JAPAN
in costume to celebrate some noted event by a universal dance. By such means did the citizens of Kyōtō exhibit their joy when the capital of the Empire was transferred to their city from Nara at the end of the eighth century, and by such means also they evinced their gratitude for a year of prosperity in subsequent eras. The latter dance, known as honen-odori, probably stands at the head of all performances of the kind in so far as concerns the number of those taking part in it and the variety of their costumes. Each district of the city had its distinguishing colour,—light green silk for the east, in imitation of the dragon presiding in that quarter; crimson crepe for the south, in unison with the plumage of the scarlet bird that soared there; black velvet for the north, to typify the dark panoply of military power; and white crepe for the west where the grey tiger dwelt.[1] These, it must be understood, were the ground-colours of the dancer's garments: to the hues of the embroidered or woven decoration no limit was set, nor yet to the designs,—a nightingale perched on a spray of blossoming plum; silver trout gleaming in blue streams; snowy herons roosting among pine-boughs at Gion shrine; fiery maples glowing on the Kwacho hillside; rosy cherry-petals floating over the Otowa waterfall, or the vulgar Venus (Otafuku) embracing a mushroom on Inari mountain,—such and many other fancies the skill of the
- ↑ See Appendix, note 26.
80
