Omizutori (Shuni-e, Otaimatsu)

The information about Omizutori (Shuni-e, Otaimatsu) is presented here. Omizutori is held every year from March 1st to 14th. At Omizutori, doji carrying dai-taimatsu (large torches) accompany rengyoshu (monks) to light the way for rengyoshu. Dai-taimatsu (large torches) are about 6 to 8 meters long and weigh about 40 kg, but on the 12th, kago-taimatsu (large torches) are used, which are about 8 meters long and weigh about 70 kg.

【Todai-ji Temple Omizutori (Shuni-e, Otaimatsu) 2024 Schedule】

Todai-ji Temple Omizutori will be held from Friday, March 1st to Thursday, March 14th, 2024. Otaimatsu will be held at 19:00. However, it will be held on Tuesday, March 12th at 19:30 and on March 14th at 18:30.
●On March 1st to 11th and 13th, 10 dai-taimatsu (large torches) will go up to Nigatsudo at 19:00 for 20 minutes.
●On March 12th, 11 kago-taimatsu (large torches) will go up to Nigatsudo at 19:30 for 45 minutes.
●On March 14th, 10 dai-taimatsu (large torches) will go up to Nigatsudo at 18:30 for about 10 minutes.
東大寺お水取り2025日程

【Todai-ji Temple Location Map ＆ Directions】

Address: 406-1 Zoshichou, Nara City, Nara Prefecture, Japan
Access (How to get there): Daibutsu-den Kasuga Taisha-mae bus stop (about 5 minutes on foot), Kintetsu Nara Station (about 15 minutes on foot), JR Nara Station (about 25 minutes on foot)

【Omizutori (Shuni-e, Otaimatsu) brief overview】

Todai-ji Temple Omizutori (お水取り, Shuni-e, 修二会, Otaimatsu, お松明) is officially called Juichimen Keka (十一面悔過). In Jyuichimen kekka, people repented their sins to the main deity, O-kannon (large kannon bosatsu) and Ko-gannon (small kannon bosatsu) in Nigatsudo, and prayed for the protection of the nation, peace under heaven, prosperity for all people, and a good harvest. Omizutori was initiated in 752 by Jichu, a disciple of the monk Roben, the founder of Todai-ji Temple, and has been continued without interruption ever since. The name “Omizutori” comes from the offering of water drawn from the “Wakasa-i” well to the main deity in Nigatsudo, the name “Shuni-e” comes from the ho-e held in February (nigatsu) of the lunar calendar, and the name “Otaimatsu” comes from the nightly lighting of taimatsu (torches).
At Omizutori, rengyoshu (monks) are announced on December 16th, the anniversary of Roben’s death, and the preparatory bekka is held from February 20th, followed by the main hongyo from March 1st to 14th. Incidentally, Omizutori offering of water from the “Wakasa-i” well for O-kannon (large kannon bosatsu) and Ko-gannon (small kannon bosatsu) is held late at night on March 12th (about 1:30 on March 13th). In addition, at Omizutori, dattanbo is held in Omizutori from the early morning of March 15th. At Omizutori, doji carrying dai-taimatsu (large torches) accompany rengyoshu (monks) to light the way for rengyoshu. Otaimatsu is held from March 1st to the 14th, when the main hongyo is held, and on all days except 12th and 14th, bonsho (bell) is rung at 19:00 as a signal. Dai-taimatsu (large torches) are about 6 to 8 meters long and weigh about 40 kg, but on the 12th, kago-taimatsu (large torches) are used, which are about 8 meters long and weigh about 70 kg.
The number of taimatsu (large torches) is usually 10, but on the 12th, it is 11. Incidentally, it is said that being exposed to the fire sparks of taimatsu (large torches) brings good luck in terms of health and happiness. The embers of taimatsu (large torches) are sometimes used as talismans.
●Dai-taimatsu (large torches) and kago-taimatsu (large torches) are opened by splitting the tip of the bamboo, hammering in a split pine tree, inserting the green leaves of the cedar and wrapping it in a spherical basket shape with a diameter of about 70 to 100 cm, and finally decorating it like a petal with a thin sheet of cedar, which is called kesho-ita (decorative board). Dai-taimatsu (large torches) and kago-taimatsu (large torches) are compared to a single giant flower. Dai-taimatsu (large torches) and kago-taimatsu (large torches) are made by doji who accompany rengyoshu (monk) every morning.
●Nigatsudo was not destroyed by fire during Nanto-Yakiuchi (Nanto burning down) by Taira Shigehira in 1180 and Matsunaga-Miyosh-no-Kassen (Battle between Matsunaga and Miyoshi) in 1567, but was destroyed by fire during Omizutori in 1667, and was rebuilt in 1669. Nigatsudo houses O-kannon (large kannon bosatsu) and Ko-gannon (small kannon bosatsu), which are absolutely secret statues that no one is allowed to see.

【Omizutori (Shuni-e, Otaimatsu) remarks】
Always check with the organizer for event information. Information on this site is for reference only. Contents of the event may have changed.
Todai-ji Temple (location,history)