Okiagari-koboshi or Okiagari-kobōshi (起き上がり小法師, getting-up little boy) is a Japanese traditional doll. The toy is made from papier-mâché and is a roly-poly toy, designed so that its weight causes it to return to an upright position if it is knocked over.[1] Okiagari-kobōshi is considered a good-luck charm and a symbol of perseverance and resilience.[2]
The makers of the earliest okiagari-kobōshi likely modeled them after a Chinese toy called Budaoweng (不倒翁; not-falling-down old man) that is similarly weighted. Okiagari-kobōshi has long been popular among Japanese children. It is mentioned in a 14th-century play called Manju-Kui,[3] and folkloristLafcadio Hearn recorded a lullaby from Matsue in Izumo Province in the early 20th century that lists the doll as a gift for a young child:
Nenneko, nenneko nenneko ya!
Kono ko nashite naku-yara? O-chichi ga taranuka? — o-mama ga taranuka? Ima ni ototsan no ōtoto no o-kaeri ni Ame ya, o-kwashi ya, hii-hii ya, Gara-gara, nagureba fuito tatsu Okiagarikoboshi! —
Neneko, neneko, nenneko ya!
Translated, it says:
Sleep, sleep, sleep, little one!
Why does the child continue to cry? Is the milk deficient? — is the rice deficient? Presently when father returns from the great Lord's palace, Ame will be given to you, and also cake, and a hii-hii likewise, And a rattle as well, and an okiagarikoboshi
That will stand up immediately after being thrown down.[4]
Okiagari-koboshi are popular in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture. There, the dolls are sold in red and blue varieties.[5] People buy the dolls during the Tokaichi (Tenth-day Market) held each 10 January.[6] Shoppers typically throw several okiagari-koboshi down at the same time; those that stand back up are supposedly the lucky ones. Tradition mandates the purchase of one okiagari-koboshi for each member of the family plus one extra in the hope that the family will grow over the coming year.[5]
One kind of Daruma doll works on the same principle as okiagari-kobōshi and is sometimes referred to by that name; whenever it is thrown down, it rights itself.[7] This depiction of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma likely arose in connection with a legend that says that he once meditated for nine years, which caused his legs to either atrophy or fall off.[8] A 17th-century children's song shows that the okiagari-kobōshi Daruma dolls of the time were almost identical to their modern equivalents:
ひに！ ふに！Hi ni! fu ni!
ふんだん達磨が Fundan Daruma ga 赤い頭巾かぶりすんまいた! Akai zukin kaburi sunmaita!
Once! twice! Ever the red-hooded Daruma Heedlessly sits up again![9]
Paper mache Daruma dolls without eyes are bought by those who have a goal in mind. The left eye is drawn in at the beginning of the quest, the right upon achieving it. For example, those hoping for recovery from an illness, or others wishing for their recovery would buy one for that purpose.
Hearn, Lafcadio (1901). A Japanese Miscellany. Boston, Massachusetts: Little, Brown, and Company.
Lee, Sherwood. "Historical asset: Kitakata[permanent dead link]". Japan National Tourist Organization. Accessed 20 January 2007.
McFarland, H. Neill (1986). "Feminine Motifs in Bodhidharma Symbology in Japan". Asian Folklore Studies, Vol. 45, No. 2.
"". Aizu Wakamatsu City. Accessed 20 January 2007.
External linksedit
Okiagari Koboshi project from Europe
April 09, 2024
okiagari, koboshi, okiagari, kobōshi, 起き上がり小法師, getting, little, japanese, traditional, doll, made, from, papier, mâché, roly, poly, designed, that, weight, causes, return, upright, position, knocked, over, okiagari, kobōshi, considered, good, luck, charm, sym. Okiagari koboshi or Okiagari kobōshi 起き上がり小法師 getting up little boy is a Japanese traditional doll The toy is made from papier mache and is a roly poly toy designed so that its weight causes it to return to an upright position if it is knocked over 1 Okiagari kobōshi is considered a good luck charm and a symbol of perseverance and resilience 2 Okiagari kobōshi from Aizuwakamatsu Fukushima Contents 1 History 2 Daruma dolls 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory editThe makers of the earliest okiagari kobōshi likely modeled them after a Chinese toy called Budaoweng 不倒翁 not falling down old man that is similarly weighted Okiagari kobōshi has long been popular among Japanese children It is mentioned in a 14th century play called Manju Kui 3 and folklorist Lafcadio Hearn recorded a lullaby from Matsue in Izumo Province in the early 20th century that lists the doll as a gift for a young child Nenneko nenneko nenneko ya Kono ko nashite naku yara O chichi ga taranuka o mama ga taranuka Ima ni ototsan no ōtoto no o kaeri ni Ame ya o kwashi ya hii hii ya Gara gara nagureba fuito tatsu Okiagarikoboshi Neneko neneko nenneko ya Translated it says Sleep sleep sleep little one Why does the child continue to cry Is the milk deficient is the rice deficient Presently when father returns from the great Lord s palace Ame will be given to you and also cake and a hii hii likewise And a rattle as well and an okiagarikoboshiThat will stand up immediately after being thrown down 4 Okiagari koboshi are popular in the Aizu region of Fukushima Prefecture There the dolls are sold in red and blue varieties 5 People buy the dolls during the Tokaichi Tenth day Market held each 10 January 6 Shoppers typically throw several okiagari koboshi down at the same time those that stand back up are supposedly the lucky ones Tradition mandates the purchase of one okiagari koboshi for each member of the family plus one extra in the hope that the family will grow over the coming year 5 Daruma dolls edit nbsp Daruma doll of the okiagari kobōshi typeOne kind of Daruma doll works on the same principle as okiagari kobōshi and is sometimes referred to by that name whenever it is thrown down it rights itself 7 This depiction of the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma likely arose in connection with a legend that says that he once meditated for nine years which caused his legs to either atrophy or fall off 8 A 17th century children s song shows that the okiagari kobōshi Daruma dolls of the time were almost identical to their modern equivalents ひに ふに Hi ni fu ni ふんだん達磨が Fundan Daruma ga 赤い頭巾かぶりすんまいた Akai zukin kaburi sunmaita Once twice Ever the red hooded Daruma Heedlessly sits up again 9 Paper mache Daruma dolls without eyes are bought by those who have a goal in mind The left eye is drawn in at the beginning of the quest the right upon achieving it For example those hoping for recovery from an illness or others wishing for their recovery would buy one for that purpose See also editDaruma doll Japanese craft Japanese dolls Meibutsu Roly poly toyNotes edit Hearn 289 McFarland 169 Hearn 288 Hearn 217 8 a b Lee Tokaichi Hearn 286 288 Hearn 286 and 288 says they fell off but McFarland 169 says they atrophied Hearn 288 9 References editHearn Lafcadio 1901 A Japanese Miscellany Boston Massachusetts Little Brown and Company Lee Sherwood Historical asset Kitakata permanent dead link Japan National Tourist Organization Accessed 20 January 2007 McFarland H Neill 1986 Feminine Motifs in Bodhidharma Symbology in Japan Asian Folklore Studies Vol 45 No 2 Tokaichi Tenth Day Market Aizu Wakamatsu City Accessed 20 January 2007 External links editOkiagari Koboshi project from Europe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Okiagari koboshi amp oldid 1211352875, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
