The Chinese people use these characters as the name of this month, and this is. shown on Japanese calendars. The character 1Mutsu' means friendly, intimate or harmonious. Together they give the meaning of, the month of close relationship.
The New Year is a season by itself. When the Lunar calendar was in vogue, January the first was what is now the beginning of February. The plum trees were blooming in sheltered places, and the spirit of spring was already in the air. New Year's morning was felt to be the morning, not only of this day, but the morning of the whole year. The rejuvenation of nature coincided with a fresh trust in humanity, in one's own nature and the goodness of others, and in the Buddha nature. And this applied not only to the world of human beings, but the sight of the clouds, the blue sky and green grass, the sound of running water and the wind in the pine-trees. All these familiar things had on this. day a new significance.
All things are the same, yet all is new. The sameness and the difference; in the unity of these two, lies an unnameable, ineffable meaning which the following verse by Moritake, a former High Priest of Ise Shrine, rejoices to express.
'It is is New Year's morning,
I think also of the Age
Of the Gods.
According to the Lunar calendar, January is the end of winter and this month has the first feeling of the expected warmth of spring. When serving or receiving tea the mind is full of gratitude and hope.
Chajin begin Tea at four o'clock in the morning on the first day of January. The water drawn from the well is called:
SEJ KA SUI Pure well water. WAKA MJZU Young water.
These first ceremonies are known as:-
TA TE ZOME NOMI HAJIME
The embers from the ro hearth known as nokoribi or uzumibi have been kept from the last night of the previous year and now new charcoal is added to the previously covered embers.
OBUKUCHA
This is the first ceremony
with all the family. Before
the 20th January a large
party is acceptable but
after this date it is better
to be on your own or with
one or two friends.
YOBANASHI CHAJI Evening Tea.
This chanoyu is held between
December and March and
usually starts around six o'clock.
After the final bowl of usucha the host adds a little more charcoal to the fire to keep the warmth of the meeting in the room and as an indication that the host would like the guests to stay longer if they so wish.
FUKU CHA This began at the time of the Emperor Murakami (946-967). The Emperor was troubled in mind and when he was asleep he dreamed that Rokuhara Kanzeon taught him to drink tea, he obeyed and was cured. SAN GA NICHI Invitation to guests from the 1st to the 3rd of January. To renew the mind and spirit of the host, guests are invited to receive tea. Great importance is given to the tokonoma. The following hanging scrolls are examples of those used to help in providing this atmosphere. 1. JUSANFUKUKAJ The mountains of long life and the seas of good fortune. 2. HIJDETE KEN KONKAGAYAKU With the coming of the sun heaven and earth are bright. 3. JCHJ NICHI SEJ KAN ICHI NICHI FUKU Where there is quiet and tranquillity there is happiness for the whole day. 4. BUJIKOREKININ It is important not to rely on things or events. 5. SHIN (1) KO (2) TERASU (5) TEN (3) CHJ (4) Where there is a spiritual feeling all is well The light of the Gods throughout Heaven and Earth 6. HANA HJRAKUBANKOKUHARU The inevitability of the opening of the flowers and the coming of spring
OTHER NAMES USED FOR JANUARY
HATSU ZORA ZUKI First sky of the year. So RYOKU ZUKI Fresh green month. HATSUBANAZUKI First flower month.
KIGO - SEASONAL WORDS
HATSUGASUMI First mist. As the weather
warms, beautiful patterns
of mist arise in the
mountains.
AKEBONO Dawn. The dawn of the
year as well as the day.
TAKARAB UNE Treasure ship. A ship of
good fortune which sails from Horaizan.
ZUIUN Auspicious clouds.
JUZAN Auspicious mountain.
UNKAI Sea of clouds.
HATSU NE NO HI This is the first Rat day
of the year.
HATSU MODE A shrine visit during the first
three days of the year.
WAKAMIZU The first water drawn.
MANZAI During the matsu no uchi, up
to the 15th January, two
comedians with musical
instruments visit homes
offering congratulations.
BURI BURI This was one of the tools
for farming, with which
farmers level the field. Later it became a toy.
HATSU TORI First cockcrow.
HATSU KARASU The first cry of the crow.
HORAIZAN A mythical mountain in
the sea between China and
Japan, known as the home
of the immortal sages.
HORAIKAZARI The tokonoma decoration
for New Year. It includes
charcoal, rice, pickled plum
and seaweed.
JINJITSU 7th January when a rice gruel
is served containing seven
kinds of early spring
vegetables.
MATSU NO UCHI Until the 15th January. After
this day the New Year gate
decoration is removed.
Seasonal Names suitable for Chaire
AKEBONO Dawn. SHINZA Advance seat. CHOSHO Listening to the pine trees. RAIFUKU The coming of good fortune. HATSUKUSA The first grass, perhaps still hidden under the snow.Seasonal names for Chashaku SHOKYU Pine cone or Pine ball. SEN BANZAI Long Life. ISSHI NO HARU The first new shoots on an old plum tree.
CHIYO NO HIKARI Eternal brightness
HATSU NE The first call of the Uguisu. SAKAKI BA Leaves of the tree of the Gods. TAKARABUNE Ship of Good Fortune. OMIKI Sake offered to the Gods. AJIRO NO SHIMO Frost on the fishing nets.
Seasonal names suitable for Chawan
IWAO Massive rock or cliff.
ZUIUN Auspicious clouds.
The sun comes from the East
and we go to the East to
study.