The main features of the Hakata Gion Yamakasa festival in the Edo Period were six yamakasa festive floats. Floats with uneven numbers 1, 3, and 5 were called “Hatasashi yama” or flag bearing floats, and numerous numbers of flags were incorporated in the design. Hatasashi yama floats were often designed and created based on some brave stories called “shuramono,” which includes the story of the battle of Wakan, a fierce battle fought between the Heike clan and the Minamoto clan.
Floats with even numbers 2, 4, and 6 were called “Do-yama” or building bearing floats. Those floats had a palace or shrine, and a flag on the top of the float, indicating the turning point of the Yamakasa floats race. Do-yama floats were often designed and created based on graceful stories featuring ladies and children called “Tsutamono”.
The Doyama started in 1704 by order of the Fukuoka Clan, under the rule of Kuroda Tsunamasa, the 4th lord of the clan. In a society free of war, people deepened their understanding of traditions, legends, myths and classic literature, which were relevant to the theme of the yamakasa floats, for the time being. Also, through viewing Jo-ruri doll plays and Kabuki theatrical plays, and by reading articles regarding them, people started to enjoy the graceful literary world, and came to appreciate the Doyama festive floats which were created based on those stories. From the latter half of the Edo period, Do-yama festive floats broadened its themes to aristocrats who resided in palaces, and more.
This exhibition introduces the graceful world of Do-yama festive floats together with the rituals and tourist attractions of Hakata, people’s way of living, occupations and traditions in the medieval period. It also describes the lives of women of the period by showing some artwork and publications.
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