Gion Matsuri

The Kyoto Gion Matsuri (festival) was once called the Goryo-e. Hoko is a yorishiro, a sign to indicate the place for all kinds of bad omens around the town to gather. That is why the first hoko has a long sharp knife edge to cut away these spirits.

In many Japanese festivals, the parades create the highest spectacles. Such parades always include many ceremonies for “receiving” and “sending” the spirits.

Since the Middle Ages, processions including hoko floats have been organized by merchant-class people in the cities. During the Edo period these processions became a “moving catalogue,” where they could display imported products such as European tapestries bought through trade with Holland.