Kayu ura facts for kids
Kayu ura (粥占) (also called Mi kayu ura (神粥占)) is a special Japanese Shinto ceremony. It's a type of divination, which means trying to find out about the future. This ritual uses a kind of thick porridge made from rice or beans.
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What is Kayu Ura?
This ceremony usually happens on January 15th. This date is known as ko-shōgatsu, which means "Little New Year" in Japan. Long ago, it was done on the 15th day of the first lunar month. People believe the Kayu ura ritual can predict things like the weather and how good the farm harvests will be for the year ahead.
How the Ceremony Works
The Kayu ura ceremony can be done in a few different ways.
Stirring the Porridge
One common way is to stir a big pot of rice porridge (粥 (kayu)) with a special split wooden stick. After stirring, the stick is taken out. People then look at how many rice grains stick to the stick and how they are arranged. This helps them make their predictions.
Bamboo Tube Method
Another way is called tsutsugayu shinji. In this method, several hollow tubes made from split bamboo or reeds are put into the porridge. Each tube stands for a different month of the year. Shinto prayers are said, and the rice porridge is left overnight.
The next morning, the tubes are carefully cut open. People then check how much rice has stuck to the inside of each tube. The more rice inside a tube, the better the harvest is expected to be for that month. If many tubes are used, the results for each month are written down. The tsutsugayu shinji method is practiced at the famous Suwa Grand Shrine.
Other Variations
Sometimes, instead of rice, a porridge made from red beans is used. Red beans are a symbol of good luck and fertility.
In Akita, a different version of the ritual is performed. Instead of stirring the porridge, it is smeared onto a wooden pole. The predictions are then made based on how much rice sticks to the pole and the patterns it forms.
The oldest form of this ceremony is a bit different. A Shinto priest would examine the mold that grew on a bowl of rice porridge. This porridge would have been stored in a special box for several days.
