It's thought that Higan (彼岸) began in the reign of Emperor Shōmu (聖武天皇 701-56).
As the main work of harvesting crops drew to a close, people had more time to themselves. Buddhist sects encouraged self-reflection and held sermons to help people reconnect with Buddha.

Week-long services called Higan-e (彼岸会) are held at temples. It's usual for people first to listen to sermons and then visit family graves.

Whereas 'Spring Higan' (春彼岸) typically shows gratitude for all living things, 'Autumn Higan' (秋彼岸) gives thanks to the dead.

'Heat and Cold last until Higan'
暑さ寒さも彼岸まで

Simply put 'shunbun' (春分) means 'spring division', indicating that hours of light and dark are balanced. As the (above) saying goes, the cold grip of winter should now fade to a slight chill.

In the past 'Higan-no-Nakaba' (彼岸の半ば 'Middle of the Equinoctial Week') was a time for visiting graves to honour ancestors.

It was also a time for spring cleaning and for making important changes (such as beginning a new hobby or finishing an important project).

#Kyoto #Japan #springequinox #

Originally the spring equinox was taken up by a Shintō festival called 'Shunki kōrei-sai' (春季皇霊祭), created in 1878 and centered around imperial ancestor worship.
In 1948 this was repackaged as a day for admiring nature and all living things.