar New Year.
- I only feel "traditional" with the Lunar Calendar.
- I think Japanese regret that Meji's Government discarded the Lunar Calendar.
So I really want to survey if:
- Do you (Japanese) feel warm with your family in the Shogatsu?
- Do you (Japanese) feel "traditional" in the Shogatsu?
- Are Japanese people happy if your Authority use Lunar Calendar for your Festivals, holidays (as before Meji)?
A personal answer is all right for my survey.
And then, I know that 2008 is the year of Rat (Nezumi). Does a Japanese Child born in January 2008 (before Lunar New year) have age of Rat?
I found on the internet that members of Jodo (Pureland) eat shojin ryuri (a kind of Japanese Vegetarian) on 16th day each month. Is that a date of Lunar Calendar or Western Calendar.
I learned that In Meji Era, there are a group with Nagasane Motoda. They opposed strongly the Westernization. Did they oppose the policy of using Western Calendar for traditional Festival? Is there any historic document to show their argument? Is their any historic document about attitude of Japanese people that time. Were they surprise why they had to celebrate new moon or full moon festivals on other days.
Thank you in advance!
Last edited: