![\"Dolls](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/30152024\/SoySauceBreweryDollExhibit-1024x682.jpg\")
Also called Momo no Sekku \u6843\u306e\u7bc0\u53e5 (Peach Blossom Festival) or Joushi no Sekku<\/strong> \u4e0a\u5df3\u306e\u7bc0\u53e5<\/strong>, Hina Matsuri is a centuries-old tradition<\/strong> where families display beautiful ornamental dolls <\/strong>to pray for the health, happiness, and prosperity<\/strong> of young girls. However, as one of the five Sekku (seasonal festivals) in Japan<\/strong>, it was originally meant for everyone to cleanse misfortune<\/strong> and welcome good fortune for the new season<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The Origin of Hina Matsuri Festival<\/a><\/li>
- Hina Dolls: Setup and Meaning<\/a>
- Top Platform<\/a><\/li>
- Second Platform<\/a><\/li>
- Third Platform<\/a><\/li>
- Fourth Platform<\/a><\/li>
- Fifth Platform<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- When is Hina Matsuri Held?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Enjoy Hina Matsuri Without Dolls<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
The Origin of Hina Matsuri Festival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Some believe that the name of Hina Matsuri came from Nagashi Hina<\/strong> \u6d41\u3057\u96db, a custom from the Heian period (8th – 12th century AD) where floating dolls made of straw or paper down a river supposedly took with them the bad luck of the wishers. The custom is still practiced in different areas in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"Dolls](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162825\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000183.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nPhoto: JNTO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n There is another belief that Hina Matsuri originated from a game called Hina Asobi<\/strong> \u96db\u3042\u305d\u3073, played by girls of the noble class in the Heian period. The dolls eventually became to gorgeous to be used as toys and only used to display starting in the Muromachi period<\/strong> (14th – 16th century). The modern-day version of setting up the dolls to wish for good health for girls in the house, is believed to be a combination of Nagashi Hina and Hina Asobi that started in the Edo period (17th – 19th century) and has become a celebratory custom on March 3 since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hina Dolls: Setup and Meaning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The dolls \u2014 acting as substitutes to bear any bad luck of their owners \u2014 started with only one female and one male doll in the Edo period<\/strong>. The increasing dolls and platforms, which imitated the hierarchical system of the Imperial palace, were later additions over the years. It was a tradition for the family on the mother\u2019s side to give a set of dolls to the girls<\/strong>, which eventually became part of the girls’ bridal dowry. Nowadays, the cost of the dolls can be shared by both sides\u2019 families. Doll sets of smaller scales have become popular among modern families as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/26161429\/Koka_Iga_Yagyu_08-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo: Cassandra Lord<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Top Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Despite the size of the set, the Dairibina<\/em> \u5185\u88cf\u96db, in other words, the Emperor<\/strong> \u7537\u96db and the Empress<\/strong> \u5973\u96db, are always found on the top platform<\/strong>. There would be a vase with flowers in between the dolls, and two bonbori<\/em> \u307c\u3093\u307c\u308a lamps on two sides. The placement of the Dairibina depends on the family\u2019s location or tradition; the general distinction is (from the dolls\u2019 perspective) Emperor on the left and Empress on his right in Kansai <\/a>(the general Osaka and Kyoto area), and the opposite in Kanto area<\/a> (the greater Tokyo area).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"Close](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162932\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000189.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nPhoto: JNTO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Second Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Under the Emperor and Empress, there will sit Sannikanjo<\/em> \u4e09\u4eba\u5b98\u5973, or the three court ladies<\/strong>, with mochi<\/em> \u9905 placed on takatsuki<\/em> \u9ad8\u676f stands in between them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Third Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the third platform, there will be a five-person band<\/strong>, or Goninbayashi<\/em> \u4e94\u4eba\u56c3\u5b50, who are holding (from left to right) the taiko<\/em> \u592a\u9f13, the ootsuzumi<\/em> \u5927\u76ae\u9f13 (large drum), the kotsuzumi<\/em> \u5c0f\u9f13 (small drum), the fue<\/em> \u7b1b (flute) and the sensu<\/em> \u6247 (fan).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"Details](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162853\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000185.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nPhoto: JNTO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Fourth Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the fourth platform, there will be two ministers<\/strong>, Minister of the Right \u53f3\u5927\u81e3 and the Minister of the Left \u5de6\u5927\u81e3. In between the ministers, you will find a rice cake in the middle and a kakebanzen<\/em> \u639b\u76e4\u81b3 (bowl table) on each side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fifth Platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the fifth, there will sit three Shichou<\/em> \u4ed5\u4e01 (helpers) or Eji<\/em> \u885b\u58eb (protectors), with three different facial expressions: laughing, angry and crying<\/strong>. There could be a sixth or even more platforms<\/strong> that follow, displaying things like furniture and carriages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162905\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000186.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162731\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000062.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Traditional](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162748\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000063.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nTwo different way to display Hina Matsuri Dolls: from the simple Imperial couple to a full set of dolls. Photos: JNTO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Like the placement of the Emperor and Empress, all of these little figures may be positioned differently or hold various decorations<\/strong> depending on the family tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When is Hina Matsuri Held?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The dolls are usually taken out and put on display in the house from Risshun \u7acb\u6625 (First Day of Spring) until the day of Hina Matsuri<\/strong>. There is a popular saying that if the dolls are not packed and put away as promptly as supposed, the owner of the dolls will be married late<\/strong>. This is a superstition that began in the Showa period, that was actually meant to encourage girls to get into the habit of cleaning up, but practically speaking, putting the dolls away before the humid rainy season following Hina Matsuri helps to preserve their lifespan and condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"Hina](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162811\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000068.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nPhoto: JNTO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Another scarier superstition says if the dolls are not taken out of storage on time (one week before Hina Matsuri is the latest), the owner will lose her eyesight over time. This, too, started only as an encouragement for the girl to take out her dolls for Hina Matsuri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Enjoy Hina Matsuri Without Dolls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
For those of us who do not own any dolls at home, you can still enjoy Hina Matsuri through special traditional foods<\/strong>. Chirashizushi<\/em> \u3061\u3089\u3057\u5bff\u53f8, sushi rice with toppings such as sashimi, hishimochi<\/em> \u83f1\u9905, pink-white-green color-layered rice cake, hina-arare<\/em> \u96db\u3042\u3089\u308c, three-colored candy, clam soup \u306f\u307e\u3050\u308a\u306e\u304a\u5438\u3044\u7269 and shirozake<\/em> \u767d\u9152, white sake are some popular foods you can use to celebrate the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"Details](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162916\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000188.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Girl's](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162800\/jomc_p_shizuoka_hina_matsuri_0000067.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nPhotos: JNTO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Pink, white, and green are the colors that you will see repeatedly. Some say these colors represent the image of spring<\/a> <\/strong>(pink the blooming peach flowers<\/a>, white the melting snow, and green the buds or new grass underneath). Other beliefs, especially in the case of hishimochi<\/em>, assert that ingredients of these beautiful colors give actual health benefits, coinciding with the theme of Hina Matsuri: to wish for good health for the girls and the family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n ![\"Close](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08163004\/jomc_p_yamanashi_0000065.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Some](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162709\/jomc_p_nagano_0000206.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Peach](\"https:\/\/s3.voyapon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/08162958\/jomc_p_yamanashi_0000055.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nPhotos: JNTO<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Whether you are a girl or have a daughter, Hina Matsuri is another reason for everyone to celebrate and to relish some traditional, tasty Japanese food. And don’t forget to celebrate Kodomo no Hi in May<\/a>, the children’s day. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"