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Daruma doll

Traditional Japanese Dolls

Traditional Japanese dolls are also known as ningyō (人形), literally “human shape.” There are different types of traditional Japanese dolls in various forms ranging from babies, imperial court personalities, and warriors, to gods. Many Japanese dolls have a story and a long standing tradition and are still made today for shrines at homes, for festivals such as Kodomo no Hi (childrens festival) and Hinamatsuri (doll festival), and for gift giving.

doll3

During the Jōmon period (8000-200 BC) and the Kofun period (300-600 AD), the craft of creating Dogū (humanoid figure) dolls was already apparent in Japan.

KCP students pose beside Japanese doll collection. | KCP Flickr

The history and origins of the Hinamatsuri festival indicate that ancient Japanese made dolls out of grass were blessed and thrown into the river at Ise Shrine in 3 BC. At the height of the Heian period, several types of dolls were created and patterned from the novel “The Tale of Genji,” written by Lady Murasaki. Children played with dolls, women made protective dolls to give to children, and dolls were used in traditional ceremonies.

During the Edo period (1603-1867), when Japan was closed to most trade with the outside world, the craft of doll making was refined to an art form. Wealthy Japanese were willing to spend for beautiful sets of dolls to display in their homes or give as gifts. The sets of intricately made dolls varied in size and design. The trade of doll making was so much in demand that the Japanese government eventually regulated the doll making industry.

Some of the more popular traditional Japanese dolls are:

Ichimatsu doll

Ichimatsu dolls (市松人形) – the original Ichimatsu dolls were named after an 18th-century Kabuki actor. By the 19th century, these types of dolls usually represented children. They are accurately proportioned and have glass eyes and flesh-colored skin.

Ichimatsu doll.

The dolls are made with arms and joints to be able to wear clothes and hold a pose. Baby Ichimatsu dolls with their mischievous expressions were popular during the late 19th century up until the early 20th century. In 1927, 58 original 32-in. dolls were created for the Friendship Doll Exchange program between Japan and the U.S. This further influenced the modern day look of the Ichimatsu dolls which is a more solemn looking girl dressed in a kimono.

Daruma doll

Daruma doll.

Daruma dolls are spherical in shape with red bodies, white faces, and no pupils. They typically represent Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen. It is customary to paint one of the doll’s pupils at the beginning of New Year, make a wish, and  if it comes true, to paint the second pupil. Daruma dolls are supposed to bring good fortune, prosperity, and fortitude to reach goals.

Iki-ningyō  – these life-like, life-sized dolls were used in misemono shows and portrayed characters in stories. The dolls lent a sense of realism to the story and usually shocked the audience: they were played out in scenes such as lying in a pool of blood.

Other such traditional Japanese dolls are teru teru bozu and Kokeshi dolls that each have their own interesting origins and stories.

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