Kokeshi
Encyclopedia
Japanese art
Japanese art covers a wide range of art styles and media, including ancient pottery, sculpture in wood and bronze, ink painting on silk and paper and more recently manga, cartoon, along with a myriad of other types of works of art...
doll
Doll
A doll is a model of a human being, often used as a toy for children. Dolls have traditionally been used in magic and religious rituals throughout the world, and traditional dolls made of materials like clay and wood are found in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe. The earliest documented dolls...
s, originally from northern Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. They are handmade from wood, have a simple trunk and an enlarged head with a few thin, painted lines to define the face. The body has a floral design painted in red, black, and sometimes yellow, and covered with a layer of wax. One characteristic of kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms or legs. The bottom is marked with the signature of the artist.
History and naming
The origin and naming of kokeshi is unclear, with historical atejiAteji
In modern Japanese, primarily refers to kanji used phonetically to represent native or borrowed words, without regard to the meaning of the underlying characters. This is analogous to man'yōgana in pre-modern Japanese...
spellings including 小芥子, 木牌子, 木形子, and 木芥子. The hiragana
Hiragana
is a Japanese syllabary, one basic component of the Japanese writing system, along with katakana, kanji, and the Latin alphabet . Hiragana and katakana are both kana systems, in which each character represents one mora...
spelling こけし was agreed on at the All-Japan Kokeshi Exhibition (全国こけし大会) at Naruko Onsen in August 1939.
In Looking for the Lost, Alan Booth
Alan Booth
Alan Booth was a well-known English travel writer, who wrote two insightful books on his journeys by foot through the Japanese countryside. The better-known of the two, The Roads to Sata is about his travels from the northernmost cape in Hokkaidō to the southern tip of Kyūshū in Cape Sata...
suggests that kokeshi may be fetish
Fetishism
A fetish is an object believed to have supernatural powers, or in particular, a man-made object that has power over others...
substitutes for unwanted babies killed after birth
Infanticide
Infanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
and the characters can be understood as 子消し (made up of and . While infanticide was commonly practiced in Japan until the 20th century, there is little if any evidence to support the theory that kokeshi have anything to do with the practice, with the earliest references in literature dating only from 1965. The word kokeshi itself is originally of the Sendai dialect, with the dolls being known as, for example, deko, kideko, dekoroko; in Fukushima
Fukushima, Fukushima
is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...
as kibako, kihohoko; in Miyagi
Miyagi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku Region on Honshu island. The capital is Sendai.- History :Miyagi Prefecture was formerly part of the province of Mutsu. Mutsu Province, on northern Honshu, was one of the last provinces to be formed as land was taken from the indigenous Emishi, and became the...
as obokko; and in Naruko
Naruko
Naruko* Naruko, Miyagi, former town, now merged into Ōsaki.* Naruko , a volcano located near the former town of Naruko.* Naruko is a Japanese percussion instrument....
as hangyo and kiningyō, none of which supports the theory. Instead, a more plausible explanation is that "kokeshi" is derived from or , and .
Kokeshi were first produced by kijishi (木地師), artisans proficient with a potter's wheel
Potter's wheel
In pottery, a potter's wheel is a machine used in asma of round ceramic ware. The wheel may also be used during process of trimming the excess body from dried ware and for applying incised decoration or rings of color...
, at the Shinchi Shuraku, near the Tōgatta Onsen in Zaō
Zao, Miyagi
is a town located in Katta District, Miyagi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 13,360 and a population density of 87.41 persons per km². The total area is 152.85 km².-Major roads:* Tōhoku Expressway:* Route 4, Route 457...
from where kokeshi making techniques spread to other spa areas in the Tōhoku Region
Tohoku region
The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata....
. It is said that these dolls were originally made during the middle of the Edo period
Edo period
The , or , is a division of Japanese history which was ruled by the shoguns of the Tokugawa family, running from 1603 to 1868. The political entity of this period was the Tokugawa shogunate....
(1600–1868) to be sold to people who were visiting the hot springs
Onsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
in the north-east of the country.
The design of the Mii
Mii
A is a digital avatar used in Nintendo's Wii and Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. They allow users to capture a likeness of themselves and others. After creating one using the Wii's Mii Channel or the Nintendo 3DS's Mii Maker, they can be used as playable characters in various titles for the...
avatars
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
on Nintendo's Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
is based on that of kokeshi.
Types
dolls' shapes and patterns are particular to a certain area and are classified under eleven types, shown below. The most dominant type is the NarukoNaruko, Miyagi
is a former town located in Tamatsukuri District, Miyagi, Japan.On March 31, 2006, Naruko was merged with the town of Iwadeyama, from Tamatsukuri District, the towns of Kashimadai, Matsuyama and Sanbongi, all from Shida District, the town of Tajiri, from Tōda District, and the city of Furukawa to...
variety originally made in Miyagi Prefecture, which can also be found in Akita
Akita Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region of northern Honshu, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Akita.- History :The area of Akita has been created from the ancient provinces of Dewa and Mutsu....
, Iwate
Iwate Prefecture
is the second largest prefecture of Japan after Hokkaido. It is located in the Tōhoku region of Honshū island and contains the island's easternmost point. The capital is Morioka. Iwate has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido...
, and Yamagata
Yamagata Prefecture
-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...
Prefectures
Prefectures of Japan
The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...
. The main street of the Naruko Onsen Village is known as Kokeshi Street and has shops which are operated directly by the kokeshi carvers.
allow the artist complete freedom in terms of shape, design and color and were developed after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(1945). They are not particular to a specific region of Japan and generally creative kokeshi artists are found in cities.
The woods used for kokeshi vary, with cherry
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of trees and shrubs, which includes the plums, cherries, peaches, apricots and almonds. There are around 430 species spread throughout the northern temperate regions of the globe. Many members of the genus are widely cultivated for fruit and ornament.-Botany:Members of the genus...
used for its darkness and dogwood for its softer qualities. Itaya-kaede, a Japanese maple
Acer palmatum
Acer palmatum, called Japanese Maple or Smooth Japanese Maple is a species of woody plant native to Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China, eastern Mongolia, and southeast Russia. Many different cultivars of this maple have been selected and they are grown worldwide for their attractive leaf...
, is also used in the creation of both traditional and creative dolls. The wood is left outdoors to season
Wood drying
Wood drying reduces the moisture content of wood before its use.There are two main reasons for drying wood:...
for one to five years before it can be used.
Traditional types
Traditional types often correspond to a single or multiple onsenOnsen
An is a term for hot springs in the Japanese language, though the term is often used to describe the bathing facilities and inns around the hot springs. As a volcanically active country, Japan has thousands of onsen scattered along its length and breadth...
located within the Tōhoku region.
- Tsuchiyu (土湯系): Tsuchiyu Onsen (FukushimaFukushima, Fukushimais the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...
), Iizaka Onsen (Fukushima), Dake Onsen (NihonmatsuNihonmatsu, Fukushimais a city located in Fukushima, Japan. As of May 2011, the city has an estimated population of 59,323. The total area is 344.65 km².The city was founded on October 1, 1958.-Geography:Nihonmatsu's Western border consists of the Adatara mountain range...
) - Yajirō (弥治郎系): Yajirō (ShiroishiShiroishi, Miyagiis a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 37,432 and a population density of 131 persons per km². The total area is 286.47 km².The city was founded on April 1, 1954.-Notable locations:...
) - Tōgatta (遠刈田系): Tōgatta Onsen (ZaōZao, Miyagiis a town located in Katta District, Miyagi, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 13,360 and a population density of 87.41 persons per km². The total area is 152.85 km².-Major roads:* Tōhoku Expressway:* Route 4, Route 457...
) - Naruko (鳴子系): Naruko Onsen (ŌsakiOsaki, Miyagiis a city located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. Its area is 796.76 km², and its population was 135,129 as of November 1, 2010. The area was hard-hit during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake.The city was formed on March 31, 2006, when several jurisdictions merged together....
) - Sakunami (作並系) or Yamagata-Sakunami (山形作並系): Sendai (incl. Sakunami Onsen), YamagataYamagata, Yamagatais the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture in Japan.As of July 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 253,951 with 97,457 households and a population density of 665.94 persons per km². The total area is 381.34 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1889.-Culture:The , one of Tōhoku's...
, YonezawaYonezawa, Yamagatais a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 91,704 and the population density of 167 persons per square kilometer...
, SagaeSagae, Yamagatais a city in Yamagata prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 43,233 and the population density of 311 persons per km². The total area is 139.08 km².The city was founded on August 1, 1954....
, TendōTendo, Yamagatais a city located in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 63,483 and a population density of 562 persons per km²... - Zaō Takayu (蔵王高湯系): Zaō OnsenZao Onsenis a famous hot spring area on Mount Zaō in the northern part of Honshū, the main island of Japan. Records date back as far as 110 A.D. A wounded warrior is said to have drawn an arrow out of his body and cleaned the wound at a spring only to find that the injury healed miraculously quickly and...
(Yamagata) - Hijiori (肘折系): Hijiori Onsen (ŌkuraOkura, Yamagatais a village located in Mogami District, Yamagata, Japan.As of 2003, the village has an estimated population of 4,265 and a population density of 20.16 persons per km². The total area is 211.59 km².-Major roads:...
) - Kijiyama (木地山系): Kijiyama (YuzawaYuzawa, Akitais a city located in Akita, Japan. In 2011 the city had an estimated population of 50,902. The total area was 790.72 km².- History :The city was founded on March 31, 1954....
) - Nambu (南部系): MoriokaMorioka, Iwateis the capital city of Iwate Prefecture, Japan.As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 300,740 and a population density of 588.11 persons per km². The total area is 489.15 km²....
, Hanamaki Onsen (HanamakiHanamaki, Iwateis a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of March 31, 2011, the city has an estimated total population of 102,455, with a household number of 35,831. Hanamaki is most famous as the birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa and for its onsen. The city recently celebrated the 50th anniversary since its...
) - Tsugaru (津軽系) or Nuruyu (温湯系): Nuruyu Onsen (KuroishiKuroishi, Aomoriis a city located in northeastern Aomori in Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 36,675 and a density of 169 persons per km². Its total area was 216.96 km².-Geography:Kuroishi is located in west-central Aomori Prefecture...
), Ōwani Onsen (ŌwaniOwani, Aomoriis a town located in the Minamitsugaru District of east-central Aomori Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the town had an estimated population of 11,131 and a density of 68.1 persons per km². Its total area was 163.41 km².-Geography:...
)
See also
- Japanese traditional dollsJapanese traditional dollsJapanese traditional dolls are known by the name in Japan, which literally means human shape.There are various types of Japanese dolls, some representing children and babies, some the imperial court, warriors and heroes, fairy-tale characters, gods and demons, and also people of the daily life of...
- Daruma dollDaruma dollThe , also known as a Dharma doll, is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen sect of Buddhism. These dolls, though typically red and depicting a bearded man , vary greatly in color and design depending on region and artist...
- Daruma doll
- Matryoshka dollMatryoshka dollA matryoshka doll is a Russian nesting doll which is a set of wooden dolls of decreasing size placed one inside the other. The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter at Abramtsevo...