Origin of Hina Dolls
1200 years ago, an event to wish for good health was held in March. At that time, rituals to protect the watch from illness and disaster were in vogue.
It is Nagashi-hina.（”Nagashi” means to pour into a river.）
The way to do Nagashi-hina is as follows.
- Make a human-shaped object out of paper or plants.
- caress the body with it (an act to transfer evil spirits)
- wash it away in the river to purify the body.
At that time, the name “Nagashi-hina” was not used. However, the name “Nagashi-Hina” was given because it was the origin of hina dolls.
There was a time when people used to protect themselves from illness and disaster by making drifted dolls. This became the later Hina Matsuri.（Hina = Girl, Matsuri = festival）
Why Nagashi-hina became modern hina dolls?
Hinadoll turns into a celebration rather than an exorcism. In the Edo period (1603-1868), the Hina Matsuri was held as a “festival”.
At that time, the shogunate was decorated with gorgeous dolls, which led to the culture of the festival being introduced to the common people.
Since the Hinamatsuri was decorated with gorgeous dolls, it turned into a celebratory event. In the past, dolls belonged to girls, so it came to be recognized as a girl’s festival.
Eventually, Hinamatsuri became an event to celebrate the birth of a girl.
Later, it is thought that hina dolls spread as a commercial activity and the gorgeous costumes and decorations we see today were created.
Why are there male and female dolls?
In addition to serving as a talisman, Hina dolls represent the future wedding ceremony.
The male dolls represent future husbands. It is said that hina dolls are made in the motif of Japanese emperors. However, that is not important, only the wish for the girl to be happy is included.
During the Hinamatsuri season (March 3rd), women all over Japan decorate and celebrate Ohinasama. However, there are many Japanese who do not know the original meaning of Hinamatsuri.
Hinadolls are beautiful as artifacts and make great interior decorations.
Why don’t you experience Japanese culture with hina dolls?
We Want The Meaning of Decorating Hina Dolls
Japan has a long tradition of yoshu culture. One of the best examples of Japanese celebrations is the Bon dance. This is a representative example of a festival dance.
Hinamatsuri also has the same meaning of pre-holiday celebration. Hinamatsuri is a pre-celebration of one’s future marriage. The hina dolls represent the future wedding ceremony.
Every year on Hinamatsuri, we celebrate at night, wishing for a happy marriage in the future.
Also, as mentioned in the origin of hina dolls, it has the meaning of good health. By touching the dolls, the evil spirits are transferred to the dolls.
We may think that we shouldn’t touch hina dolls because they are beautiful artifacts, but they exert their power by being touched.
The Hinamatsuri, a traditional Japanese culture, is shrinking year by year. I will continue my activities in the hope that more people will become interested in it, even if only a little.
