Japanese dolls. Traditional Japanese dolls. Sacrificed

03.03.2020

I really wanted to put everything in one publication, but it didn’t fit, so I’ll have to divide it into two parts.

So, let's begin:)

– immeasurably more than fun for children. This is a whole world with its own aesthetics, religion and even mysticism: therefore, dolls in Japan, oddly enough, are mostly entertainment for adults.

Japanese traditional dolls are called - Ningyo (人魚)

Ningyo can be translated as "human form", and they originally served a very serious, adult purpose - to protect the house and family members from diseases, curses, evil spirits and werewolves.

Nowadays, Japanese dolls are already in many ways - but not quite! – have lost the ancient spirit of mysticism, and have become exquisite pieces of art.

Although the Japanese still believe that the “correctly” chosen dolls bring health and success, protect from troubles. Japanese dolls are not simple, and they cost a lot - literally and figuratively; in every self-respecting Japanese family, dolls take pride of place - in a special niche "tokonoma", a kind of "red corner".

Why do Japanese adults love to play with dolls so much? The very first dolls appeared in Japan a very long time ago - more than 10,000 years ago, they were amulets. Later, during the Kofun era (300-710 AD), larger clay sculptures of warriors or animals were placed on the graves of the deceased, as a kind of "guardian". Dolls became toys during the Heian period (784–1185).

It is one of the main holidays in Japan and is celebrated on March 3rd. In ancient times, this holiday was called “Hina-okuri”, and its meaning was completely different, more mystical: on this day, paper dolls were floated along the river, which were supposed to take sickness and misfortune with them.

Japanese dolls Nagashi-bina (流し雛)

At present, only a very few places have been preserved. This ceremony is held not on March 3, but in early April - that is, according to the lunar calendar. On the bank of the river, girls, girls, their parents, girls dressed in bright festive kimonos gather, and flat round wicker baskets are floated along the river, in which a couple of paper dolls lie. These pupae are called Nagashi-bina (流し雛) - puppets descending down the river.

Over time, the ritual was combined with a "childish" game of dolls.
The ancestor of the holiday in its modern form is the shogun (military ruler) Yoshimune, who had many daughters. Following his example, first the courtiers, and then the rich people of that era began to hold such a holiday, and the whole country followed them. Today, on this holiday, families with girls arrange a kind of puppet show - “hina” in their house.

The exhibition of dolls is made in the form of a multi-tiered staircase - "hinakazari", covered with a red cloth. This staircase symbolically depicts the “tiers” of court life: luxurious dolls of the emperor and empress are placed at the very top.

These dolls are very expensive, clothes for them are sewn by tailors to order, from silk or brocade, and the "empress" is dressed in twelve kimonos - as it was in reality. Below the levels are three court ladies-in-waiting, holding utensils for serving sake, even lower - the guards of the court: a young and an elderly samurai,
below - court musicians (three drummers, a flutist and a singer with a fan)

Even lower - ministers and courtiers

Then - the servants (one holds an umbrella, the other - shoes, the third - a vessel with a drink).

These dolls were inherited from parents or maternal grandmother. Dolls began to be exhibited in the very first year after the birth of a girl in the family, a festive shelf, on each step of which the characters were located in accordance with the "rank". Usually installed the day before. At this time, the child can not only admire the dolls, but also play with them. But, there was a belief that if these dolls were not removed after the end of the holiday (after 3 days), then the daughters would not get married for a long time. Sometimes girls, having married, arranged holidays for themselves until girls were born to them.

Girls' Day is also celebrated in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Every year, the employees of the regional museum of local lore invite everyone to visit a special three-day exposition dedicated to this holiday.

In total, 15 dolls are needed for a “complete set”. Sometimes one or more tiers are still made for items of puppet court life: they put toy furniture, tiny household items, sometimes even a miniature cart drawn by an ox. The staircase is richly decorated with lanterns, flowers, peach petals, sometimes balls made of artificial cherry and tangerine tree petals, and a “sacred tree” is installed in the middle of the installation. Miniature screens and miniature plum and tangerine trees (they traditionally decorated the imperial court) are also placed on each step. All these decorations are not made by people themselves, they need to be purchased at a special fair (hina no ichi - “doll market”). And the dolls themselves are rarely bought - usually they are inherited, but of course, if you wish, you can buy very beautiful and very expensive hina dolls (the whole complex of the imperial court can cost tens of thousands of euros!).
In families that are poorer than individual dolls, paper analogues can sometimes be replaced ^

Or even stones, or even symbolic objects (a figurine of a scribe - a brush, a tea ceremony master - a whisk for whipping tea foam, etc.), but they try to arrange such a substitution as rarely as possible, depending on the financial capabilities of the family.

The art of making traditional Japanese dolls dates back more than one century. This art developed on the basis of ancient Japanese literature and traditions and rituals that exist to this day.
The word of the Russian language "doll" does not quite accurately convey the meaning of the Japanese word "nihon-ningyo", as the Japanese call their interior, made by real masters of art, and intended purely for admiring, the figures of beauties, samurai, geishas, characters of Japanese history.
The largest collections of Japanese dolls are in the Yokohama Museum, the New York Metropolitan Art Museum, as well as private collectors in the United States and France.
In Japan, there is a long tradition of giving interior figures depicting the heroines of Japanese poetry and literature on the Hina Matsuri Doll Festival (girls' holiday), and figures depicting samurai, heroes of the ancient epic - on the Tango-no-sekku (boys' holiday). Dolls are also given for weddings, long journeys and other occasions.
Types of traditional Japanese dolls: Kokeshi-ningyo
gosho ningyo
Kimekomi-ningyo
Karakuri ningyo
hakata ningyo
Daruma-ningyo
Kiku-ningyo
hina ningyo
Musya-ningyo
Kokeshi-ningyo (Kokeshi)- carved from wood and painted dolls.
They were very simple in design and shared common characteristics. The dolls consisted of a basic cylindrical armless body and a round head. Even though the first dolls may have been unpainted, today the Kokeshi-ningyo are dyed in bright floral designs, kimonos. Now Japanese masters make traditional Kokeshi-ningyo and creative Kokeshi-ningyo.

Traditional Kokeshi produced in the six prefectures of the Tohoku region. There are twelve schools of design, experts will tell you exactly where the dolls were made and often by whom.

Creative Kokeshi do not adhere to traditional designs originating from the Tohoku area. Craftsmen are guided by their inspiration, they are completely free in terms of shape and color, only the traditional limitation is production using a machine tool. Unlike traditional Kokeshi-ningyo, they do not display any of their distinctive local colors nor techniques that are passed down through generations.

They are simply original works of art by individual craftsmen. This is a relatively new concept where most artists try to express certain themes within their work. Every year at the beginning of September, masters from all over Japan gather at Naruko Onsen to take part in the Kokeshi Competition, where the most prestigious prize is an award from the Prime Minister.

Gosho-ningyo- small figurines in the form of fat-cheeked children, carved from wood and covered with a special composition of crushed oyster shells - “gofun”. Initially, these dolls were made by masters of the imperial court, hence their name - "palace dolls" comes from. Gosho-ningyo is often given as a talisman before a long journey.

Kimekomi-ningyo- wooden dolls covered with cloth.
The origin of this type of doll is associated with the Kamo Temple in Kyoto, where in the early 18th century monks made amulets and souvenirs for sale.

Modern kimekomi ningyo are made from wood pulp, unlike earlier dolls, which were simply carved from wood. The most commonly used tree is palovnia. Special incisions are made on the body of the doll, where the edges of the fabric are then tucked in (translated from Japanese, kime is a wooden edge, komi is to fill.

Karakuri ningyo- mechanical dolls.
Every year on the first Saturday of April in the small provincial town of Inuyama, located on the island of Honshu, the famous and one-of-a-kind holiday is held - the festival of animated dolls. Now no one remembers exactly how this tradition arose. We only know that it has more than 300 years. The main characters of the holiday are 13 mechanical dolls. They are transported around the city in a huge van. Dolls from Inuyama can move. This brings them closer to the person. The puppets are set in motion by twisted springs or human puppeteers. All parts of such dolls, some parts and mechanisms are carved from wood. And the manufacturing technology has not changed since ancient times.

For three days, while the festival lasts, folk festivals and puppet shows are held on the streets of the city. Their characters and plots have long been known to every Japanese. But there are still many people who want to see the performances. The favorite hero of the Japanese public is the traveler Urashina Tara.

According to legend, the sea princess gave him a wooden lacquer box, accompanying the gift with a strict ban - not to open the casket under any pretext. But the curious Urashina disobeyed the order and looked inside. For this offense, he was turned into a gray-haired old man. In addition to the masterful Tara, a mandatory attribute of the festival in Inuyama is 365 lanterns. The custom of lighting them helps the Japanese to remember every day of the past year, to think again about life, good and evil, to evaluate their own and other people's actions, that is, to get closer to the gods and nature. And it's so Japanese!

hakata ningyo- ceramic dolls. The first such figurines, according to one of the legends, were made in Fukuoka Prefecture from the beginning of the 17th century. In 1900, hakata dolls were shown at the Paris Exhibition. In 1924, hakata dolls depicting three dancing girls won a silver award at the International Paris Fair.

Daruma- a tumbler doll. The Japanese believe that they borrowed similar dolls from the Russians.

Kiku-ningyo- dolls from living chrysanthemums. They consist of a bamboo frame, on which chrysanthemums dug out of the ground with roots with small flowers are fixed. To keep chrysanthemums from fading longer, their roots are wrapped in moss. The height of such dolls is approximately equal to human height. The face, hands and other details of the dolls are made of papier-mâché. Many of these dolls are made for traditional exhibitions in the cities of Nihonmatsu and Hirakata, which are held every autumn during the flowering of chrysanthemums.

Emperor and Empress - hina-ningyo dolls. They represent the imperial family. The Japanese emperor is of divine origin, and you can’t play with the gods, you can only worship them. Therefore, hina-ningyo is a doll that is only admired and, in addition, revered. The art of making hina-ningyo dolls is rooted in ancient times, and the secrets of craftsmanship are carefully kept by specialists. Many hina ningyo dolls have been preserved since ancient times as they enchant unmarried girls. Wealthy families bought these dolls as soon as they had a new girl.

Hina-ningyo are miniature dowries. These dolls are part of the bride's dowry and are passed down like a relic from generation to generation. Now they are exhibited in every house at a special hinadan stand, consisting of 3, 5 or 7 levels, for the Hina Matsuri holiday. The doll festival for girls is celebrated on March 3rd. The Japanese take out richly dressed dolls depicting the life of the imperial court. Above are the empress with the emperor, and below are the courtiers in accordance with their titles and ranks. The dolls are flaunted on hinadan for about a month, and then they are carefully packed and stored until the next year.

The art of making hina-ningyo dolls is rooted in ancient times, and the secrets of craftsmanship are carefully kept by specialists. Entire teams are engaged in the production of dolls. Each performs its own operation. First, a head is carved out of wood, then a hairstyle is created, then arms and legs are made. The head is covered with a complex chalk composition, on which the face is then drawn.

The famous puppeteer Shoho Menya said that it is very important to adhere to technology. If they are violated, the doll will lose its attractiveness or quickly break.

Dolls are dressed in luxurious traditional dresses made of silk or brocade. And for the manufacture of fans, hats and other parts of the toilet there is a separate production. So hina-ningyo is the fruit of collective creativity. Costumes, wigs and other accessories are exact replicas of the real ones. Therefore, hina-ningyo is considered the standard of beauty and grace.

The dolls themselves and everything needed to decorate houses during the girls' holiday can usually be purchased at special "doll markets (hina-ichi), which are held in February. Many stores have entire departments for the sale of sacred dolls. And in respectable department stores, hina-ningyo are collected right before the eyes of the buyers. Assembly is the final and very responsible process. It is at this stage that the master creates the desired shape and gives the doll the correct pose. There are no trifles here. The turn and tilt of the head, facial expression, the ratio of proportions - everything is symbolic and characteristic of a certain dolls.For example, the empress should look kind, and the emperor - courageous.Also, the masters are required to know many things.For example, women, even dolls, according to custom, should not be visible from under the kimono of the wrist, and this rule does not apply to men .

The best craftsmen in the manufacture of dolls, fabrics and outfits are awarded the highest title "Living National Treasure". They come from all over the country not only to buy beautiful works of their creativity, but also to learn the skill.

Boys' Holiday It is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month according to the lunar calendar and, like the girls' holiday, has several names. One of them, Tango no sekku (First day of the horse) was chosen because the horse symbolizes bravery, daring, courage, i.e. all the qualities that a young man must possess in order to become a worthy warrior.
One of the legends about the appearance of the holiday says that in May, when insects can harm seedlings, Japanese peasants made bright figurines of warriors that frighten insects. This is how Musya-ningyo (musha ningyo) appeared - doll warriors, they became more artistic, gradually moved into the room, stopped repelling insects, but reminded the boys of masculinity and evil spirits. Musya-ningyo is a very old type of Japanese doll, they have been popular since the Edo period (1600-1868). They also have another name: Gogatsu-ningyo, which literally translates as "May Doll". Previously, they were carved from wood, now other materials are used. Their characteristic feature is a simplified form, beautiful color and texture.

The holiday is deeply traditional and is distinguished by colorful rituals and is marked by mass folk festivals. On the days of the holiday, various competitions are organized between boys. Only boys under the age of 15 take part in rituals and competitions. Special food is prepared in the houses: rice balls wrapped in iris or bamboo leaves - timaki (a symbol of health and stamina); in oak leaves - kashiwa-mochi (a symbol of longevity); rice with red beans - sekihan (symbol of health). A set of this ritual food, each dish of which includes rice, was a magical means of ensuring the health of children and procreation. The most famous attribute of Boys' Day is koi nobori, paper or cloth images of carp, which are hung on a pole in front of the house. The sizes of these carps are very impressive - up to nine meters or more, depending on the age of the children (the smallest - in honor of the younger children, the longest - in honor of the older ones). There are as many carp hangings as there are in the boys' house.

The holiday is accompanied by boys and dolls - figurines of warriors, tigers, horses, legendary heroes. All this wealth and magnificence of dolls, as well as iris flowers, military armor, helmets and weapons are set on a stepped podium (tokonoma) covered with green cloth. It is believed that this not only embodies the qualities of a real warrior - strength, courage, courage, courage, readiness to defend the homeland, but also gives the boys health, directs them to the right path in life and protects them from mistakes and troubles.

In the evenings, it is customary for the whole family to gather at this stand, examine the relics and tell the myths associated with them. Admiring the dolls usually lasts one month, just like on the Girls' Day. And then they all go into storage until next year. Introducing children to the mythology of gods and heroes, parents influenced the character of the boys, passed down the traditions of the Japanese army from generation to generation. Thus, this holiday has remained unchanged almost to this day. And although it is currently celebrated as Children's Day, boys are still preferred.

I asked a charming Japanese girl, “Can a doll come to life?” “Why,” she answered, “if you love her strongly, she will come to life!”

(Lafcadio Hearn)

Once upon a time, people really believed that some dolls could come to life, finding a human soul in their body. Such a belief is just an echo of the ancient idea that strong love can revive an inanimate object that looks like a living being. The Japanese are probably the furthest behind in their special attitude to dolls.

Japan is often referred to as the "Land of Ten Thousand Dolls". Since ancient times, dolls have been a talisman and a talisman that brought good luck and joy to its owner.

Japanese traditional dolls are called "ningyo". And they are immeasurably more than fun for children. This is a whole world with its own aesthetics, religion and even mysticism: therefore, dolls in Japan, oddly enough, are mostly entertainment for adults.

"Ningyo" can be translated as "human form", and they originally served a very serious, adult purpose - to protect the house and family members from diseases, curses, evil spirits and werewolves. Nowadays, Japanese dolls are already in many ways - but not quite! – have lost the ancient spirit of mysticism, and have become exquisite pieces of art.
Although the Japanese still believe that the “correctly” chosen dolls bring health and success, protect from troubles.

"Ningyo" are made for holidays or as a gift. Their creation is entrusted to experienced puppeteers, who can fulfill almost any whim to order - from traditional dolls to sophisticated and refined ones. Many tourists, coming to Japan, consider it their duty to bring such a Japanese souvenir to their homeland. Moreover, the choice of dolls is very large. Japanese dolls are known all over the world for their variety and originality of the materials from which they are made. These materials include: paper, fabric, wood, clay, porcelain-like plastic, silicone, and even chrysanthemums.

As you know, the Japanese treat flowers with trepidation. Admiring the tender primordial beauty of flowers is the need of the soul and the centuries-old tradition of the Japanese. Dolls from living chrysanthemums are a real art that requires patience, special knowledge and the depth of soul of the masters who make dolls. In order to create one doll, masters spend about 100 - 150 plants. Several people are working on it: the artist-designer (Dogu-cho), who creates the image of the future doll and draws how it should look, the puppeteer (Ningyo-shi), who prepares the base of the domed body, as well as the arms, legs and head of the doll . Further, the work includes a specialist in decorating the doll with chrysanthemums, who arranges the flowers on the doll according to the plan. As a result, the doll is filled with roots and stems, and on top is covered with hundreds of luxurious flowers. The sight is simply unforgettable. The only pity is that such dolls are made in autumn, and most often, for the exhibition of "flower dolls" - an annual event that has enjoyed unprecedented success with viewers for many years.

Dolls and their "supernatural abilities"

The very first dolls appeared in Japan a very long time ago - more than 10,000 years ago, they were amulets. Later, during the Kofun era (300-710 AD), larger clay sculptures of warriors or animals were placed on the graves of the deceased, as a kind of "guardian". Dolls became toys during the Heian period (784–1185).

For example, a tiny doll called "O-Hina-san" is just a toy and nothing more. But there are dolls the size of a living person - they look like little kids at the age of two or three years. The girl doll is called "O-Toku-san" and the boy doll is called "Tokutaro-san". There was a belief that if such a doll was mistreated or not taken care of, it would cry, get angry and bring misfortune to its owners. Such dolls also have many supernatural powers.

Long ago, in a very ancient family, there was such a doll named Tokutaro-san, who was revered in much the same way as the goddess Kishimojin, to whom Japanese wives offer prayers to give them a child. This doll was requested for a while by a childless couple. The couple dressed her in new clothes and lovingly took care of the doll, confident that she had a soul and that she would help them give birth to a child. The legend says that the Tokutaro-san doll was so alive that when a fire started in the house, she rushed out with all her might, saving her life.

The Japanese believe that a doll can be "breathed into life" in the truest sense of the word. It doesn't matter which doll. It is enough just to exhale the air to the doll's mouth, as it will immediately come to life. A living example of this is the Okiku doll.

The mysterious doll, which was inhabited by the spirit of a deceased child, has been haunting the minds of ordinary Japanese for several decades. The legendary Okiku doll, named after the girl it belonged to, is a 40 cm figurine in a kimono with small beady black eyes and growing (!) hair.

The Okiku doll has been living in the city of Iwamizama on the island of Hokkaido in one of the local temples since 1938. As the temple workers say, initially the doll had short hair, but over time they grew to 25 centimeters in length, almost to the knees of the doll. Although the hair is trimmed periodically, it continues to grow.

According to legend, the doll was originally purchased in 1918 by a 17-year-old boy named Eikichi Suzuki while visiting a maritime exhibition in Sapporo. He bought the doll as a souvenir for his younger sister, who was two years old. The girl loved the doll very much and played with it every day, but the next year she suddenly died of a cold. The family placed the doll on the home altar and prayed to it every day in memory of the deceased Okiku.

After a while, they noticed that the doll's hair began to grow. This sign was taken as a sign that the girl's restless spirit had taken refuge in the doll.

In 1938, the family moved and left the doll in a local monastery, where it remains to this day.

No one could fully explain why the doll's hair keeps growing, but scientific expertise has recognized this fact.

Wish granting dolls

The Japanese daruma doll is a tumbler, the incarnation of the god Bodhidharma, responsible for happiness in syncretic mythology.

For the Japanese, daruma is one of the symbols of national culture; for foreigners, it is a cute toy from the “Japanese souvenirs for home” category.

An ancient legend says that after nine years of meditation, Bodhidharma's limbs atrophied, so darumas made by craftsmen from wood or papier-mâché do not have arms and legs. Usually they are red (he scares away demons), but there are also green, and yellow, and white dolls. A real Japanese daruma doll has a mustache, a beard, but no pupils in the eyes. One interesting ritual is to be blamed or thanked for this. Daruma is used by the Japanese to make secret New Year's wishes: after making a wish, the owner of the doll draws a pupil in the daruma's eye, and his name on his chin. Throughout the year, the Japanese daruma doll stands in the most important place in the house, for example, next to the Buddhist altar. On the next New Year's holiday, if the wish comes true, the owner of the figurine "gives" her a second eye. If the daruma did not work well last year and did not fulfill its plan, then it should be burned in the temple. The man buys himself a new symbolic doll.

By the way, by burning the daruma, the Japanese does not take revenge on the wooden creature at all, but shows the gods how strong his intention is to achieve the intended goal.

Another proof of the purposefulness of the owner of the tumbler is the fact that the Japanese daruma doll has a center of gravity shifted to the bottom: no matter how you twist it, it will still stand upright. Like many things in Japan, the daruma doll came from China and gained its popularity throughout the country thanks to the Nagasaki merchants, supporters of the Zen Buddhist school of Obaku.

As the Japanese say, a real daruma is sold only in the temple and costs from 500 yen if it is a small doll (up to 5 cm high), and up to 10 thousand yen if it is a large doll (over 60 cm). A Japanese daruma doll should also be burned only in the temple where it was bought, so each figure is marked with the seal of its temple.

The daruma doll is placed in a prominent place in the house, office, shop, etc. and serves not only as a decoration, but as a constant reminder of a goal or a wish made. It is believed that Bodhidharma (the founder of the Buddhist school of Zen), materialized in a daruma in gratitude for a shelter on earth, will try to fulfill the desire of his owner.

Dolls to play with

Kokeshi are Japanese dolls that are very reminiscent of Russian nesting dolls. However, this wooden toy has nothing to do with Russia. There are several explanations for where this amazing figurine came from. According to some sources, kokeshi were the prototype of figurines with which shamans summoned spirits. According to another version, the first kokeshi was made by masters in honor of the birth of the daughter of a famous shogun. Be that as it may, these famous wooden toys, consisting of a cylindrical body and a head separately attached to it, from a few centimeters to a meter high, are more than a thousand years old.

This object of folk art and the distant past is created by masters of their craft with soul and imagination. Kokeshi are concise, but not without a special charm, they are different in shape, proportions and paintings. Each toy is unique in its own way.

The manufacture of these dolls is especially popular in the centers of folk art in Japan - Kagoshima, Kyoto and Nara.

Dolls that are played once a year

Japanese dolls are not simple, and they cost a lot - literally and figuratively; in every self-respecting Japanese family, dolls take pride of place - in a special niche "tokonoma", a kind of "red corner".

Every family probably dreams of making "hinakazari" - an exhibition of dolls in the form of a multi-tiered staircase. The staircase symbolically depicts the “tiers” of court life: luxurious dolls of the emperor and empress are placed at the very top.
These dolls are very expensive, clothes for them are sewn by tailors to order, from silk or brocade, and the "empress" is dressed in twelve kimonos - as it was in reality.

Below the levels are three court ladies-in-waiting, holding utensils for serving sake, even lower are the court guards: a young and elderly samurai, below are court musicians (three drummers, a flutist and a singer with a fan), even lower are ministers and courtiers, then - servants (one holds an umbrella, the other holds shoes, the third holds a vessel with a drink).

These dolls were inherited from parents or maternal grandmother. Dolls began to exhibit in the very first year after the birth of a girl in the family on a festive shelf, on each step of which the characters were arranged in accordance with the "rank".

Usually installed the day before. At this time, the child can not only admire the dolls, but also play with them. But, there was a belief that if these dolls were not removed after the end of the holiday (after 3 days), then the daughters would not get married for a long time. Sometimes girls, having married, arranged holidays for themselves until girls were born to them.

All these decorations are not made by people themselves, they need to be purchased at a special fair (hina no ichi - “doll market”).

And the dolls themselves are rarely bought - usually they are inherited, but of course, if you wish, you can buy very beautiful and very expensive hina dolls (the whole complex of the imperial court can cost tens of thousands of euros!).

In poorer families, individual dolls can sometimes be replaced by paper analogues or even stones, or even symbolic objects (a scribe's figure - a brush, a tea ceremony master - a whisk for whipping tea foam, etc.), but they try to arrange such a substitution as rarely as possible, depending on the financial possibilities of the family.

Where do the dolls go

What happens to a Japanese doll when, after very long and happy years of life, it finally breaks? Although she is presumed dead from this point on, her remains are treated with the utmost reverence. They are not thrown into the garbage, they are not burned, and they are not even allowed to flow along the river, as is customary to do with wilted flowers. The remains of the doll are not buried, but given to the many-armed deity Kojin. It is believed that Kojin lives in the enoki tree, and in front of this tree there is a small shrine and torii. Here, the remains of old broken Japanese dolls are respectfully placed. The doll's face may be scratched, the silk dress torn and faded, the arms and legs broken, but she once had a soul, and once she mysteriously gave joy.

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Kokeshi, or as sometimes you can hear kokeishi or kokeishi in Russian, - one of the representatives of the glorious family of "Japanese dolls".
Kokeshi- a wooden doll without arms and legs. The Japanese make such beauties from cherry, dogwood, birch or maple and decorate them with paintings. On a lathe, the master grinds a cylindrical body and head and connects them together. Rarely, but it happens that such Japanese dolls are made from one whole piece of wood. To make the doll beautiful, traditional Japanese flower and plant motifs are painted on it in red, black, yellow or crimson colors. The birthplace of the first kokeshi dolls is considered Tohoku, the northeastern agricultural region of the country. Some Japanese scholars say that such beauties appeared a thousand years ago, others believe that they were born in the middle of the Edo era (1630-1867).

In any case, from then until now, there are several main regions where kokeshi are made according to old traditions, for example, in Kyoto, Nara, Kagoshima. For all their simplicity, these Japanese dolls differ in proportions, shapes, and patterns, and thus betray to connoisseurs the place where they were created.
Modern kokeshi are made according to the design of two schools: dento(伝統こけし) traditional and singata(新型こけし) copyright. As you might guess, traditional dolls are simpler, but still have eleven types of shapes. For example, the head of the popular naruko kokeshi is able to turn, and then the baby makes a sound, as if crying, for which she was called the "crying doll." Kokeshi of the traditional school are always handmade and depict girls. Why girls? More on this later.

The author's school appeared much later than the traditional one, so the creators of such kokeshi do not adhere to strict rules and make Japanese dolls of various shapes, sizes, colors and patterns.
Everything that appears in people's lives, as a rule, has a backstory and meaning of kokeshi, as well as teddy bears, so loved by children and adults from around the world, are no exception. If you look into the past of kokeshi, you can find there several versions of the appearance of this souvenir toy.

Let's mention three of them:

First version - mystical. It says that kokeshi originated from shaman figurines for summoning spirits, patronizing the silk craft.

The second version is sad. Getting rid of newborn children whom parents could not feed, kokeshi were placed in peasant houses as funeral pupae. Hence, these Japanese dolls got such a meaning as "forgotten child". Usually, the killed newborns were girls, who were much less valued in a poor peasant family than boys. That's why kokeshi always portray girls.

Third version- joyful. Once in the 17th century in Tohoku (recall, this is the birthplace of kokeshi), where there are many hot springs, the wife of the shogun arrived (as the military ruler of the country was called in those days). She dreamed of a child, but could not conceive him. After visiting the healing waters, the woman became pregnant and gave birth to a wonderful girl. In tribute to this joyful event, Tohok craftsmen created a doll, which later began to be made in different regions of the country.

In today's Japan kokeshi is a symbol of national culture, a voice from a glorious past, an aesthetic object and just a popular souvenir. And also, kokeshi, like another Japanese doll daruma, claims to be the progenitor of the Russian ruddy matryoshka.
The types of kokeshi are "sakunami"(作並系), (typical for Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures), kokeshi-minomushi (the larva of a butterfly, the pupa of which makes a cocoon for itself from any small debris like sawdust, small chips, etc.), kokeshi shofuku , "invitation of good luck."

A Japanese doll for the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun is something more than just a child's toy. For thousands of years, they were not toys at all, but were considered works of art. In Japanese old chronicles, the skill of craftsmen is described, and their names have become legends for the people.

Japanese traditions

Initially, the Japanese doll was simply a ritual product and depicted gods or dead people. The first mention of their manufacture from straw and clay, as well as rituals with them, dates back to the 6th century BC. e. The ancient Japanese made figurines-amulets that were supposed to protect them from misfortunes, restore health and protect the family. They sincerely believed that the ningyo (doll, human form) is infused with the spirit of a deity and helps those who make a request.

Over time, handicraft production developed into real cultural centers that created Japanese traditional dolls, taking into account the specifics and customs of the area. Such centers exist to this day in several prefectures in Japan.

If earlier wood, straw or clay was used for the production of dolls, and later porcelain, then modern masters make them from silicone. It is very difficult to distinguish them from real children.

Until now, the Japanese doll is distributed according to its functional features:

Dolls for girls that you can hold in your hands, that is, toys.
A work of art that is only displayed to the public on certain days.

The art of creating Japanese dolls has gone beyond the borders of the country, and now, if desired, everyone can make a traditional paper toy and please themselves and loved ones with their skill.

Kokeshi doll

The roots of the Japanese Kokeshi doll go back a thousand years, although it received its official name in the 17th century, being well known among the people as a funeral figurine.

Once it was cut out of wood, later they began to grind it on a lathe. It consists of a cylindrical body and head. There are several options for its origin. According to one version, this is how the figurines made by shamans for the rites of honoring spirits that patronized families or their crafts looked like.

According to another, they were given the appearance of a girl and used as a funeral doll when, due to need, the family had to get rid of the baby. Since it was the girl who was unwanted, the products were given the appearance that she was a symbol of loss.

Maybe because of their history, Kokeshi, although they look like a toy, do not belong to the category of "children's dolls", therefore they are more loved and revered by the adult generation of Japanese.

Depending on the area, each Kokeshi doll has its own original “appearance” and painting in “clothes”. True connoisseurs can accurately determine in which province and by what master it was carved.

Daruma doll

The famous traditional Daruma doll is considered the ancient prototype of the well-known tumbler. This toy has its own intricate legend, according to which Daruma was a monk who spent 9 years in a cave in a state of meditation. Since he did not move all this time, his arms and legs “fell off”, and in honor of his religious “feat”, a toy without legs and arms was created.

The Daruma doll is incredibly popular among the Japanese as a ritual New Year wish toy. She is called Daruma the Almighty and is considered the guardian angel of the family for the entire new year. In order for Daruma to fulfill a wish, there is a special ritual.

Since the doll is created with closed eyes, then, having drawn her pupil, opening her "vision", you can ask her for anything, promising to make her second eye "sighted" if the desire is fulfilled. In the event that the wish did not come true, Daruma is burned the next year and a new patron is bought.

Whether or not the Darumas fulfill their owners' wishes, these baby dolls are loved by all Japanese. They are considered amulets and are most often made of wood or papier-mâché.

Articulated dolls

Japanese articulated dolls, which appeared on sale in the early 90s, made a real revolution in the production of toys. They are produced from polyurethane, although ignorant people call this material rubber.

It is stronger and denser, similar to porcelain, but very hard. Each manufacturer prefers their own polyurethane composition, but otherwise the articulated dolls for girls are very similar:

In Japan, there is a single height standard for articulated dolls, which implies 5 sizes - from 9 cm to 70 cm or more.
All moving parts (arms, legs, head) are connected by hinges connected with rubber bands.
The head of a hinged doll can consist of several parts, which include a wig, eyes, which can be changed at will.
They can be sold complete with clothes, shoes and accessories.

The articulated figure is more of a hobby than a child's toy. The cheapest Japanese articulated doll starts at $200 and is quite small in size. Custom-made dolls can cost up to $1,000 and are handmade.

For collectors, there are special configurations of articulated Japanese dolls.

The basic set includes only a torso with a head and a complete absence of eyes, makeup, wig and clothes. It costs less and is purchased by true connoisseurs who prefer to give such a doll features that are more to their liking.
Fullset - a ready-made doll with clothes, shoes and a "face" that cannot be modified. It costs an order of magnitude more than the basic set.
Limited edition dolls are the dream of any collector. They are produced in limited quantities in a complete set, to which fashionable accessories can be added. For an additional fee, you can purchase a sleeping doll head. This expensive pleasure does not stop real connoisseurs and lovers of dolls. Limited works also include figurines - copies of famous people.

When ordering more expensive sets, the client has the right to choose the color of the eyes and hair, which is not available when purchasing the basic set.

Shiori Ningyo

Ningyo doll is a paper bookmark made in the form of a girl. This popular type of origami is available to everyone today, and you can make a similar “toy” for yourself in a matter of minutes.

Paper Ningyo in Japan are not only bookmarks, but also the first toys for little girls to play "daughter-mother". Making such Japanese dolls with your own hands will not be difficult even for a beginner. This will require:

cardboard for the head and neck;
colored paper for kimono;
corrugated black hair paper;
a rectangular piece of plain paper for a kimono belt;
glue.

Initially, such dolls were made of straw or paper for the purification ritual. The Japanese believed that if you blow on a toy and then run it all over the body, then illness, misfortune or the “evil eye” can leave a person. The used Ningyo should have been thrown into the river so that it would carry all the problems away.

Traditional ninge dolls can be made of porcelain and represent the imperial court along with courtiers and utensils from the Heian period. Such dolls are exhibited once a year at the girls' festival and are usually passed down from mother to daughter.

Girls' Festival and Puppet Festival

The real exhibition of Japanese dolls is held on the traditional holiday of girls (Hinamatsuri) on March 3rd. All little Japanese women are waiting for this event, since it is on this day that stands with shelves are installed in their homes, on which the entire imperial doll family is carefully displayed along with the courtiers.

Girls with their mothers visit each other, show their collections of dolls, eat sweets and drink shirozake - low-alcohol sweet sake.

This tradition instills in girls from childhood an understanding of how to behave in society, instills rules of conduct and etiquette.

Another tradition very beloved by all Japanese is the puppet market, which is held in February, on the eve of Girls' Day. It is here that they buy everything necessary for the stand and for updating its exhibits.

Fukuruma

The Japanese Fukurum doll is a prototype of the Russian matryoshka. According to the official version, it appeared in the 17th century and represented 7 gods of wealth, good luck and prosperity included in each other.

Fukuruma is the prototype of the long-headed god Fukurokuju, who was revered as bringing wealth to people and giving wisdom. The remaining 6 gods of luck were placed inside it, and according to tradition, by taking them out, one could ask for help in business.

In some provinces of Japan, Fukurum looked like a samurai, inside of which his entire family was “imprisoned”. These toys were made from various types of trees and painted with bright colors.

Chrysanthemum dolls

An absolutely amazing art is the creation of dolls from fresh flowers. The Japanese in this case use chrysanthemums. These flowers have been grown in the country for more than 400 years, and since 1804 they have been used to create dolls.

The festival of flower figures takes place traditionally in autumn and gathers thousands of fans of this art from all over the world.

To create floral masterpieces, masters have been studying this for many years and pass on their skills either by inheritance or by talented students.

Several specialists take part in the creation of each doll:

one creates a sketch of the doll;
the second makes a wooden frame and a "body";
the third - the most difficult part of the work - wraps each fragment of the structure with flowers.

So that the chrysanthemums do not die, they are dug up with roots, wrapped in wet moss and attached to the frame. The annual bright spectacle delights the audience and once again demonstrates the skill of Japanese puppeteers.

Modern Japanese dolls

Modern Japanese masters create dolls so realistic that it is difficult to distinguish them from living children. Japanese silicone doll in the form of a baby can cry, laugh, go to the toilet, which allows little Japanese women to feel like a mother.

Dolls depicting anime characters are in the same great demand. Since they are made with hinges, they can "replicate" the movements of their cartoon prototypes. This is especially liked by children.