04 Japanese doll 人形
One of the origins of Japanese dolls lies in "hitogata," human-shaped figures made from materials such as wood and paper.
In Japan, there is a custom of "yakubarai" (exorcism), where people transfer misfortunes such as illness and disasters to a "hitogata" and then float it down a river or into the sea, or burn it, in order to protect themselves from such calamities. Wooden "hitogata" have been unearthed from 7th-century archaeological sites, suggesting that this custom began at least by that time.
Separately, dolls as toys have existed for over 1000 years. In "The Tale of Genji," a long novel written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century and set in aristocratic society, there is a scene where young girls are enjoying a game called "hiina-asobi," which involves playing with dolls. This "hiina-asobi" uses small doll furniture and houses, and involves having the dolls play various roles, similar to modern children's doll play. Unfortunately, no dolls used in this "hiina-asobi" from that era exist today.
Thus, the use of "dolls" for exorcism rituals has been practiced in Japan since ancient times.
It is believed that the custom of "Hina-asobi" (doll play) merged with the "Jōshi" day in early March over time, evolving into the Hina Matsuri (Doll Festival), where hina dolls are displayed and prayers are offered for the healthy growth of girls.
Later, Hina Matsuri spread among the samurai class, and by the first half of the 17th century, it was also celebrated by the general public. Initially, the hina dolls were a simple pair of male and female dolls, but they evolved into elaborate dolls dressed in courtly attire, becoming larger in size and increasing in number. While the current trend favors a pair of male and female dolls, the tradition continues to be passed down to future generations in a modified form.
Meanwhile, during this period, the samurai class celebrated the healthy growth of boys on May 5th, known as "Tango," by displaying helmets and flags in their homes. This custom spread among the general public, who began displaying May dolls representing famous historical and legendary heroes to pray for the healthy growth of boys.
Thus, the custom of displaying Hina dolls and May dolls became established because, during the Edo period, which lasted for approximately 260 years from the early 17th century, there were no major wars, and people had the mental and economic leisure to enjoy cultural events.
For this reason, other types of dolls, such as costume dolls and clay dolls, were also created during the Edo period.
Costume dolls are made by dressing a body made of materials such as wood or straw with clothing made of cloth or paper.
Costume dolls are made on various themes, such as the daily lives of ordinary people.
Ichimatsu dolls are one such example.
These dolls are named after Sanogawa Ichimatsu, an 18th-century Kabuki actor known for his good looks. Similar to modern idol figurines, dolls resembling Ichimatsu were made at the time and became popular among fans. Later, Ichimatsu dolls spread as toys that could be dressed up and held, and today the term refers specifically to dolls of young girls with bobbed hair and wearing kimonos, made for display.
Clay dolls are dolls made from clay. It is said that the origin lies in Fushimi dolls, which are still made using traditional methods in Fushimi, Kyoto. Fushimi dolls spread throughout Japan as souvenirs from Kyoto. Then, clay dolls modeled after Fushimi dolls began to be made in various regions. Various dolls, such as Hina dolls, May dolls, and dolls of Kabuki actors, were made from inexpensive clay and were loved by people.
The paper doll "Daruma," modeled after the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma in a meditative pose, began to be made in Edo (present-day Tokyo) in the 18th century as a lucky charm for prosperity and protection from disaster, and eventually spread throughout Japan. In addition, the "Maneki-neko," a cat doll believed to bring good fortune, was created and is now a popular souvenir for foreigners.
It is no exaggeration to say that dolls made in Japan embody the essence of traditional art and craftsmanship. They are created using materials and techniques from various fields such as painting, sculpture, dyeing and weaving, metalwork, lacquerware, and ceramics, and are full of artistic and craftsmanship. In Japan, dolls are recognized as items of extremely high value as works of art and crafts.
In many countries, dolls are called... For example, it refers to dolls as toys. However, in Japan, dolls have long existed not only as toys, but also as works of art, crafts, and, like "hitogata" (human figures) and Hina dolls, as objects to which wishes are embodied. In Japan, the idea that "things that take the form of living beings should not be treated carelessly" remains deeply rooted. When people have to part with a cherished doll, instead of throwing it away as garbage, it has been customary from ancient times to the present day to take the doll to a shrine or temple and request a "doll memorial service," which can be considered a funeral for the doll.
As can be seen from the doll memorial service, dolls are not merely objects to Japanese people. Dolls hold a special place in people's lives.
