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The Boys' Festival (Iris Festival)

The Sechi-e festival held on the first 'Ox Day (tango)' of May is called the Boy's Festival and is usually celebrated on May 5.

Event Customs/Folklore/Ethnology

The first ‘Ox Day’ of May is called tango in Japanese. 端 Tan means ‘beginning’ and 午 go refers to the pronunciation of the Chinese zodiac name ‘horse (Uma)’ which is a homonym for five (五 go) in Japanese. Hence, Tango no Sekku, or the Boy's Festival, is usually celebrated on May 5. The festival held on this day is Tango no Sechi-e (Tango Festival). In ancient China, distressed about the future of his state during the Warring States era, Kutsugen (Qu Yuan) of Chu jumped into the Bekira River, ending his life. The commemoration of this historical incident is on the first 'Ox Day' of May, which is May 5.

Shobu (Iris) leaves play an essential role in the Boys’ Festival. In ancient times, iris leaves were believed to have the power to remove evil as they are shaped like a sword, and have a strong scent. Customs developed, such as decorating houses with irises and wearing iris flowers. Iris leaves continue to be used in this way today with people decorating iris-leaf swords, using iris leaves on roofs and under the eaves, and adding iris leaves to the bath water.

Irises were thought to be connected with the word shobu (warlike spirit) and, therefore, play a big role in Boys’ Day celebrations. The traditions of hanging koinobori (carp streamers) and using warrior dolls and Japanese armor as decorations started during the Edo era. Koinobori are based on the Chinese legend of the Dragon Gate. It is said that when a carp climbs the Dragon Gate at the upper reaches of the Yellow River, it becomes a dragon. Koinobori are flown to pray for a successful career for the boys in the family.

Including Tango no Sekku, there are five seasonal festivals which were originally set by the Edo Shogunate using the lunar calendar: 

① Jinjitsu (People's Day), also known as Nanakusa no Sekku (Feast of the Seven Herbs), is celebrated on January 7.

② Joshi (Girls' Festival), also known as Momo no Sekku (Doll's Festival), is celebrated on March 3.

③ Tango (Boys’ Festival), also known as the Shobu no Sekku (Iris Festival), is celebrated on May 5.

④ Tanabata (Evening of the Seventh), also known as Shichiseki no Sekku (Star Festival), is celebrated on July 7.

⑤ Choyo (Double Nine Festival), also known as Kiku no Sekku (Chrysanthemum Day), is celebrated on September 9.

Related People, Things and Events

  • A legendary boy with great strength said to be raised in the remote mountainous region Ashigarayama and later to be the man named Sakata no Kintoki

  • March 3 is Joshi (Girl’s Festival), one of Japan’s five seasonal festivals. It is also called Momo no Sekku (Peach Flower Festival) and Hina Matsuri (Doll’s Festival). On that day, people pray for the healthy growth of girls.

  • July 7 is Shichiseki (“evening of the seventh”), one of the five seasonal festivals. It is better known as Tanabata (Star Festival).

  • May 5 is Tango no Sechi-e (Tango Festival), one of the Five Sechi-e (Imperial Court Ceremonies). January 1, too, is one of the five Imperial Court Ceremonies, known as Gantan no Sechi-e.

Books

  • (漢) 司馬遷 撰,(劉宋) 裴駰 集解,(唐) 司馬貞 索隱,(唐) 張守節 正義,校書館

    端午の節句の起源となった「屈原」の列伝が収録されている。

  • 西沢笛畝 著,芸艸堂

    大正から明治にかけての日本画家、西沢笛畝が描いた端午の節句の玩具。「鯉幟二種」。

  • 西沢笛畝 著,芸艸堂

    大正から明治にかけての日本画家、西沢笛畝が描いた端午の節句の玩具。「大阪製五月人形」と「練物製彩色春駒」。

  • 吾妻健三郎 著,東陽堂

    明治時代の印刷技術者でジャーナリストだった吾妻健三郎が描いた江戸時代の行事。端午の節句。

  • 萩野由之 著,博文館

    明治から大正にかけての国文学者、荻野由之による年中行事の解説書。

  • 三省堂編集所 編,三省堂出版

    暦と生活との関係をまとめた本。

  • 鷹野つぎ 著,古今書院

    大正から昭和にかけての小説家、鷹野つぎが子ども時代の行事の思い出を書いた本。

Related Works

Tango no Sekku during the Edo era

  • 歌麿, 和泉屋市兵衛

    美人の大首絵で注目された喜多川歌麿が描いた端午の節句の浮世絵。

  • 香蝶楼国貞,佐野喜

    歌川国貞による浮世絵。女の手には金太郎の飾り物、足元には武者幟と鯉のぼりが描かれ、男の子の成長を祝う様子がうかがえる。

  • 豊国,蔦屋吉蔵

    歌川豊国が、江戸の年中行事や風俗を十二ヶ月に当てて描いた３枚続きの美人画12組のうち五月。この図の美人は、花器に端午の節句にちなんだ花菖蒲を生け、皐月らしさを示している。

  • 一陽斎,曲亭馬琴,鶴屋金助

    読み本作家・曲亭馬琴の作品に、歌川豊国が挿絵を描いたもの。

  • 周延,印刷兼発行者　東京市日本橋区吉川町二番地　松木平吉（）

  • 周延

  • 国芳,若 若狭屋　与市

Various kinds of koinobori (carp streamers)

  • 名取洋之助,,日本工房,

  • 昭和59年　岡山県玉野市

  • 吉岡専造,,,

    昭和61年　長崎県

Videos

Past Exhibitions

TitleshusaiPlaceopenclose
夢二郷土美術館分館 (夢二生家・少年山荘)2015/4/122015/5/10
知多市歴史民俗博物館 ふゅうとりぃ・ちた2010/4/242010/5/9
豊橋市二川宿本陣資料館2004/4/172004/5/9

References

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Secondary Usage

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Last updated
February 15, 2023