乞きっ巧こう奠でん

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

• 乞きっ巧こう奠でんは、中ちゅう国ごくから伝つたわった行ぎょう事じで、七夕たなばたの原げん型けいとされています。

  Kikkōden is an event that came from China and is considered the prototype of Tanabata.

• 平へい安あん時じ代だいの宮きゅう中ちゅうでは、乞きっ巧こう奠でんが盛さかんに行おこなわれていました。

  During the Heian period, the Kikkōden festival was actively held at the imperial court.