also: きこうでん
noun
Festival to Plead for Skills; progenitor festival of Tanabata
Historical Chinese-derived festival held on the seventh day of the seventh month, where women prayed for improvement in weaving and other skills. Considered the precursor to the Japanese Tanabata (七夕).
See also: 七夕
乞巧奠は、中国から伝わった行事で、七夕の原型とされています。
Kikkōden is an event that came from China and is considered the prototype of Tanabata.
During the Heian period, the Kikkōden festival was actively held at the imperial court.