SAIO DAI MISOGI (purification) Ritual

Today I've decided to upload the above picture to show the similarity between HEIANperiod aristocracy makeup style and Maiko & Geiko. Although the aristocracy at the time wore most sophisticates Kimono, still the fact that Maiko and Geiko Kimono are also very long and composed of many layers.

I toke this picture today during the purification ritual of the beginning of the AOI Festival. (For those interested, below I wrote some historical explanation of the origin of the festival and today's ritual.)
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AOI MATSURI - 'Hollyhock Festival': is considered to be one of the oldest festivals in the world. Its origin goes back to the sixth century when a series of severe storms destroyed the all important autumn harvest. A diviner determined that the deities of Kamigamo and Shimogamo Shrines were angry at the disrespect of the people. To quiet the gods, Emperor Kinmei (540-571) had special rites performed at Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines, Kyoto's two oldest shrines. Magically, the storms came to an end, and from that time on, imperial officials have paid regular visits to the two shrines. The name of the festival comes from the fact that the dark and shiny spiked leaves of the aoi (hollyhock) bush are used in decorating the costumes. At one time, these leaves were believed to have all sorts of powers including protection against lightning and earthquakes and guaranteeing easy childbirth.

Following Kyoto's founding in 794, the first emperor of Kyoto, Kanmu, personally visited both shrines and recognized their deities as protectors of Kyoto. In 807, he officially established the Aoi Matsuri as an annual, imperial event. It quickly established a reputation and soon was referred to as simply the Festival. It reached its most spectacular heights in the middle of the Heian period, during the magnificent reign of Fujiwara regents.

Before the first festival, the Emperor sent his daughter to serve at the shrine. After many years of training, she become a head priestess at the age of 20. This tradition continued for almost 400 years until the 13th century.

The SAIO DAI today continues to wear the traditional twelve layers robes JUNIHITOE and perform the ancient purification ritual with her 40 servants every May 4th.

Today's festival is, for the most part, a tribute to that time, often known as Japan's Golden Age. Though the festival was not held from the start of the Onin Wars (Japan's civil war of the late 15th century) all the way to the end of the 17th century, it was revived and has continued to be one of Japan's largest and most important festivals.