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DOLLS
(Japan)


These cultural dolls are known by the name ningyō in Japan, which literally means human shape. There are various types of Japanese dolls, some symbolizes children and babies, some the imperial court, warriors and heroes, fairy-tale characters, gods and (rarely) demons, and also people of the daily life of Japanese cities. Many have a long tradition and are still made today, for household shrines, for formal gift-giving, or for commemoration such as Hinamatsuri, the doll festival, or Kodomo no Hi, Children's Day. Some are produced as a local craft, to be purchased by pilgrims as a token of a temple visit or some other trip.
 

HINA DOLLAS

Hinamatsuri Girl’s Day the doll festival on March 3, They can be made of many materials but the classic hina doll has a pyramidal body of elaborate, many-layered textiles stuffed with straw and/or wood blocks, carved wood hands (and in some cases feet) covered with gofun, and a head of carved wood or shaped wood compo covered with gofun, with set-in glass eyes (though before about 1850 the eyes were carved into the gofun and painted) and human or silk hair. A full set comprises at least 15 dolls, representing specific characters, with many accessories (dogu), though the basic set is a male-female pair, often referred to as the Emperor and Empress.
 

MUSHA OR WARRIOR DOLLS

Usually made of materials similar to the hina dolls, but the creation complex, since the dolls represent men (or women) seated on camp chairs, standing, or riding horses. Armor, helmets, and weapons are made of lacquered paper, often with metal accents.There is no specified "set" of such dolls; subjects include Emperor Jimmu, Empress Jingū with her prime minister Takenouchi holding her newborn imperial son, Shoki the Demon Queller, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his generals and tea-master, and fairy-tale figures such as Momotarō the Peach Boy or Kintarō the Golden Boy.