Japanese star-lovers tradition, Davis account
Tanabata Festival
Davis describes a festival on the seventh day of the seventh month, with coloured paper poems attached to fresh bamboo. He links it with Tanabata and Hikoboshi, lovers separated by a Celestial River. A bridge of birds permits their meeting when the weather is favourable, making clear skies a hope expressed during the festival.
Also known as Festival of the Weaving Lady · Festival of the Weaving Maiden · Tanabata
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In the sources
Paper poems and bamboo in Davis's description
DocumentedDavis reports freshly cut bamboo placed on roofs or beside homes, with coloured paper strips bearing poems praising Tanabata and Hikoboshi. His chapter gives the date as the seventh day of the seventh month.
A reunion dependent on the sky
TraditionalThe lovers can cross the Celestial River on a bridge of birds, but rain can make it too wide even for magpies to span. Davis connects children's wish for clear weather with the hope of their meeting.
Context & interpretation
This entry records the festival and legend as Davis presents them, not a complete account of current dates, regional customs or astronomical identifications. His suggested star names remain his suggestion.
Original passages
Source 1
Myths and Legends of Japan
Coloured strips of paper were attached to these bamboosOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter VIII, printed p. 126
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0142
- Original scan leaf
- 162
- Recorded leaf number
- 162
- Current Reader position
- 141
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Myths and Legends of Japan
a great bridge of magpiesOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Chapter VIII, printed p. 127
Read directly from the active prepared scan; line breaks and spacing normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0052-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0052-E001-P0143
- Original scan leaf
- 163
- Recorded leaf number
- 163
- Current Reader position
- 142
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed