Day of the dolls
Arts & Culture ( 7 )
TOKYO —
Between now and March 3, you are bound to see a display of Hina dolls wherever you go in Japan. Hina Matsuri celebrates “Girls’ Day” on March 3. On that day, families pray for the future happiness and prosperity of their girls by displaying “hina ningyo” and peach blossoms.
The custom of displaying dolls can be traced back in the Heian period (794-1185). People believed that the dolls could sacrifice themselves to contain bad spirits instead of the owners. The Hina Matsuri originated from the ancient Japanese custom, Hina-nagashi, in which straw or paper Hina dolls are placed in a boat which is carried down a river to the sea (hopefully taking and bad luck with it).
Today, most homes with young girls display their Hina dolls. The arrangement of the dolls differs by area, but commonly a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet is used.
All the dolls wearing Heian period kimonos with gorgeous accessories. On the top tier, the emperor and empress are placed with a gilded screen behind them. The second tier holds the three court ladies (“san-nin kanjo”) bearing sake. On the third tier, five musicians (“gonin-bayashi”) are placed. The fourth tier holds two ministers (“udaijin” and “sadaijin”). On the fifth tier, three servants stand as the protectors of the emperor and empress. On the sixth tier, there are chests for storing kimonos, drawers, a mirror stand and tea ceremony set. At the bottom, the seventh tier holds lacquered food boxes, a palanquin and an ox-drawn carriage.
It is very popular for grandparents of girls to give them a set of the dolls. It is considered better for families to start displaying the dolls in February and putting the dolls away immediately after the festival is over because it is believed that leaving the dolls on display past March 4 will cause the daughters to marry late.
At the Hina Matsuri, families usually eat “chirashi-zushi” (scattered sushi) and “sakura-mochi” made from rice powder, sweet bean paste and salted cherry leaves. “Hina-arare,” colored rice crackers flavored with sugar is another customary delicacy for the festival. There is also a customary drink, called “shirozake,” made from fermented rice. On the occasion of the Hina Matsuri, a famous song, “Let’s light the lanterns, let’s set peach flowers” is sung.
There is also a festival for boys on May 5, called “Tango no Sekku.”
Where to see displays of Hina dolls
1. Katsuura in Chiba (http://www.enjoytokyo.jp/amuse/event/411779/)
2. Misono park in Yokohama (http://www.enjoytokyo.jp/amuse/spot/l_00010197/)
3. Kanda river in Tokyo (http://www.enjoytokyo.jp/life/event/559096/)
4. Nezu museum in Omote sando (http://www.nezu-muse.or.jp/jp/event/index.html)
5. Meguro gajoen in Tokyo (http://www.megurogajoen.co.jp/event/)
6. Kaisei Hina Matsuri in Kamakura (http://www.kaisei-hinamatsuri.com/)
7. Kounosubina in Saitama (http://kounosubina.main.jp/)
Japan Today
Order by Time Order by Popularity
7 Comments
Login to comment
0
Maria
I think this is a lovely festival - I love seeing the dolls, and i bet the kids look forward to seeing them on display in their homes too.
0
Ranger_Miffy2
Thanks for the good info!
2
zichi
I like viewing these dolls especially the handmade and antique ones. Such fine craftsmanship. Worth a small fortune and some families have owned the same dolls for many generations.
1
Gurukun
My grandma had a nice set of these dolls....but she got rid of them because one was alsways in a different location on the stand when she woke up the next morning.
1
LoveNot
It is a very beautiful holiday with amazing decorations and doll arrangements. These dolls are very expensive and if you want to buy a full set of them, it could cost millions of yen. In these dark economic times, a few families can buy such dolls. My neighbor's daughter was very sad that her mother could not buy dolls for her dolls' festival. I do not understand why these dolls are so expensive. They are supposed to bring happiness to children, not to be an exclusive for the rich only objects.
0
Cos
If you want them made by a famous artist, decorated with gold and silk. Or you can get a set from 1000 yen. You can even make your owns. Little girls are happy to have a simple set at home, so they can arrange it themselves. You can go to watch the luxurious ones in exhibitions. That's exactly like in my country, for the scenes of Christmas. Some cost millions of euros, and they are perfect to be displayed for public in churches or even museums. But not my grand-mas' old dusty dolls, from bargain sales of 5 different decades, and we never upgraded to an expensive display. Ours are full of memories.
Yes, that's weird. In Okayama, exactly at the spot where the boat landed, they have temple where they do the funerals of the haunted dolls. They always have thousands waiting to be burnt. I'm not superstitious, so I'd take some, but they won't let me.
0
Jannetto
Got mine at the local "Recycle Shop" - kind of sad in a way... but they're safe with me...
Back to top