Fire Dance - Hiodori

Japanese: 火踊 - ひおどり

Folk performing arts. This performing art originated from fire-worshipping rituals and folk events, and is performed in conjunction with fire festivals and torch events. Fire is considered sacred, and the custom of welcoming and sending off gods with fire is widely practiced, and is often performed during Obon and New Year's. Fire dancing is often seen in Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures. It is performed in conjunction with Shushou-e on January 3rd at the Kannon-do Hall of Terano, Shibukawa, Inasa-cho, Inasa-gun, Shizuoka prefecture, and on February 8th (formerly January 8th) at the Yakushi-do Hall of Kawana, the same town. It is called "Terano Mikado Hiyondori" and "Kawana Hakkado Hiyondori," and these names come from the torch event in which fire is offered to the principal image prior to the main festival, and at Mikado, several young men sing and dance while swinging torches up and down.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

民俗芸能。火をまつる神事や民俗行事に発した芸能で，火祭や松明（たいまつ）行事に伴って行われる。火を神聖なものとし，火によって神を迎え，神を送る風習は広く行われており，時期は盆と正月に多い。火踊は愛知や静岡県に多く見られる。静岡県引佐（いなさ）郡引佐町渋川字寺野の観音堂では1月3日に，同町川名の薬師堂では2月8日(古くは1月8日)に修正会（しゆしようえ）に付随して行われる。〈寺野三日堂ひよんどり〉〈川名八日堂ひよんどり〉と呼ばれるが，これは本祭に先立って，本尊に献火する松明の行事からの名称で，三日堂では数名の青年が松明を大きく上下に打ち振りながら歌い踊る。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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