How does Sumo wrestling help us understand Medieval Japan?
Sumo existed before medieval times as a war skill, but it was
during this period Sumo included Shinto rituals. Elements of the Shinto religion
can still be found in Sumo, from the physical environment to the rituals
performed by the Sumo wrestlers before, during and after their bouts. Most sumo
bouts are about representing the Shinto idea of connection between the land, the
spirits and purification of the soul.
The physical setting of the sumo bout ring is very sacred. Each
part represents a different theme in the ring. Two elements are the floor and
the roof. The Floor in the ring represents the earth on which the Sumo wrestlers
purify their souls and fight on. The roof above the earth represents the sky to
emphasis the sacred nature of the earth. The sky protects all good things on
earth. The ring itself is an important a sacred physical setting in honour of
the time when sumo bouts were conducted in temples, where they thought it was
most likely to catch the god’s attentions.
Rituals performed before the matches are all important steps in
order to catch the god’s attention and bring down good luck and to be rid of
sin. The ring blessing ceremony, performed the day before the bout ensures that
the ring is properly purified in time for the match and to make sure that the
sumo wrestlers are fighting on a sacred physical setting. Once the Sumo has
entered the ring, they are handed a spoon of water, representing the cleansing
of soul through clean water. Finally, just before fighting the Sumo wrestlers
clap their hands, in order to catch the attention of the gods and secure proper
purification of the soul. This is the final step and it is very important step
because without the attention of the Shinto god’s their souls would not be able
to cleanse and purify properly.
The bow twirling ceremony, performed by the winner of the bout
represents the showing of appreciation. This idea originated in 1575 when, Oda
Nobunaga, the military leader of Japan, gave one of his bows to the winner of a
sumo tournament, who, in accepting the bow, danced to show his appreciation of
the gift. Later at the end of the special Shogunal viewing of a sumo tournament
in 1791, the winner also performed a dance with a bow, confirming this ritual as
an important tradition.
Therefore the religious rituals we know in sumo today originate from
the religious views during the time of Oda Nobunaga. He greatly influenced
parts of the ceremony. It also shows us how religion was included
in all aspects of medieval Japanese life.
during this period Sumo included Shinto rituals. Elements of the Shinto religion
can still be found in Sumo, from the physical environment to the rituals
performed by the Sumo wrestlers before, during and after their bouts. Most sumo
bouts are about representing the Shinto idea of connection between the land, the
spirits and purification of the soul.
The physical setting of the sumo bout ring is very sacred. Each
part represents a different theme in the ring. Two elements are the floor and
the roof. The Floor in the ring represents the earth on which the Sumo wrestlers
purify their souls and fight on. The roof above the earth represents the sky to
emphasis the sacred nature of the earth. The sky protects all good things on
earth. The ring itself is an important a sacred physical setting in honour of
the time when sumo bouts were conducted in temples, where they thought it was
most likely to catch the god’s attentions.
Rituals performed before the matches are all important steps in
order to catch the god’s attention and bring down good luck and to be rid of
sin. The ring blessing ceremony, performed the day before the bout ensures that
the ring is properly purified in time for the match and to make sure that the
sumo wrestlers are fighting on a sacred physical setting. Once the Sumo has
entered the ring, they are handed a spoon of water, representing the cleansing
of soul through clean water. Finally, just before fighting the Sumo wrestlers
clap their hands, in order to catch the attention of the gods and secure proper
purification of the soul. This is the final step and it is very important step
because without the attention of the Shinto god’s their souls would not be able
to cleanse and purify properly.
The bow twirling ceremony, performed by the winner of the bout
represents the showing of appreciation. This idea originated in 1575 when, Oda
Nobunaga, the military leader of Japan, gave one of his bows to the winner of a
sumo tournament, who, in accepting the bow, danced to show his appreciation of
the gift. Later at the end of the special Shogunal viewing of a sumo tournament
in 1791, the winner also performed a dance with a bow, confirming this ritual as
an important tradition.
Therefore the religious rituals we know in sumo today originate from
the religious views during the time of Oda Nobunaga. He greatly influenced
parts of the ceremony. It also shows us how religion was included
in all aspects of medieval Japanese life.
*Primary source is picture at top of page*