Childbirth - Ubuyashinai

Japanese: 産養 - うぶやしない

One of the rites of passage held in aristocratic society during the Heian period. The night of a baby's birth is called the first night, and on the third, fifth, seventh, and ninth nights after that, relatives and acquaintances give gifts of clothing, furnishings, and food, and everyone gathers together to hold a celebratory banquet and perform waka poetry and music. One of the main events in the birth and care procession is the Megurigayu (also called Susurigayu) ceremony. In the garden of the palace, one person called Toikuchi and seven people called Iikuchi hold bowls of rice porridge in their hands, exchange questions and answers using certain recitations, and parade around while slurping rice porridge. The magical power of the rice porridge is used to drive away evil spirits and stop the newborn baby's nighttime crying.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

平安朝の貴族社会などで行われた通過儀礼の一つ。小児誕生の夜を初夜といい，その日から3,5,7,9日目に当たる各夜ごとに親戚･知人から衣服･調度･食物などが贈られ，一同参集して祝宴を張り，和歌･管絃の御遊に及ぶ。産養の主要行事に〈廻粥（めぐりがゆ）〉(啜粥（すすりがゆ）とも)の儀がある。問口（といくち）と称する役1人と云口（いいくち）と称する役7人が寝殿の庭で粥坏を手に捧げ持ち，一定の誦詞による問答を交わし，粥をすすりながら回転行進するもので，粥の呪力によって邪鬼を払い，新生児の夜泣きを止めさせるのである。

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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