nana
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Post by nana on Mar 19, 2012 20:52:03 GMT -5
Greetings! Just thought this might be an interesting article to discuss amongst the group. Found this about the upcoming coronation of the Kingdom of the East www.scatoday.net/node/22341It got me thinking what kind of coronation would have occured in Japan? I know nothing of the subject but if you were able to- would you have a traditional Japanese Coronation/Investiture for yourself? (within the SCA regulations of course) I have heard of a few people wanting to set up court the way the Japanese court was set up. I think I remember Effingham-dono having a section on it in one of the SCA books (sorry can't remember what the name of the publication is at the moment.) So I guess what I'm asking is do you think a Japanese Coronation/Layout of Court would be possible? |
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Saionji Shonagon
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One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Mar 19, 2012 21:05:14 GMT -5
IIRC, there was a Japanese court held by the East Kingdom some years back. Kurokamakiri-hime was on that court. I shall see if I can prod her into posting her recollections. Annnnnd I appear to have found photographic evidence thereof. www.freewebs.com/dacoach/PelicanPics.htmLast year, we had a Japanese prince and princess invested in the Principality of Cynagua. The West Kingdom has scripted ceremonies for coronations, investitures and the various awards, so one has to work within that framework. (The West, being the cradle of SCA civilization, also has a large chunk of its populace which is extremely Set In Its Ways and one does not mess with The Way We've Always Done It lightly. Additional limitations may arise from the logistics of the hall in which court is being held. If the populace is all sitting in chairs, the dais better be significantly higher than the heads in the first row or no one is going to be able to bear witness to the events. I was asked to serve on that court and immediately fell into a situation of having to help a large number of people who (a) had never even thought of doing Japanese before, (b) had run out and bought inappropriate fabric right after Takeshi-dono won in a fit of enthusiasm or were forced due to budget constraints to work out of their stashes, (c) listened intently at the workshop to the information I presented but were too shy/stubborn/I-don't-know-what to get in touch with me for help when they couldn't figure out how to put a garment together. Nobody knew how to walk, how to stand, how to bow. After Sora-hime's Head of Court came clomping down the aisle behind her like a cowboy, I held an impromptu tutorial on walking, bowing, kneeling. So there we were in a Masonic Hall with the thrones at floor level facing rows of chairs. There was no question of Their Highnesses not sitting in the thrones, or not wearing the Coronets. I did come into court as His Highness's spokesman and address the outgoing Prince in Japanese (with a "translator" behind me), advising that his time was done and his successor had come. I moved to the side of the aisle and spent the rest of the Investiture on my knees in a deep bow. We had taiko drummers for the processions, Their Highnesses drank sake out of sakazuki presented by their cupbearers, and that was about as Japanese as it got. |
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Post by solveig on Mar 19, 2012 23:51:35 GMT -5
Noble Cousin! Greetings from Solveig! So I guess what I'm asking is do you think a Japanese Coronation/Layout of Court would be possible? It all depends on what kingdom you are in. In AEthelmearc and the East Kingdom you can hold court pretty much how you want to. Coronation is a bit special in that two sets of royalty have to be accommodated. That said, there are still expectations on how courts are arranged and space limitations to deal with. |
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Post by Nagamochi on Mar 20, 2012 20:19:07 GMT -5
I remember attending Raito-danshaku's coronation in 2008 when he became Kitadate-tenno. Not sure how it varied from a Japanese court, but the whole retinue and local hosting shire did a rather splendid job. Heck, even the prior king and queen joined the crowd and donned wafuku. Not to discredit the rest of the populace in attendance, for which the majority got in the spirit and did their best attempt. nsgallery.melm.org/main.php/v/Fall08Coronation/You'll need to set up a name and password to view the photos in the link, but it's free. |
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Post by kurokamakiri on Mar 21, 2012 8:27:24 GMT -5
Yes, during the reign of Hanse III & Olivia I of the East, there was a Japanese Court at Pennsic 30 (thanks for the photo link, Saionji!)
It took MONTHS of planning, as this was something very new to the majority of folks in Royal Household. Kass wrote a "general info article" for the Pikestaff (EK newsletter) on what to expect, what to wear, and how to behave while in Court. She also created a website/handout, which is now sadly offline, with measurements, color combinations, and fabric choices.
Folding screens were made and set before the royal seats (since thrones weren't used) to replicate the appearance of doors being opened that you might approach the Emperor. A backdrop was made for behind the Royalty. Scrolls were handed from the court herald to a court functionary on a platter, which was then given to the recipient.
Attendants sat in Precedence on either side of the crown, and any speaking "behind the throne" was done in a whisper behind a fan. Attendants sat on kneeling benches made beforehand, taking their places about 5 minutes before the screens were opened, and we all bowed to the floor when the screens were removed. Servants offered cups of water to the attendants, which we hid behind our fans (since public eating and drinking is Not Done).
Guards were dressed as archers, and lined the front of the dias. Only the Crowns and Heirs sat on stools. When Court was over, servants closed the screens before the royalty, the attendants all bowed their heads to the floor, and were helped out of our seats LOL and off the dias.
This sort of thing is quite possible, but it does require more effort than a "regular" court because the majority of SCAdians are used to the default of European garb, (The exception being Outlands) and the regalia tends towards Eurocentrism as well.
Tsurunaga and Genvieve had a Japanese Coronation, I think? They definitely had a Japanese court (opening ceremonies?) at Court, with their RH dressed in black and red. However, they used thrones and other kingdom regalia, while Hanse and Olivia did not.
It takes a lot of effort, and plenty of lead time, but doesn't it look fabulous when it's happening!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2012 10:23:33 GMT -5
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Saionji Shonagon
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One dreamed of becoming somebody. Another remained awake and became. (Found in a fortune cookie.)
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Post by Saionji Shonagon on Mar 21, 2012 10:54:39 GMT -5
Thanks, Kuro-hime! While not a Coronation/Investiture, my Laurel Ceremony was straight out of the West Kingdom Ceremony Book except for the fact that I opted to do my fealty oath in Japanese. That said, having gagaku* and a huge, well dressed entourage to process into court before one certainly gave the proceedings a suitably Japanese flavor. (*Huge thank yous to Ii-Shonagon, Abe-Shonagon and Ishida-dono for performing "Etenraku.") The video does not do it justice. youtu.be/ffhi7Mt3NpUNot everyone gets to sit a throne. Not everyone gets invited to a peerage order, and one is usually called into court without warning. You can still make it "yours" by displaying proper Japanese etiquette. Kurokamakiri-hime will probably remember my friend Fujimaki's AoA at 100 Minutes War some years ago. He made his bow from the back end of the aisle and knee walked all the way up, then bowed again. |
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Post by yumehime on Nov 4, 2013 12:59:34 GMT -5
coronation in japan is directly dependent on keeping Shinto the tradition of making an offering of rice from correctly divined fields on ancestral land and such to the kami, then eating with the court. the emperor is as much a shaman/priest as he is a ruler during period, so without the religious aspect of the coronation, his authority as the new leader is not recognized.
and this is where sca Christians panic mid court.
however, the documentation goes back to the kojiki and was taken quite seriously during period which is why the emperor was not simply killed when the samurai took his political power. it would have been like killing the pope in the eyes of the populous.
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