MOCHITSUKI
Mochitsuki, is a
Japanese custom fundamental to the Japanese culture. Mochitsuki
means, making Mochi (sweet rice cakes.) Most secular Japanese
and almost all Japanese religious groups, (Buddhist, Shinto and even
some Christian) have a rice cake making event near the end of the
year. Many Japanese schedule their Mochitsuki events at the third
day before the New Year. Mochitsuki is a community event, allowing
young and old to socialize together, and have fun in a community
project. In Modern Japan most people consider Mochitsuki, an ethnic
secular custom without a specific religious significance.
FOLKLORE
Mochi, In Japanese
meaning, "Full Moon". It is believed that "the ardent observer
will perceive that on the moon there lives a hare, who is constantly
preparing Mochi."
HISTORY
In ancient Japan, rice
was a special, valuable food used only for special occasions and
holidays. Samurai warriors traditionally prepared special food (rice
cakes) before battle. Typically rice was offered as one of the first
crops to the Gods. Each grain of rice, in Shinto tradition
symbolized a "Tamashii" human soul, so pounded rice cakes
represented millions of souls. When the community, hand pounded the
rice using a wooden mallet (Kine), each person could reflect on the
Gods' blessings and reflect over the events of the previous year. So
the act of pounding and handling the rice was a self purifying and
self reflective act. The Shinto Priest (Kannushi or Head Priest or
Gon Kannushi or assistant priest) would offer the pounded rice cakes
to the Gods on behalf of the entire community.
JAPANESE
NEW YEAR
For the Japanese New
Year, the mochi is shaped like the rounded disk of the traditional
Japanese mirror, Kagami. The stacked rice cakes are called "Kagami
Mochi". Since ancient times, the mirror represented the Shinto
Goddess Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun Goddess. The mirror has been with
the sword and the Jewel, one of the three Japanese Imperial Regalia.
The Shinto Goddess, Amaterasu o Mikami as mentioned in the Kojiki,
the oldest extant Japanese book, is closely associated with swords
and many Japanese consider her a Sword Goddess or Sword Kami.
Kagami Mochi is made of
at least two stacked flattened mochi balls and is placed on a small
raised tray called a "Sanbo". A sheet of white paper, a symbol of
purity is placed under the cakes. A small bitter fruit, typically a
Satsuma Mandarin Orange is placed on top of the rice cakes. The
fruit signifies longevity in its name, "Dai Dai" meaning "Generation
to Generation."
MAKING
MOCHI
Mochi rice is steamed
prior to mashing in a mortar. Later when the individual rice grains
can no longer be seen, it is pounded. The correct Mochi strike is
very similar to a Sword strike. The wooden mallet must hit the rice
flat, perpendicular to the mortar (usu) surface. If the Mochi is
struck by pounding diagonally there is a good probability that the
Kine (mallet) will strike the usu (mortar) surface at an angle,
causing small wooden splinters to contaminate the mochi. After
pounding, Mochi is hand shaped into small cakes and powdered with
sweet flour. The cakes can also be stuffed with food and/or dyed
colors. The mochi elasticity, symbolizes strength and the white
color symbolizes, purity.
