Hina-Ningyu (雛人形 Japanese Hina Doll) is the traditional doll in Japan from the Heian period (794~1192), typically clad in gorgeous garb, generally very well known of March 3rd’s Hina Matsuri (雛祭り the Japanese Doll Festival) or Girl’s Day.
The Hina Matsuri day is to pray for young girls to grow up healthy, during which it is also customary to display a set of Hina-Ningyou, along with peach blossoms and sweet sake. Behind this custom lies the belief that the dolls will absorb all of life’s suffering, such as illnesses and injuries, instead of the young girls.
March is not the only time during the year when dolls are displayed, also on May 5th (端午の節句 the day of Tango no Sekku) Gogatsu Ningyou (五月人形 May dolls) are put on display as part of the ceremony during which people pray for boys to grow up healthy. To further ensure a boy’s health, a samurai suit of armor (protective battle gear) may sometimes accompany the dolls.
Besides, during the New Year, Hagoita rackets with accompanying dolls may also be seen too.
From the very first, these three festival were originally all celebrations of Sekku (節句 the change of seasons), at the turn of each season, the Japanese display dolls to pray for their good health and safety.
Furthermore, it is also customary for Japanese grandparents to give their grandchildren dolls as presents.
In general ritual Shinto religion, Japanese don't throw old Omamori (御守 charms), Ofuda (お札 talismans), Shimenawa (しめ縄 New Year decorations), Kamidana (神棚 household altar), or other objects as an offering away because they think those are holy items.
They bring the old offering objects back to the Shrine or Temple for Otakiage (お焚き上げ a bon
fire ceremony). In general, there will be a grand ceremony of Otakiage taken place on 15th January.
At the shrine, the bonfire is made by Shinto priests, they burn those old items with praying. The flammable materials will be burned, and the other non-inflammables items will be held to Kuyo (供養 a memorial service about soul) by the the Shrine or Temple.
In Shinto ritual, Otakiage means sending back the good-luck and ritual articles to the heaven by burning them by the sacred fire from the divine power of Kami(神 God).
In the same way, many Japanese customarily burn and pray for their dolls to show their appreciation and affection for their unconditional friends, rather than merely discarding them.
The memorial services for dolls it can be said that the Japanese attitude toward dolls reveals their notion that objects also have a life to live.
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Date: 2018 Feb 3rd
Location: 八立稲神社, Yatachine-Jinja Shrine, Tanabe Wakayama, Japan
Yappari-japan.eshop 2018
(Reference: Kyugetsu Co., Ltd. )
15 сен 2024
