Overview
Eisa is folk dance originating from the Okinawa Islands and it was started as Bon dance during the Bon festival to honor the spirits of their ancestors.
After the 20th century, Eisa has been modernized significantly after introduced vital parts of Okinawan culture.
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History
The core of Eisa consists of nembutsu songs. The Ryūkyū-Koku Yuraiki (1713) attributes the introduction of Nembutsu to Taichū (1552–1639), a Jōdo sect monk from Mutsu Province.
According to the record, he translated Buddhist teaching into the vernacular speech and taught it to the people of Naha during the reign of Shō Nei. Other sources confirm that Taichū stayed in the capital region for three years in the early 1600s and converted the king and other high-ranking officials.
Religious Background
Jōdo Buddhism, Okinawan Buddhism, Shinto
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Date
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Late August or Early September
Dates and functions are subject to change without notice. Be sure to check the latest information in advance.
Location
Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture