Shichigosan - Shichigosan

A custom to celebrate the growth of children, held on November 15th. The name Shichigosan began in the early modern period, when 3-year-old boys and girls were given the "kamioki" (hair-laying ceremony), 5-year-old boys were given the "hakama" (pants-wearing ceremony), and 7-year-old girls were given the "himootoshi" (sash-dropping ceremony). Kamioki means that newborns' hair is shaved, but from this day onwards, it is decided that the hair will be left unshaven. Himootoshi is also called "obitoki" and means that a kimono that was previously worn with a sash is now tied with a sash. These celebrations were mainly held among nobles and samurai, but in the early modern period, they were also held among the townspeople of Edo, and people began to visit their local shrines, Akasaka Sannosha Shrine, Kanda Shrine, and other shrines. However, it was in Tokyo during the Meiji period that this celebration became popular under the name of Shichigosan, and it became customary to dress children in formal attire and buy sweets such as chitoseame (candy) to take home, as we see today.

The Shichigosan celebration is now widely seen throughout the country, but in rural areas it is not called Shichigosan, and the date varies depending on the area, such as the age and gender of the child, and it is not fixed as November 15th. In Kanagawa Prefecture and other areas, Shichigosan as it is today began to be celebrated after World War II. In the past, it was common to celebrate the 3rd and 7th birthdays on November 15th, and gifts were sent from the bride's parents and relatives. There are places such as the Miura Peninsula where only the 7th birthday is celebrated, and even then only for girls, while boys only celebrate when they are 15. There are also cases where the 3rd and 5th birthdays are simply celebrated at home. In many places in Western Japan, the 3rd birthday celebration is held for the 4th birthday. This is thought to be because the 3rd birthday of the lunar calendar has been changed to the new calendar. The 5th birthday is usually celebrated for boys, but in Toyama Prefecture and other areas, there are cases where 5-year-old girls also visit the shrine at this time. In Tagawa County, Fukuoka Prefecture, the celebration for boys and girls turning 9 years old is called "Shitahimo-iwai" and takes place on November 15th.

The reason why the Shichigosan celebration is held on November 15th is said to be because this is the most auspicious day of the 28 mansions of the lunar calendar, known as the "Kishuku" (the auspicious month for demons), and also because, according to popular belief, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi's son Tokumatsu celebrated the festival on this day. However, originally, November was the time when farm work was finished and the Shimotsuki Festival was held, and the 15th was a full moon day with many holidays, so this day was probably chosen as a day to pray to the local deity for the growth of children.

[Oto Tokihiko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

11月15日に行われる、子供の成長を祝う習俗。七五三と称することは近世に始まったことで、3歳の男女児の「髪置(かみおき)」、5歳の男児の「袴着(はかまぎ)」、7歳の女児の「紐落(ひもおとし)」を行った。髪置というのは、生児の髪は剃(そ)っているが、この日から髪を剃らずに残すことにすること。紐落は「帯解(おびとき)」ともいい、それまで付け紐で着ていた着物を帯で締めるようにすること。これらの祝儀は公家(くげ)や武家の間に主として行われたが、近世になると江戸の町民の間にも行われ、氏神をはじめ赤坂山王社、神田(かんだ)明神などに参詣(さんけい)するようになった。しかし七五三の名でこの祝いが盛んになったのは明治時代の東京においてで、今日みるように子供に晴れ着を着せ、千歳飴(ちとせあめ)など買って帰ることが行われるようになった。

　七五三の祝いは現在では全国に広くみられるようになったが、農村地帯にあってはとくに七五三とはいわず、子供の年齢や男女の別など土地によって相違があり、またその期日も11月15日とは決まってはいない。神奈川県などでは現在のように七五三を祝うようになったのは第二次世界大戦後からだという土地が多い。また以前は11月15日に3歳と7歳を祝うのが一般で、嫁の実家や親戚(しんせき)から祝い物が届けられた。三浦半島をはじめ7歳だけを祝う所もあり、それも女子だけで、男子は15歳の祝いをするだけという。また3歳・5歳の祝いは家で簡単にするという例もある。3歳の祝いを4歳としている所が西日本などには多い。これは旧暦の3歳が新暦にかわったためかと思われる。また5歳は普通男子の祝いとしているが、富山県などには5歳の女子もこのとき宮参りするという例もある。また福岡県田川郡では男女9歳の祝いを「下(した)ひも祝い」といって11月15日にするという。

　七五三の祝いをなぜ11月15日にするかといえば、この日が旧暦の二十八宿中の鬼宿(きしゅく)といわれる最吉日であるからといい、また俗説では徳川綱吉(つなよし)の子息徳松がこの日に祝いをしたからともいう。しかし本来11月は農作業が終わって霜月祭を行うときにあたり、15日は多くの祝祭日のある満月の日であったから、この日が子供の成長を氏神に祈願する日として選ばれたのであろう。

［大藤時彦］

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