Abura Tenjin Yama is a distinctive float of Kyoto’s Saki Matsuri, dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, the celebrated scholar and court advisor who was later deified as Tenjin, the thunder deity. The float takes its name from Abura-Koji Street, where its neighborhood community has preserved the tradition for centuries.
So, what is Abura Tenjin Yama? At its center is a small Shinto shrine containing a statue of Michizane. After his unjust exile and death, a series of disasters and thunderstorms were associated with his angry spirit. He was eventually honored as a divine protector and thunder god.
The Abura Tenjin Yama Gion float also reflects the festival’s remarkable artistic heritage. Its decorations include treasured textiles, demonstrating how Gion Matsuri communities continue to combine ancient traditions with new artistic creations.
Known as the Abura Thunder-Deity Float, it represents the powerful connection between scholarship, spirituality, protection, and Kyoto’s long cultural history.
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