Joya no Kane: The 108 Bells of Japanese New Year’s Eve
While much of the world rings in the New Year with champagne corks, fireworks, and boisterous countdown parties, Japan greets January 1st with a profound, resonant solemnity. The air, crisp and biting with winter chill, is filled not with shouts, but with the deep, reverberating boom of massive bronze bells. This is Joya no Kane (除夜の鐘), the ringing of the night bells, a centuries-old Buddhist tradition that defines the spiritual landscape of a Japanese New Year.
For the cultural traveler, witnessing this ritual provides a window into the Japanese soul—a moment where the focus shifts from celebration to purification, and from the accumulation of time to the shedding of worldly burdens.
The Origins: Removing the Old Night
The term “Joya” (除夜) translates roughly to “the removal of the old night” or “New Year’s Eve,” while “Kane” (鐘) means bell. Unlike the Shinto traditions that dominate much of Japanese mythology, Joya no Kane is distinctively Buddhist in origin. It reflects the symbiotic relationship between Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, where life ceremonies are often Shinto, but matters of the soul and afterlife lean toward Buddhism.
The ritual involves ringing the large temple bells, or bonsho, exactly 108 times. This process usually begins shortly before midnight on December 31st and concludes just as the New Year begins. The timing is precise: traditionally, the bell is struck 107 times while the old year still lingers, and the final, 108th strike is delivered exactly as the clock turns to the New Year. This final peal symbolizes the first clean step into a fresh start.
The Legend: Why 108 Rings?
The specific number—108—is not arbitrary. In Buddhist theology, it represents the 108 Bonno (earthly desires or worldly passions) that plague the human spirit. These passions, which include emotions like anger, jealousy, obsession, and greed, are believed to be the root of all suffering.
The Calculation of Suffering
Scholarship varies on the exact breakdown, but a popular calculation of the 108 desires is as follows:
- The Six Senses: Sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, and consciousness.
- The Three Sensations: For each sense, one can experience pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral feelings ($6 times 3 = 18$).
- The Two States: Each of these can be either attached (pure) or detached (impure) ($18 times 2 = 36$).
- The Three Times: These feelings exist in the past, present, and future ($36 times 3 = 108$).
The belief is that each strike of the heavy wooden beam against the bronze bell drives away one of these desires. As the sound fades into the night, the listener is cleansed of that specific sin. By the time the 108th ring echoes, the soul is theoretically scrubbed clean, ready to face the coming year massara (brand new).
Modern Culture: Soba, Shrines, and Silence
In modern Japan, Joya no Kane is the anchor of Omisoka (New Year’s Eve). Families gather under the kotatsu (heated table) to eat Toshikoshi Soba (year-crossing noodles). The long noodles symbolize a wish for a long life, while the act of cutting the noodle while eating represents breaking off the hardships of the previous year.
As midnight approaches, the atmosphere shifts. While millions watch the popular music show Kohaku Uta Gassen, many others bundle up in coats to visit their local temple. The event is televised nationally on the program Yuku Toshi Kuru Toshi (Years Go, Years Come), which broadcasts live footage of bells ringing from snowy temples in northern Hokkaido to the milder climates of the south.
Unlike Western holidays which prioritize individual indulgence, this event is communal and contemplative. It leads directly into Hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year, which often happens immediately after the bells finish ringing.
Traveler’s Tips: Experiencing the Sound
If you find yourself in Japan on December 31st, participating in Joya no Kane is unforgettable. Here is how to navigate the night:
1. Choose Your Temple Wisely
Not all temples allow visitors to ring the bell. At famous temples like Chion-in in Kyoto, giant bells require a team of 17 monks to ring them in a spectacular acrobatic display. You go there to watch and listen. However, smaller local temples often allow visitors to queue up and ring the bell themselves.
2. Arrive Early for Tickets
Popular temples that allow public ringing, such as Zojoji in Tokyo (with Tokyo Tower in the background), distribute numbered tickets (seiriken) hours in advance. If you want to ring the bell, you may need to line up by 8:00 PM or earlier.
3. Dress for the Cold
Japanese temples are open-air structures. You will be standing still on stone or gravel for hours. Wear thermal layers, gloves, and use kairo (heat packs).
4. Observe Etiquette
If you ring the bell, put your hands together in prayer (gassho) before swinging the wooden beam. Ring it gently but firmly—do not try to shatter the bell. Afterward, bow to the monk and the bell.
Sources & Further Reading
To understand the deeper spiritual context of Japanese mythology and the synthesis of Shinto and Buddhism:
- The Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan): While primarily a Shinto text detailing the origins of Japan, it provides the cultural baseline upon which Buddhist traditions like Joya no Kane were later layered.
- Buddhism: A History by Noble Ross Reat: For a broader understanding of how the concept of Bonno traveled from India to Japan.
- Local Temple Guides: Most major temples like Todai-ji (Nara) or Senso-ji (Tokyo) publish English pamphlets detailing their specific bell’s history and metallurgy.