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The origin of "Bean-Throwing Festival"

February 3rd, the day before the calendric beginning of spring, is famous for bean-throwing festival, named "Setsubun". Why do people throw beans? I found the answer from the book about "Shinto".

In the ancient times in Japan, "Setsubun" had been 4times a year, i.e. the day before the beginning of each season. People had thrown rices not beans at "Setsubun" at that time. Throwing rice means to lustrate uncleaness of the past season.

Chiniese folkways were imported to Japan during Nara Period. "Tsuina"(some of the ceremony to drive away evil spirits), it was similar ceremony of ancient Japanese "Setsubun" was also naturalized. But Tsuina used not to throw rices but beans because beans had been believed to hit demon's eyes.

Beans means "Mame" in Japanese. As "Ma" means "demon", "Mame" does "demon's eyes" while "Me" turns into the meaing of "extermination" in Chinese character. It is some kind of "jeu de mots".

This is the origin of "Setsubun". People believe "Mame" to exterminate demons. Nowadays, we throw beans(mame) with saying "Go out Demon ! Come in good luck!"