By: Victoria Rhodes

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Japan's Doll Festival (hina matsuri)

• By Victoria Rhodes
• Mods 1-2
• 8 November 2006

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What is Hina Matsuri?

• Hina Matsuri translates into doll festival but
  this fun holiday is more commonly known as Girls
  Day and is celebrated every March 3rd.
• Girls throughout Japan display their doll
  collections for a few days to celebrate Hina
  Matsuri.
• One legend says if a girl displays her dolls for
  more than 3 days she will marry later in life.

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What is Hina Matsuri?

• Its origins go back to China which had the custom
  of making a doll for the transferal of bad luck
  and impurities from the person.
• And then putting the doll in a river and forever
  ridding oneself of them.
• From mid to late February families with daughters
  put out the dolls with the hopes their daughters
  will grow up healthy and happy.

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Display of the Dolls

• . In the weeks before Hina Matsuri you will begin
  to see displays of dolls in stores all over
  Okinawa.
• . Youll see small and large displays exhibited
  with tiny furniture and other items.
• Traditionally, two dolls representing the emperor
  and empress are positioned on the top level of
  the display stand which is draped in red cloth.

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Display of the Dolls

• Most displays consist of just a prince,
  (Odairi-sama) and a princess (Ohina-sama).
• But more elaborate displays include the dolls
  being part of a 5 or 7 tier display (hinadan),
  along with courtiers, candy, rice boiled with red
  beans (osekihan), white sake (shirozake), peach
  blossoms, diamond shaped rice cake (hishimochi),
  toys, and tiny furniture.
• Traditionally many parents or grandparents will
  begin their first display for their daughter,
  called hatsu zekku, when she is just a year old,
  but some families have passed their dolls down
  from generation to generation with the bride
  carrying her dolls with her to her new home.

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Display of the Dolls

• Aside from the displays, Japanese used to go view
  the peach blossoms coming out, drink sake with a
  blossom in it, and bathe in water with the
  blossoms. The blossoms represent desirable
  feminine qualities, including serenity,
  gentility, and equanimity.
• Around them are small pieces of furniture
  representing items found in the ancient imperial
  palace.
• Members of the royal entourage are arranged on
  the lower levels of the large stands.
• These dolls are called Dairi-sama. They are
  attired in the traditional court costumes of
  ancient Japan.

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About the Dolls

• The dolls, called hina ningyo, vary in size and
  price.
• A set of hina dolls usually consists of at
  least 15 dolls.
• Normally there will be three ladies in waiting,
  called Kanjo, five musicians, two retainers and
  three guards displayed in descending order on the
  shelves.
• They are often surrounded by small pieces of
  furniture, serving pieces and other items.

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About the Dolls

• Larger sets of dolls might also include more
  members of the imperial household, lamps, vases,
  flowers and trees.
• On the seven-tiered stands the lower two levels
  are used to display things a Japanese bride might
  receive as wedding gifts.
• Among these items you might find decorative
  screens, exquisite wedding baskets, chests of
  drawers, small tables and more.

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Traditions

• Many grandparents buy a set of dolls for their
  first granddaughter and add dolls or other items
  as more granddaughters are born.
• Other families add an item or two to their
  displays each year.
• During the Hina Matsuri festivities many girls
  donned in traditional kimono host parties for
  their friends. Traditional refreshments such as
  rice cakes and rice wine is served.

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Traditions

• Now, some people also serve more modern treats.
  Small sets of chocolate Hina Matsuri dolls are
  becoming very popular.
• Also traditional refreshments such as rice cakes
  and rice wine is served.
• When the childrens party has concluded the
  entire family gathers for a traditional dinner
  honoring the girls in the family and prayers are
  offered for their good health and prosperity.

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Dolls

• An inexpensive set of hina dolls can be purchased
  for 150 - 200.
• A full set usually costs between 400 and 10,000
  depending on the size and quality.
• The most popular sets generally cost around 700.
  The sets you will see in museums are worth
  hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on
  their age and quality.
• A small set of hina dolls makes a very nice
  souvenir or a special gift.

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Bibliography

• http//www.2camels.com/doll-festival.php
• http//www.watanabesato.co.jp/jpculture/hinamatsur
  i/hina.html
• http//www.thejapanfaq.com/celebrations.html
• www.google.com (for pictures)