三月九日是日本的火上竞走节。在这一天,日本的佛教组织主持举行火上竞走仪式。参加火上竞走活动的有教徒,也有普通人。火上竞走对一些人来说是信念的考验,对于另一些人来说是意志力的考验,对于所有人来说则是勇气的考验。“如果你能在这火上竞走,你就能做任何事情,实现你的理想。”这是一个日本人说。日本佛教信徒认为,这种余火能“净化灵魂”,使人“免遇”交通事故和其它灾难。一九八六年的火上竞走仪式在日本东京市以西的高尾山角处举行。仪式开始时,教士们身穿鲜黄色长袍,围着一大堆雪松树枝齐声高唱圣歌,并用剑和扇子“净化”雪松树枝。与此同时,两名教士向雪松树枝堆里射箭,点燃雪松树枝。教士们身着白色长袍的 March 9 is the Japanese go-go festival. On this day, Buddhist organizations in Japan presided over the fire walking ceremony. There are Catholics who participate in fire walking activities, but also ordinary people. Walking on fire is a test of faith for some, a test of willpower for others, and a test of courage for all. “If you can walk on this fire, you can do anything to fulfill your dreams,” said the Japanese. Japanese Buddhists believe that this afterlife can “purify the soul,” making people “free” of traffic accidents and other disasters. The fire walking ceremony in 1986 was held at the corner of Ko Tau Shan, west of Tokyo, Japan. At the beginning of the ceremony, the priests dressed in bright yellow robes, singing chants around a large pile of cedar branches and “purifying” the cedar branches with swords and fans. In the meantime, two priests shot arrows at the heap of cedar trees and lit the cedar branches. Priests dressed in white robes