Gangu Folk Toys

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
. Mingei みんげいクッキー Folk Art Cookies .
. gangu 玩具伝説, omochcha おもちゃ 　toy, toys .
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Folk Toys (kyoodo gangu) and Food





Some folk toys (kyoodo gangu 郷土玩具)
are depicted with food items.
Many are made of clay (tsuchi ningyoo　土人形), or straw.
some are clay bells.

mingeihin 民芸品 folk craft
minzokugaku 民俗学 anthropology, ethnology


Here I will collect them as I find them.


Daruma Doll Museum

........................................................................................................

© PHOTO :takashi okawa. 2004

Daruma celebrating a good catch 大漁だるま
tairyoo Daruma, taigyo Daruma (with a big fish)

Hamamatsu Hariko Doll 浜松張り子





Konbu Daruma こんぶ達磨 from Himeji


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

chadoogu, mame chadoogu 豆茶道具 tea ceremony toys



Chadoogu, mame chadoogu 豆茶道具 tea ceremony toys
From Imaichi Town, 今市市 Ibaraki
They are also made in Hakone, Kanagawa and other famous woodcarving areas.


Nikko chadogu 日光茶道具 tea toys from Nikko
miniature tea-utensils
First made by the carpenters of the Nikko Toshogu shrine, in their free time.


- source and detailed photos : tochigi-dentoukougeihin

The wood mainly used is from cherry trees, Chinese quince and zelkova.

. Tochigi Folk Art - 栃木県 .

.......................................................................



chanoki ningyoo 茶の木人形 dolls carved from the tea tree
Uji, Kyoto
Also called Uji Ningyoo 宇治人形, dolls from Uji
Mostly figures of women picking tea, about 5 to 10 cm high. Some are without colors.
They have been produced since the beginning of the Edo period, when Kanamori Soowa 金森宗和 (1584-1656) Kanamori Sowa started carving a statue of the tea master Sen no Rikyu, who got his tea from Uji. Carved with one knife (ittoobori), some are almost like netsuke.


. Kyoto Folk Art - 京都（府） .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




DAIKOKU 大黒天 the God of the Rice Farmers





EBISU 恵比須（えびす） the God of the Fishermen


Here he is sitting on a sea bream (TAI 鯛) for additional good luck.
TAI is related to MEDETAI, an auspicious occasion.


Ebisu and Daikoku are usually pictured together.
They represent
Umi no Sachi, Yama no Sachi

the bounty of the sea and the mountains !




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




FUKUSUKE 福助
welcoming a visitor in a restaurant or shop 　


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



INARI, Fushimi Inari, 伏見稲荷 the God of Rice

INARI and the Fox Cult




ine-uma 稲馬 horse carrying harvested rice



スゲ細工・稲馬 made from sedge
Niigata


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


karakuri ningyo からくり人形　mechanic dolls

Karakuri ningyō are mechanized puppets or automata from Japan from the 18th century to 19th century. The word karakuri means a "mechanical device to tease, trick, or take a person by surprise".
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


monkeys making soba buckwheat noodles


One is sifting flour, one is rolling the dough and one is eating the noodles. They move their arms.

From Narai Town, Nagano 奈良井

. Karakuri ningyoo からくり人形 mechanical dolls .


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


source
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~SA9S-HND/agal-940-2.html

kometsuki kuruma 米つき車 wheels for pounding rice
From Aichi, Toshogu 東照宮

This is a kind of KARAKURI doll.

. Karakuri ningyoo からくり人形 mechanical dolls .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Koobe ningyoo, Kobe Ningyo 神戸人形
mechanical dolls from Kobe, Kobe Dolls

Man drinking Sake


www.japan-toy-museum.org
Boy cutting melon


. Kobe mechanical dolls 神戸人形 Introduction .

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




kijiuma, kiji-uma きじ馬 pheasant with wheels
From Hitoyoshi 人吉, Kumamoto
Many craftsmen of the area made furniture. These toys were made in memory of Kyoto, since many had fled here after the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, when the Heike were defeated in 1185.
. kijiguruma きじ車 　pheasant on wheels
.






Koi nobori 鯉幟 carp streamers for Boys 　
May 5


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




MANEKINEKO 招き猫
The beckoning cat welcoming visitors 　


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


manjuu kui ningyo 饅頭食い人形 Boy Eating Manju
From Fushimi
Eating Manju Buns
manjuu kui ningyoo
A boy holds a bun broken in two halves, to show he loves his father and his mother equally. When asked whom he loved more, father or mother, that was his way of showing it. He broke the bun in equal halves and asked: "Which tastes better?"

Now these dolls are bought with a prayer to become pregnant and have such a clever child.



Fushimi Clay Dolls / 伏見土人形

. Mingei Kukkii　みんげいクッキー　Mingei Folk Art Cookies - Manju .

Here are some more clay dolls with Manju buns.
http://kyoudogangu.xii.jp/mangiukui.html



. Folk Toys from Kyoto .

. Muraoka dolls 村岡人形 - Hyogo -


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




noo ningyoo 農人形 dolls of farmers
from Mito 水戸

This one is putting down his hat to collect rice grains left in the field.
Other dolls are making dried plums, fermented soy beans or ricewine.
They are made of metal.

てのひらに梅雨の重みの農人形
te no hira ni tsuyu no omomi no noo ningyoo

in my palm
the weight of farmer's dolls
wet from the rains

Kageshima Tomoko 影島智子

. Folk toys from IBARAKI / IBARAGI .


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


sea bream (TAI 鯛) for additional good luck
TAI is related to MEDETAIめでたい, an auspicious occasion.


iwai tai, iwaitai 祝い鯛、祝鯛 tai sea bream for festivities
They are made from papermachee and straw and sold at the local Nishi no Miya shrine.
from Shizuoka,Yokota Town 横田町の西之宮神
.
. Hikosan no iwaidai dorei 英彦山の祝鯛土鈴
clay bell with festive sea bream .
Fukuoka




Boy with Sea Bream
Fushimi Ningyoo 伏見人形 doll from Fushimi, Kyoto
also called 富山人形





pinpin tai ピンピン鯛 sea bream "alive and kicking"
From Kusatsu, Shiga 滋賀・草津




taiguruma 鯛車 sea bream on a float
Izumo, Miyoshi and other towns


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



tawara ushi 俵牛 ox carrying rice barrels



There are many types in Japan. Some are clay bells. They are important auspicious items to thank for a good harvest.


::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


warazaiku 藁細工 things made from straw



During the winter months, many things were made from rice straw. Mostly necessities like sandals, raincoats and hats, but also some toys and auspicious decorations with rice barrels.


*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way

A lullaby

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-kashi ya, hii-hii ya,
Gara-gara, nagureba fuito tatsu
Oki-agari koboshi! — 起き上がり小法師
Neneko, neneko, nenneko ya!


Okiagari koboshi Rolly-Polly Dolls

Sleep, sleep, sleep, little one!
Why does my baby continue to cry?
Is the honorable milk not enough?
is the honorable rice not enough?
Presently when father returns from the Lord's palace,
Sweets will be given to you, and also cake,
and all you want !
And a rattle as well, and a rolly-polly doll
That will stand up immediately
after being thrown down.
Sleep, sleep, sleep, little one!


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


External Links

with many photos
郷土玩具展示室
http://homepage3.nifty.com/indymuseum/page130.html



Japan Toy Museum 日本玩具博物館　
English Homepage
http://www.japan-toy-museum.org/english/eindex.htm



omocha　おもちゃ　Cooking Toys


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Japanese cooking toys おもちゃ

There has been a boom in cooking toys in Japan. Those toys are so attractive that even adults buy them for themselves. Some of popular cooking toys are Takara Tommy's taiyaki (traditional Japanese fish-shaped cake) makers and soft caramel candy makers, Sega Toy's ice cream makers, and Bandai's norimaki (sushi rolls) makers. Using cute cooking toys, both kids and adults can have fun at home.
source : Shizuko's Japan Travel Blog . gojapan.about
International Tokyo Toy Show 2009 .



*****************************
HAIKU and SENRYU


丑三のわら人形が笑ふ夜
ushimitsu no wara ningyoo ga warau yoru

after midnight
the straw doll laughs-
what a night

or more literal

the night when
the straw doll laughs
after midnight

anonymous senryu




藁人形 wara ningyo,
a doll used for making a wish to kill or harm a person. At midnight, a nail is hit through the heart of the doll to fix it to a tree in a shrine.

ushi mitsu, the old double-hour of the ox beginning at one o'clock. mitsu signifies the third part of this time slot. A time when the spirits of the dead and the gods are alive too.

"a time when the trees and plants are asleep"
草木も眠る丑三つ時


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Kobayashi Issa 小林一茶


source
http://380334.com/SHOP/0200.html

Kobayashi Issa (June 15, 1763 - January 5, 1828)


*****************************
Related words

Daruma Doll Museum

Tairyoobata (tairyobata) 大漁旗 Ships Flags ...
and Big Fish Catch, Tairyoo 大漁 Daruma Doll


***** WASHOKU : General Information

***** . Regional Folk Toys from Japan .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. hassaku dango no uma 朔だんご馬/ 八朔団子馬 horse offerings for Hassaku .
Sanuki, Kagawa

玩具菓子 - 郷土玩具と菓子、または遊び菓子 - tba

縁起菓子筑後吉井の七夕麦菓子
甘木のばたばた豆太鼓煎餅
天神堂あそび
縁起菓子砂糖人形の土型
言葉入りキャラメル「カランバ」
製菓用？陶器人形
芦屋かるたと八朔の「だごびーな」
おけそくとキリサゲ
クリスマス・クラッカーと｢豆の王」
うんちをするおじさん
唐子落雁
飴細工で復活祭のうさぎ
縁起菓子お菓子でできた天神さま
金花糖のこけし
神農さんの豆神虎
笹野一刀彫「古代ぽっぽ」
ペルーの生誕人形「ナシミエント」
中国の竈の神様の紙衣
京都三宅八幡の土の鳩と餅の鳩
川崎巨泉の玩具絵のなかの「ちんころ」
吉備津神社の「こまいぬ」
縁起菓子天神さんと線香花火
縁起菓子宮島の「たのもさん」
縁起菓子痴娯の家の「犬っこ」
ふの字尽しの菓子型
縁起菓子金沢の福徳
縁起菓子会津の小法師
あてもの菓子 . 弘前の生大王
赤坂土人形

- source : m-mizoguti.com -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. gangu 玩具伝説, omochcha おもちゃ toy, toys .
Spielzeug und Legenden

. Mingei みんげいクッキー Folk Art Cookies .

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Dengaku dance and food

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO TOP . ]
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Dengaku dance and food

***** Location: Japan
***** Season: Spring
***** Category: Humanity

*****************************
Explanation

quote
Dengaku (田楽）were rustic Japanese celebrations that can be classified into two types: dengaku that developed as a musical accompaniment to rice planting observances
and
the dengaku dances that developed in conjunction with sangaku.

The dengaku celebrated for rice planting was performed by villagers either at the new year or during the planting season in early summer. It was only in the 14th century that these dances were brought to the cities and incorporated into Noh theater, notably by the playwrite and actor Kanami.

The instrument of dengaku is the sasara (a wooden percussive instrument clapper), though there are other instruments that can be used. In the old story of the Eiga Monogatari there is a detailed description of the rice-planting dengaku. After being brought to the aristocrats, dengaku flourished till the end of the Heian Period and became the main performing art of the Kamakura and part of the Muromachi period.
By the end of the Muromachi though, dengaku was eclipsed by sarugaku. Today is barely survives as a folk performing art.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

.......................................................................


binzasara (編木 or 板ざさら) ita sasara clappers
is a traditional Japanese percussion instrument used in folk songs, rural dances and kabuki theater. The instrument uses many pieces of wooden plates strung together with a cotton cord. With handles at both ends, the stack of wooden plates are played by moving them like a wave.


sasara ささら / 簓 / 讃良 wooden clappers, bamboo clappers

.......................................


A legend from Akita 秋田県 about shitan　紫檀 red sandalwood

At the time of 崇神天皇 Emperor Sujin Tenno (148BC - 29 - at age 119)

The first use of sasara was at the time of Emperor Suijin in the province of 常陸国 Hitachi (now Ibaraki).
After the defeat of the local chief 悪路王 Akuro-O the army of the emperor wanted to appease his soul. So they planted 1000 heads of deer on a hill and put 1000 sticks of red sandalwood in the ground. After some appeasement rituals the soul was pacified.

. Himemachi Fudo 姫待不動尊 Iwate .
Founded by priest Enchin 円珍 in 807 in order to promote the development of the Northern Provinces in Tohoku.
In 801 the government sent Sakanoue Tamuramaro to subdue chief 悪路王 Akuro-O. The deity Bishamonten was placed in the temple to show their thanks for the victory.


. Legends about Sandalwood .

. Legends from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


dengaku is a set of dances during the planting season to call the deities to attention. Since the Heian period it is performed in spring. Developed into sarugaku 猿楽(さるがく) "monkey performances" of artistic circus tricks.

一本高足 "one long leg" stilt

One of the performances, "dance on high legs" 高足の舞", represents a dancer on poles which are placed into the field.
Other sources quote the dancers on one or two stilts and performing with poles, stepping hard on the ground to wake it up.
Their costumes where of the color of white and brown, like tofu and miso.

When tofu or konnyaku are put on skewers, they look like they are on stilts, hence the name.


. Sanbasoo　三番叟 Sanbaso Dancer .
sanba sarugaku 三番猿楽 Sanbaso




Dengaku mai 田楽舞 dengaku dance
Performers on sticks, with poles and wooden swords


「北斎漫画」九巻、「田楽法師」
Hokusai, dengaku hooshi performers

They represent the marriage of heaven and earth, of thunder and the rice plants (kaminari and inari 雷と稲), therefore when eating eggplant dengaku (nasu dengaku), the word NARI turned NASU and this is still auspicious food.

In spring, the sucessfull marriage of heaven and earth was important to produce a good harvest in autumn.
The deities had to bring the proper amount of rain, and were sometimes represented as snakes, dragond or swords (and thus protective deities of the swordsmith clans, who also step on their fuigo bellows to produce the necessary air).
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




(本田安次　錦正社　「日本の伝統芸能」より）

sangaku 散楽 performing with one stilt and two stilts
all kinds of artistic performances and tricks are shown by a sangaku group, like a circus of modern times.


Performing acrobatic feats on poles above the ground is also part of the training of Shaolin. Practising the balance on one pole is also done.
Reference photos . shaolin and kung fu on poles

.................................................................................




gannin　願人 street performers


. gannin boozu 願人坊主 medicant monks .
Gannin Bozu

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


FOOD

dengaku 田楽 food on skewers, with misopaste
Usually firm tofu on skewers, grilled with red miso paste from Nagoya.
Also satoimo potatoes, fish and other vegetables are grilled like this.



nameshi dengaku なめし田楽 / 菜飯田楽
a dish of rice with vegetables and
a plate of red miso tofu dengaku
speciality of Aichi prefecture, Toyohashi town
This was a speciality at the Tokaido Station of Yoshida 吉田宿 (Toyohashi).

Also in Aichi at the town of Tsushima 津島市 there is a speciality called


fu dengaku 麩田楽
where fu gluten croutons are fried and eaten with red miso paste.



myooga dengaku ミョウガ田楽 / みょうが田楽 Japanese myoga ginger
Zingiber mioga
. . . CLICK here for Photos !




nasu dengaku 茄子田楽 eggplants with miso
an auspicious dish for summer (see above)





toofu dengaku 豆腐田楽 firm tofu on skewers with miso
White miso or red miso can be used.

In Kyoto, there is a special
"Giondoofu" tofu dengaku from the Gion quarters along the shirne Yasaka jinja. The shop "Niken no Chaya" 2軒の茶屋 is especially famous for it. There used to be two tea houses near the Great Gate to Gion Shrine 祇園神社の楼門. One was Fujiya 藤屋, the other Nakamuraya 中村屋. They have been added unter one roof to evade to pay taxes to the shrine and are therefore called "Two tea houses under one roof" (niken chaya 二軒茶屋). They are famous for their tofu dishes.
. . . CLICK here for Photos of the tea shops!

The tofu is stuck on a special bamboo skewer with two open ends, like a "pine needle", matsubagushi 松葉串 (matsuba gushi)
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
When the tofu is grilled on charcoal until halfway done, it is turned upside down and the miso is grilled.

Gion doofu 祇園豆腐 Gion Tofu

It has been prepared since the Edo period. Now only soy beans from Tottori and Hokkaido are used for the Tofu and sweet white miso paste from Kyoto for the dipping. Sometimes spinach leaves or other ingredients are added to the paste.
This tofu became quite famous during the Edo period and even in Edo there opened a tea house to sell it near Yushima, the
Giondoofu Ya 祇園豆腐屋.




There are also
niken chaya mochi 二軒茶屋餅（にけんちゃやもち）
with kinako soybean powder. Made since 1575, originally at two tea shops near the port, Kakuya and Minatoya 角屋と湊屋. The present owner of Kakuya is in the 21 generation and also sells local beer, miso and soy sauce. They also have a small museum of old tools in their shop.
from Ise town, Mie 三重県伊勢市
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Takamori Dengaku 高森田楽
The village of Takamori near Mt. Aso is famous for preserving this food tradition.
TAKAMORI DENGAKU HOZONKAI
郷土料理阿蘇高森田楽の里



*****************************
Worldwide use


*****************************
Things found on the way


*****************************
HAIKU and SENRYU

kigo for mid-spring
dengaku 田楽 dengaku dishes
kinome dengaku 木の芽田楽（きのめでんがく）
dengaku with fresh tree sprouts
dengaku yaki 田楽焼（でんがくやき）grilling dengaku
dengaku toofu 田楽豆腐（でんがくどうふ）tofu-dengaku
dengaku sashi 田楽刺（でんがくざし） skewer for dengaku


kigo for all summer
nasubi dengaku 茄子田楽（なすびでんがく）dengaku with eggplants



observance kigo for the New Year

. dengaku matsuri 田楽祭/雪祭り Dengaku dance festival .
Niino no yukimatsuri 新野の雪祭 (にいののゆきまつり)
snow festival at Niino


. Nishiura dengaku 西浦田楽 (にしうれでんがく)
Dengaku dance at Nishiura village .


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


田楽もかたき豆腐にかたき味噌　
dengaku mo kataki toofu ni kataki miso

dengaku too -
firm tofu and
firm miso paste

Takahama Kyoshi 　高浜虚子



The Red Hatcho-Miso from Okazaki is quite firm.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


田楽は昔は目で見今は食ひ
dengaku wa mukashi wa me de ima wa kui

dengaku, well,
in olden times to look at,
now to eat it

anonymous


*****************************
Related words

***** WASHOKU : Dishes from Niigata and Echigo

***** WASHOKU : General Information

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::