Seirei no Hi (Day of Poetic Spirits)

What Is Seirei no Hi?

Every year on March 18th, Japan observes "Seirei no Hi" (literally, "Day of Spirits/Souls"). This day is connected to the tradition that three of Japan's most legendary poets—Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, Izumi Shikibu, and Ono no Komachi—are all said to have passed away on this same date, March 18th, though in different eras. Here the characters 精霊 are read "shōryō," meaning the souls of the dead, and there is said to have been a custom of remembering the departed around this time. The day is an occasion to remember these great poets and enjoy the beauty of poetry and language.

The Three Poets and Their Legends

These three poets occupy an extraordinarily important place in the history of Japanese literature.

• Kakinomoto no Hitomaro: One of the most celebrated poets of the "Manyoshu" (Japan's oldest anthology of poetry), revered with Yamabe no Akahito as a "poetic sage" (kasei). He served Empresses and Emperors Jitō and Monmu, and many of his poems are elegies for princes and princesses or verses composed on imperial journeys.
• Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu: Both leading female poets of the Heian period. Komachi was one of the "Six Poetic Geniuses" (Rokkasen), and Izumi Shikibu was counted among the "Thirty-Six Medieval Poetic Geniuses." Both are known for their love poems.

Haiku Season Words: Hitomaro-ki and Komachi-ki

The poets' memorial days are also spring season words in haiku.

• Hitomaro-ki (Hitomaru-ki): Hitomaro's memorial day. Kakinomoto Shrine in Akashi, Hyōgo, holds its annual festival a month later, in April.
• Komachi-ki: Ono no Komachi's memorial day. Obitoke-dera temple in Nara, associated with Komachi, holds a memorial service for her a month later, in April.

Fascinating Facts About "Seirei" (Spirits)

• Shōryō-uma: The cucumber and eggplant "horses" made for Obon, called shōryō-uma, use the same reading — they are said to carry ancestors' spirits to and from this world.
• Temples linked to Izumi Shikibu: Seishin-in temple in Kyoto, said to have had Izumi Shikibu as its first head, has a stone pagoda said to be her grave and holds an Izumi Shikibu memorial service every March 21.
• The Mystery of Ono no Komachi: Remarkably, the dates of Ono no Komachi's birth and death remain unknown, and numerous "Komachi legends" and supposed gravesites exist across Japan. Her death date of March 18th, too, comes from tradition.
• The Deification of Kakinomoto no Hitomaro: Besides being honored as a god of poetry, Hitomaro came to be worshipped — through puns on "Hitomaru" ("fire stops" and "a person is born") — as a god of fire prevention and safe childbirth, enshrined at "Hitomaru Shrines" across Japan.
• "Seirei" as a Seasonal Word: In haiku poetry, "seirei" and "seireidana" (spirit altars) are traditionally seasonal words associated with autumn and the Obon festival—while this March 18th observance falls near the spring equinox week (higan).

Ideas for Enjoying Seirei no Hi

• Read a single poem by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro or Ono no Komachi aloud, savoring with all your senses the "sound" and "imagery" that ancient Japanese poets wove into language
• Look up the poems by Ono no Komachi and Izumi Shikibu in the Hyakunin Isshu anthology and see if friends or coworkers know them
• In honor of March 18th, write a handwritten letter to someone or keep a journal—giving shape, in words, to your inner voice
• Take a walk in a park or forest, listening to the wind and the rustling of trees, and try putting the changing season into words

Beautiful Words Bring Richness and Harmony Into Your Life

March 18th is a day to feel anew the power of words. Just as the words woven by great poets a thousand years ago still reach us today, your own sincere words can become a priceless gift, leaving a lasting mark on someone's heart. Savoring things carefully can make your everyday life richer. May today be a day when you encounter expressions that move your heart deeply, and filled with rich sensitivity!