Traditional Japanese dolls: description, photo
Empty shell, glass eyes, beautifuldress - these are ordinary dolls with which girls play in the childhood, and when the child grows, it is thrown out without regrets. So they act everywhere, but not in Japan. Japanese dolls are a special kind of art, most of them are not designed for games, but for various rituals. What are dolls in the Land of the Rising Sun and what are their features? This will be discussed today.
Ninge
All traditional dolls in Japan are called ning. This word consists of two kanji 人形, which means "person" and "form". Therefore, in a literal translation Japanese dolls are called "human form".
In the Land of the Rising Sun, there are manykinds of dolls. Some depict children, other imperial families and courtiers, the third - fairy-tale characters, warriors or demons. The main part of the dolls is made for traditional Japanese holidays or for gifts. Some are made specifically for tourists, as souvenirs.
Initially, Japanese dolls were created toprotect the house and family from serious illnesses, curses and evil spirits. But today they largely lost their mystical spirit, turning into an exquisite object of art.
First samples
The first dolls appeared in Japan more than 10 thousandyears ago. These were simple figures-amulet. For a long time they did not change their form, only in the era of Kofun (300-710 CE) began to appear large clay monuments of soldiers and animals, which were installed on the graves as monuments, which in passing served as guards.
In the toy dolls turned into the Heian era - 784-1185 gg. In the era of Edo, the creation of dolls began to be considered a real art. This time is marked by the creation of the ning of different forms and destinations.
In 1936 Japanese dolls received the statusofficially recognized art. Since 1955, every spring, the selected craftsmen for the manufacture of the Ning can receive the honorary title "The Living National Treasure".
Sacrificed
In the development of the puppet industryNinge began to be used in the most diverse areas of human activity. At one time they used to remove the evil eye, and sacrificed instead of animals. It was believed that if the monk had properly performed the ritual, the doll would become as much a victim as the animal, and in some cases even better.
To perform rituals with the sacrifice of dollsdid in the form of a person, not an animal. The ritual itself was a simple manipulation: the priest tied a curse or disease to a figure that replaced a person. It was believed that ritual dolls have a soul, so it's unthinkable to throw them away. Ninge, who adopted a disease from a person, was burned or stoked in the river.
At a time when the conduct of such ritualswas very popular, many stories were invented about vindictive dolls that had their will and were endowed with great power. Such stories-warnings acted as a kind of guarantor that the ritual will be carried out to the end. Those who were fortunate enough to become participants of such an event and to hear from the very beginning terrible stories about the living ning began to realize that these are not toys. Japanese dolls are indeed ritual attributes.
Materials and varieties
To create dolls often use a tree,clay, paper, natural fabrics and even live chrysanthemums. Let them today are the usual cultural heritage, some Japanese sincerely believe that properly selected dolls will help to strengthen health, bring wealth and protect from harm. Japanese dolls are difficult to call simple, they are expensive, and in houses stand in a place of honor - in a red corner (this is a kind of sanctuary for spirits).
Traditional Japanese dolls come in different types:
- Hina-ninge.
- Gogatsu-ning.
- Karakuri-ning.
- Gose-ning.
- Kimekomi-ning.
- Hakata-ning.
- Kokashi.
- Daruma.
- Kiku-ning.
Wooden figurines
In Japan, dolls are more than just fun. This is a whole world that has its own history, religion and aesthetics. So, for the most part they are meant for adults.
For several centuries in Japan there are wooden dolls that represent a painted cone-shaped figure with a big head. These are Japanese Kokeshi dolls (in another Kokashi pronunciation).
They are completely covered with elegant ornaments,from a cylindrical trunk and a disproportionately large head. There are times when such a doll is cut from a single piece of wood, but this is an exception to the rules.
For such dolls, the absence of arms and legs is characteristic. Today, Kokeshi is a popular souvenir product, every self-respecting tourist will surely take such a ning home.
Japanese tumblers
Another kind of Japanese dolls is Daruma, ordoll-tumbler. But this is only for us nevalyashki considered a fun entertainment for children under seven. In Japan, the Daruma is an artifact, through which the people of the country conduct rituals for the fulfillment of desires. In Japanese mythology Daruma is considered to be the personification of a deity that brings happiness.
To fulfill your desire, on New Year's Eveit is necessary to come to the temple and buy there a Daruma doll. After you need to make a wish and write it on one of the eye ning, on the chin of the doll the owner writes his name. Throughout the year, this Darum should be stored in the house in the most prominent place, you can put it on the family altar - bucudan.
If the year comes true desire, the dolldorisovyvayut the second eye, and if nothing changes, then you need to take Daruma to the temple where it was purchased, burned and bought a new one. Burning a doll in the temple is a symbol of purification, and means that a person does not abandon his goals, but seeks new ways for their achievements.
Japanese dolls for girls
Since the XVII century, in Japan, every year celebrate Hinamatsuri "Girls' Day," or the so-called Japanese Puppet Festival. This holiday is considered one of the main in Japan, it is celebrated on March 3.
In ancient times, this event was of a more mystical meaning: girls and girls were running along the river paper ning, which were supposed to take with them misfortunes and illnesses.
Today, this holiday was preserved only infew places. On the day of the holiday, on the banks of the rivers nearest to the city, girls and girls gather in beautiful, elegant kimonos, as well as their parents and let flat, round wicker baskets on the river where several Nagasi-bin paper dolls lie.
The founder of this holiday was the emperorYoshimune, who had many daughters. First, the court nobility followed, followed by an event that all the rich people of that time began to follow, and after that the whole country began to act.
Modern Hinamatsuri
Today, on this holiday, families in which there aredaughter, arrange in the house an exhibition of dolls - "queen". In the house there is a multi-tiered staircase - hinakadziri, which is covered with a red cloth. These steps symbolically represent the tiers of court life. On the upper step is the imperial couple. These dolls are very expensive, as clothes are sewn to order from high quality materials, besides the empress is dressed in 12 kimonos, as it actually is.
The level below shows the court maid of honor,who hold objects for serving sake. Another step below the palace guard, under them are court musicians. After the musicians, they expose ministers, and to know, servants are on the lowest tier.
Purchase and heritage
These dolls are transferred to the mother's familyline, they begin to exhibit in the first year after the birth of the girl. During the holiday the child can not only admire the home puppet show, but also play with them. Also there is a belief that if you do not remove the dolls within three days after the holiday, then the daughters will not be able to marry for a long time.
A complete set consists of 15 dolls, sometimesanother tier is made, on which objects of everyday life, that is, doll furniture, are exposed. The staircase itself is richly decorated with lanterns and flowers, besides the dolls, screens and tiny trees are placed on the shelves. All ornaments are purchased at a special fair, a full set of chin dolls costs about 10 thousand euros. If the family does not have enough money to buy dolls, they can be replaced by paper analogues.
Other dolls
In addition to those already represented, there are othersa variety of dolls. Gogatsu-ninge or May dolls are an obligatory part of the holiday "Tango no secu", or Children's Day. These dolls depict the samurai in a complete set of armor, historical characters, epic heroes, folklore, tigers and horses.
The carikuri-ning are mechanical dolls. Goce-ning - small Japanese dolls, depicting thick-cheeked children. They are carved out of wood and covered with a compound made from shells of oysters. The first to make them masters at the imperial court, hence the name - palace dolls. Gose-ning are considered talismans for travelers.
Kimecomi are wooden dolls, completelycovered with cloth. The first Kimakomi appeared in the temple of Kamo (Kyoto), then in the beginning of the XVII century the monks made souvenirs for sale. The first dolls were carved from wood, modern Kimakomi made from wood-glutinous mass.
On the body of the figure, special cuts are made, where the edges of the fabric are tucked, hence the name "komi" - fill up, "kime" - a wooden face.
Hakata and Kikuning
Hakata-ninga are dolls made byfrom ceramics. According to the legends, the first such figurines appeared in Fukuoka Prefecture. In 1900, these dolls were presented at the Paris exhibition. In 1924, Hakata-ning, depicting three dancing girls, received a silver award at the International Paris Fair.
And the most interesting piece of Kiku-ning doll art is figures from living chrysanthemums.
They consist of a bamboo base, on whichanchored dug with the roots of chrysanthemum with small flowers. To make such a product last longer the eye, the roots of chrysanthemums are wrapped in moss. The height of the Kiku-ning is equal to the human height, the face and hands for the flower figure are made of papier-mache. Every fall during the flowering period of chrysanthemums of such dolls can be seen at traditional exhibitions in the city of Hirakata and Nihonmatsu.
Ninge is a separate universe with a richhistory and diverse traditions. The photos of Japanese dolls, which are presented in the article, are not able to convey all their splendor. But even so it is clear that these are not just toys, but real works of art.
