Hana Matsuri / Kanbutsue (The Buddha's Birthday Flower Festival)

What Is Hana Matsuri (Kanbutsue)?

April 8th is "Hana Matsuri" (literally, "Flower Festival") in Japan. It celebrates the birth of the founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), and is formally known as "Kanbutsue" (the Bathing of the Buddha Ceremony) or "Gotanee" (Birth Celebration). Based on the tradition that the Buddha was born in the flower garden of Lumbini, people decorate a small shrine called a "hanamido" with colorful flowers and pour sweet hydrangea tea (amacha) over a statue of the newborn Buddha as a gesture of celebration. In spring, a season when life visibly bursts forth, this day is an occasion to reaffirm the preciousness of all living things. In much of East Asia the Buddha's birthday is celebrated on the 8th day of the 4th month of the lunar calendar; celebrating it on April 8th of the solar calendar is said to be unique to Japan.

Traditions Surrounding the Buddha's Birth

The story of the Buddha's birth in ancient India is filled with symbolic episodes.

• "Tenjo Tenge Yuiga Dokuson": According to tradition, immediately after his birth, the Buddha took seven steps, raised his right hand to the sky and pointed his left hand to the earth, and declared "Tenjo Tenge Yuiga Dokuson"—often translated as "I alone am the honored one throughout heaven and earth." This phrase is often interpreted as expressing the irreplaceable dignity of every individual.
• The Sweet Rain: According to legend, at the moment of the Buddha's birth, nine dragons appeared from the heavens and poured pure water (sweet dew) to bathe him. This legend is said to be the origin of today's ceremony of pouring amacha over the statue of the infant Buddha.

Amacha Trivia

The "amacha" (sweet tea) served at Hana Matsuri has some surprising characteristics.

• Sweetness without sugar: Amacha is made by drying and fermenting the leaves of "amacha," a variety of the mountain hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata). Its sweetness comes from a compound called phyllodulcin, said to be hundreds of times sweeter than sugar. Interestingly, the fresh leaves are not very sweet; the sweetness develops through processing.
• Don't brew it too strong: Amacha is safe at a moderate strength, but very strong amacha can cause nausea, and there have been reported cases of children falling ill after drinking strong amacha at Hana Matsuri. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommends simmering about 2–3 grams of dried leaves in 1 liter of water.

Fascinating Facts About Hana Matsuri

• Who Named It "Hana Matsuri"?: Because April 8th on the solar calendar falls when cherry blossoms are in full bloom in much of Japan, the Jodo Shinshu priest Reigan Andō is said to have proposed the name "Hana Matsuri" (Flower Festival). The name is traced to a 1916 Buddhist ceremony in Tokyo's Hibiya Park, and even earlier, in 1901, Japanese students in Berlin held a "Hana Matsuri" celebration.
• The statue's pose: The infant Buddha statue is shown with the right hand pointing to the sky and the left to the earth. The seven steps he is said to have taken are sometimes interpreted as going beyond the "Six Realms" of delusion.
• The Procession of the White Elephant: Hana Matsuri celebrations sometimes include a parade featuring a model of a white elephant. This stems from the legend that the Buddha's mother, Queen Maya, became pregnant after dreaming that a white elephant entered her body—which is why the white elephant is regarded as sacred in Buddhism.
• Amacha charms: There was a custom of grinding ink with amacha and writing a short verse on paper to post as a charm against insects. Other folk beliefs held that ink ground with amacha would improve one's handwriting.
• How It's Celebrated Around the World: While Japan observes this festival on April 8th, in Theravada Buddhist regions of Southeast Asia, the equivalent celebration—"Vesak"—is held on a full moon day based on the Indian calendar, usually around May, commemorating the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death together. Dates and forms vary by region, but it is an important occasion for Buddhists around the world.

Ideas for Spending Hana Matsuri

• Visit a nearby temple, view the "hanamido" shrine, and pour amacha over the statue of the infant Buddha—a quiet moment to give thanks for your own life and the lives of those around you
• Reflect on the phrase "Tenjo Tenge Yuiga Dokuson," and instead of comparing yourself to others, take the day to value your own unique existence
• Decorate your room with spring flowers or enjoy a cup of amacha to ease the tension of the new fiscal year
• Reflect on the Buddha's teaching of "compassion" (sharing in others' joy and sorrow), and try offering a kind word or smile to everyone you meet today, spreading a sense of "ease" to those around you

The Joy of a Birth Surrounded by Flowers Brightens the New Season

April 8th is a day to celebrate the Buddha's birth surrounded by spring flowers. From the legend of the flower garden of Lumbini long ago to the flower-decked shrines at today's temples, the spirit of cherishing life has been passed down for a long time. Just as the Buddha's birth brought light to the world, you too are an irreplaceable presence bringing light into this world. Let the gentle sweetness of amacha soothe you, and let the blooming flowers energize you, as you stand tall and believe in yourself. Spending the day calmly and true to yourself may be the best way to mark it.