Study of the residents’ associations supporting the traditional event “Saga Torch Festival” and the use of satoyama materials

Abstract

The northwestern administrative district of Kyoto city is Ukyo-ku. Since the Heian period, villas of Emperors and nobles and temples were built in this area. One of them is Godaizan-Seiryo-temple. This temple has the Buddha(Shaka) statue that came from India, China. It is designated as a national treasure. So residents call it the Shaka-do and make friends with it. The Torch Festival is held in the Shaka-do since about 1200. The history is not sure. By one of them, residents remind the cremation of Buddha and hold at February 15 when Buddha passed away. Nowadays it is held at March 15 because the calendar system is changed at Meiji-period. By another of them, big three torches are triangle-cone and built in the precincts of the temple as upsidedown. Those mean early, middle and slow-ripening variety of rice. Farmers choose one of them by burn-state. Japanese-red pines, red-pines leaves and wisteria vines are used for torches. These materials are gathered from neighborhood moun tains. I clarify the ritual organization that has been keeping and study necessary forest materials.