The custom of displaying dolls began during the eleventh century around the peak of the Heian period( 794 to 1185). Girls played with dolls and doll houses; women made protective dolls for their children or grandchildren; dolls were used in religious ceremonies, taking on the sins of a person whom they had touched. Hinamatsuri traces its origins to an ancient Japanese custom called hina-nagashi or doll floating, in which straw hina dolls are set afloat on a boat and sent down a river to the sea, supposedly taking troubles or bad spirits with them.
"Hinamatsuri" (Doll's Festival) is held on March 3rd. This is a day to pray for young girl's growth and happiness. It is also called "Momo no sekku (Peach Festival). Every year on this date families set up a special step platform consisting of up to seven tiers called hina dan. The tiers are covered with red carpet called dankake and are used to display a set of ornamental dolls called "hina". These displays represent the parents wish for their daughters prosperous and successful marriage. The hina doll sets include a male and female "emperor and empress" attended by wise warriors, musicians, ladies serving sake, and other figures of private life, all arranged according to set patterns on the red steps of the hina-dan.
The top tier holds two dolls, known as the imperial dolls. These are the Emperor and Empress. The dolls are usually placed in front of a gold folding screen and paper or silk lanterns that are usually decorated with cherry or plum blossoms
Second Tier:
The second tier holds three court ladies. Each lady holds a sake container or cup. Optional Accessories placed between the ladies are stands with round table-tops for seasonal sweets.
Third Tier:
The third tier holds five male musicians.Each holds a musical instrument except the singer, who holds a fan.
Fourth Tier:
The fourth tier holds the Minister of the Right and the Minister of the Left.The Minister of the Right is depicted as a young person, while the Minister of the Left is much older.Both are sometimes equipped with bows and arrows.
Between the two figures are tables of covered dishes and diamond-shaped stands with multicolored rice cakes.
Fifth Tier:
On the fifth tier, between a cherry and an orange tree, sit three samurai as the protectors of the Emperor and Empress. sometimes mistaken for servants as one holds the emperors shoes and an other holds a a covered umbrella.
Sixth Tier:
On the sixth tier, a variety of household goods are are displayed; miniature furniture, braziers, tools,sewing kits, and utensils for tea ceremony.
Seventh Tier:
This tier consist of items used when away from the palatial residence, an ox-drawn carriage, a palanquin.and a set of bento lunch boxes.
These last two tiers are considered the Empress' dowry.
What does it all mean? For many mothers and daughters today, it is a wish for a future husband and happy home as well as a joy filled and comforting tradition. However it comes with a warning not to leave the display up for too long lest marriage be delayed. For wealthy people 200 years ago, it was an unspoken competition to have the largest and most ostentatious display possible. At one point, sumptuary laws were made to restrict the size of hina dolls. Through the entire history of the dolls, though, runs the theme of redemption from sin. Even to they are taken to Shinto shrines to be ritually burned in a type of dolls funeral.
I just learned so much more than I knew about Hinamatsuri. Thank you for sharing. I really like the dolls floating down the river taking our "sins" with them.
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