ABSTRACT
Anotherimportantitemofevidencepointingtoward theoriginalidentityofthesetwofestivalsistobefoundin thefactthatintheearliestknownperiodsofJapanesehistorynodistinctionwhatsoeverwasmadebetweentheuseof thetermsOhoNiheMatsuri(DaijoSai)whichisnow usedexclusivelyofthefoodceremonyoftheEnthronement andNihiNaheMatsuri(NiinameMatsuri)whichhascome downtousasthenameoftheNovemberharvestfestival. Adistinctionbetweentheuseofthetwotermsdoesnot appearintheliteratureuntilthetimeofSeiwaTenno(859876A.D.).Inthebeginning,theOhoNiheMatsuriwas theannualharvestfestival,observednotmerelybythe EmperorandhisCourt,butbytheordinarypeopleaswell. Itwasatimeoffeastingbothgodsandmenwithnewfood. Thenewfoodwasnotconfinedmerelytorice,butincluded allediblethingssuchasgrains,vegetables,fruits,fish,fowl andmeats.
