The Origin of Kokeshi_2

The Journey of Discovering Origin of Kokeshi

[description]

• name :AkaBeko
• kind : papier-mache
• production area : Aizu,in Tohoku
• tall : 10cm(4inch)
• width : 12cm(5inch)

"Why the people accepted dolls with no limbs?" - one of the most usual detections is,"there must had been preceding dolls alike to kokeshi - that is, if there had been dolls alike to kokeshi before,the people would have accepted latecomer odd-shaped kokeshi easily.Then,researchers went to the journey of discovering "the origins of kokeshi" - I'll introduce some examples of their discoveries.

Some say,"there are several kokeshi-like dolls discovered from certain remains of Kyoto,the ancient capital in Japan,which are estimated to have been made in 9th.They has no limbs,so they might be the origin of kokeshi."

Others say,"there had been phallic worship in the ancient time in the world around,and there had been sculptures of phalluses discovered in certain areas in Japan as well.Kokeshi are alike to phalluses,and the icon memory of the ancient worship may still remain in our deep psyche.So,they might be the origin of kokeshi."

Irrefutable Theories

Great - as for the first opinion,"Expand wider range of search areas,and we can find the origins in more areas" - I'm sure there are too many simple and primitive dolls alike to kokeshi buried all over the world.We may find the origins even in Lascaux,and someone can say "the origin of modern abstract art was in Lascaux,today,we discovered the origin of kokeshi is in Lascaux as well" - now,kokeshi is registered as a World Heritage...

As for the second,it seems just like "dream interpretation" - a psychiatrist says to me,"you seem to be attached to kokeshi.But actually,it is just reflection of your much sexual frustration.Because kokeshi is the symbol of phallus" - I'm so dumb,and feel so sorry about kokeshi because it was just an outlet for my sexual frustration.
I have read that old kokeshi artisans had crafted some of wooden phalluses wickedly - but actually,they did so based on their beliefs -phallic worship-,not just wickedly.And kinakina,originally a baby's pacifier(dummy),was deliberately intended for their oral stage -I'll be really dammed!! - I'll list a picture of kinakina again left for your self-analysis.

Actually,these opinions seem quite empty answers- because they ignore an important context of the question -"When" and "Where".

On the last post,I mentioned the opinion of Alan Booth(cf."The Origin of Kokeshi_1").His theory assumed the following points:

1. Kokeshi prevailed especially in Tohoku,north-east region in Japan
2. Kokeshi prevailed from Edo period,about 18th-19th

These are commonly accepted.
So,he thought -there had been some horrible famines in Edo period,and Tohoku had been especially damaged so heavily that the people had killed their babies for their heavy starving.Therefore he concluded - "kokeshi may in origin have been fetish substitutes for children murdered at birth".

I think his opinion is more comprehensive and (therefore) more persuasive than "the theory of ancient doll-origin" or "the theory of phalluses or some such-origin".

Advocates of both theories had to disprove the above facts with more evidences that kokeshi had prevailed nationwide in Japan as much as in Tohoku region.
Or, if they thought kokeshi had disappeared in almost Japan except Tohoku region,they had to explain the reason why they had disappeared in many areas and had been left only in Tohoku.

Indeed,even though I can acknowledge the possibility that ancient dolls or sculptures might affect kokeshi artisans as their inner imagination,I can't accept these theories without evidences of direct relation between them and kokeshi - for example,"phallic worship prevailed especially in Tohoku".

The point is "kokeshi in Tohoku".I think none of opinions are persuasive without solving the matter of Tohoku region.

(So,I can still understand the following opinion:"Kokeshi might be just by chance the invention by some artisans in Tohoku,in Edo period" or so -apart from its persuasiveness,this is more straightforward.)

Next time,I'll introduce more comprehensive opinion than the above opinions - Kunio Yanagita,a Japanese folklorist's opinion.

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The Origin of Kokeshi_1

What's the matter with "the Origin of Kokeshi?

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Tsunehiko Watanabe
• type : Traditional Tsuchiyu
• tall : 20cm(8inch)
• max width : 8cm(3inch)

"The origin of kokeshi" - this topic had been very often argued among many people - not only kokeshi manias but also historians or folklorists in Japan and even in some other countries.Of-course,it remains unanswered,but it seems almost disappearing as kokeshi are losing their popularity.

At first,I couldn't understand the point of the argument.

While there had been many "something traditional" in Japan,why had this topic especially been argued -even among historians or folklorists?I'm also interested in some of other Japanese traditional wood crafts,but I have never heard such heated arguments about their origins like those about kokeshi's origin while some of them still remains unclear.

To begin with,what does the word "THE ORIGIN" refer to?If you are asked "who are your origin?",you can reply any answers - "the scion of a Roman aristocracy","the descendant of monkey","from mother and father" - although these are extreme rhetoric,I have often seen this kind of confused arguments in some books about kokeshi.

Anyway,what of the topic had attracted even historians or folklorists? I think there are three main factors.

1. kokeshi has no limbs
2. kokeshi had been made with rokuro
3. kokeshi had originally been made in Tohoku,north-east region in Japan

Why were these factors so interested? I'll discuss them respectively.

Kokeshi as "Heteromorphous" Doll

"Why do kokeshi have no limbs?"I think anyone who have any interest in kokeshi must wonder about it - although I have read many books about kokeshi,I have never met such books that dealt with the question directly -except one book,"Looking for the lost".

There were two main approaches to its mystery -One was sociological,and another was economic.

Cultural anthropologist or folklorists (or some psychologists) often focus their attention on "something unusual" in a community -such as odd customs,taboos and so on - from their own views.
It is because such something unusual can often be the keys to veiled history or social structure or mass mentality.They tried to find "the reason why the people accepted them".And kokeshi - dolls with no limbs - were one of "something unusual".

That is,as for them,"the origin of kokeshi" meant "the reason why the people accepted such "heteromorphous",doll with abnormal shape or structure.

Alan Booth,the author of "Looking for the lost" interpreted them as "fetish substitutes".I'll introduce his opinion.

At that time,Tohoku region was so heavily-impoverished that the people could not afford to raise their kids,so they killed their babies after birth.Therefore,

"these cute,tender-faced little dolls,made from two simple pieces of wood,a sphere for the head and a cylinder for the body,may in origin have been fetish substitutes for children murdered at birth."(*1)

"The absence of limbs might be disquieting,I suppose,if you had made the possible connection between kokeshi and child murder and had read Mrs.Suzuki's account of a midwife's attempt to quicken a death by wrapping an infant tightly in rags so that its arms were bound invisibly to its sides,or if you knew that one of the traditional attributes of Japanese ghosts is that they have no feet".(*1)

I really respect his straight analysis,but I can't say yes to his opinion because there is no found tangible evidences such as old records,oral legends,or customs about it.

And in addition,why had kokeshi been sold narrowly at onsen(hot spa) spots ? - as I mentioned on the previous posts(cf."traditional kokeshi"),they had been made and sold in the deep of the mountains as souvenir.Of-course,it is possible that kokeshi were originally made as such fetish substitutes and later they changed into souvenir by loss of the initial intention.But if so,they needed to be made in a little more wider range of areas so that the custom of fetish substitutes took root? Or,conversely,there was originally another dolls which anyone could make for fetish substitutes or their babies'soul,and later they changed into kokeshi as they are today? - if so,we have to find such dolls,and they are truly "the origin of kokeshi".

I think it is possible because it is a fact that the people of the day killed their babies due to their heavy poorness in Japan.I read an article that some village in Tohoku had the custom that parent held a memorial service to make a small room and offer candies or sweets or toys for their dead kids -including killed babies by them - although the report didn't note there were kokeshi provided.

But I can't conclude it without any clear evidences.So,I'll talk another opinion of "the reason why the people accepted such odd dolls" next time.

(*1)Alan Booth,"Looking for the Lost,P129,Kodansha America,Inc.1996"

(*2)Ibid.,P130"

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"Stout" Kokeshi -Zao Kokeshi

Background of Zao

Mount Zao is an interesting and exciting area - first,as an outdoor recreation spot and second,as a historic district in Tohoku,Japan.

You can enjoy a variety of kind of outdoor recreation there - bicycling,camping,lake canoeing,river fishing,trekking,and climbing in summer,skating and skiing in winter.Of-course,after your recreation,you can relax in onsen(hot spa).

Another aspect of Mount Zao is "sacred mountain".It is one of the bases of an ancient Japanese religion,"Shugendo",whose practitioners do intensely ascetic practice in the deep in the mountains.The name "Zao" comes from the God name of Shugendo(*).

(accurately,the God name is "Zao-Gongen",which has both aspects of God and Buddha -it is because Shugendo itself has both aspects as a religion.In addition,its practitioners had played an important role in Japanese history -I'll discuss it another time.)

According to a lore,the beginning of onsen(hot spa) was early 2th -is that really?But even though it is rather overstated,it's sure that its area was opened up in the early time based on many remains and monuments.

The beginning of kokeshi production was in the close of the 19th,deliberately promoted on commercial basis - a souvenir shop owner sent one of his sons to Togatta,preceding kokeshi production area in order to master kokeshi,then he started selling them as a new souvenir product.It became a big hit - What a stout commercial spirit!And Its stout spirit is shown in their kokeshi.

Stocky Kokeshi

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Tsunekichi Abe
• type : Traditional Zao
• tall : 30cm(12inch)
• max width : 9cm(3.5inch)
• max circumference : 27cm(11inch)

Zao kokeshi originally comes from Togatta kokeshi.But Afterwards,many other area's artisans migrated there,and it formed unique characteristics.Don't you think this doll is rather stocky?This is the most characteristic of Zao kokeshi.

The second is drooping nose.I think his nose is cute.This is in contrast to Togatta kokeshi,its parent -inverted-v nose.Actually,Togatta had originally such drooping noses,and afterwards they were given "rhinoplasty surgery",whereas Zao's remains.I think he must run away from the surgery just as I used to runaway from an injection in my childhood.

By the way,he seems to be somewhat awkward -because of floral-print dress.So,I'm so sorry,he might be not a boy,but a girl!Anyway,she seems as if she was forced to put on Sunday best - this floral pattern is the artisan's own style and it gives some humorousness.It reminds me of my childhood - my parents bought Sunday best for my entrance ceremony at elementary school,which was far from looking good on brat me.

Porter and Stout

There was a big and heavy stone monument on one of the peaks in Mount Zao,called "Mt.Ganto",1485m(4872ft) high.According to a lore,it weighs about 140kg(308lbs),it was brought by a mountain porter.Is that really? but it's sure there was many mountain porters in the past in Japan.They were stocky and stout,and often big drinkers - unfortunately,although they had little chance to enjoy porter and stout.The frame of Zao kokeshi give me the image of them.Maybe their artisans have crafted them with their wish for their children's strong growth like such mountain porters.And as for me,I go to gym with wish for losing my beer gut!

 

 

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Hybrid Kokeshi -Hijiori Kokeshi

Background of Hijiori

As I have mentioned on previous posts,the origins of many traditional kokeshi -except Tsuchiyu kokeshi- are traced to Togatta or Naruko.Most of them basically inherit their genes from only either of the two - and later,they have built their own personalities as they have grown.

But there is one who naturally inherit his gene from both two sides -that's Hijiori kokeshi.

Hijiori,the meaning "broken elbow", is located in the deep mountains in Yamagata prefecture,famous for its heavy snowfall over 4m(4.4yard) in winter.

Its somewhat odd name come from a folklore - an old wounded Buddhist monk cured his injury by soaking in its onsen(hot spa) - his injury was "broken elbow"(Before knowing it,I had been pretty sure that people had often broken their elbows by slipping and falling on the heavy snowy mountain path).

So,why could Hijiori "have its cake and eat it too"? Its beginning period of kokeshi was the latter half 19th.Its founders had practised their skills at both Naruko and Togatta before.In addition,some Naruko artisans and some Toggata artisans had migrated to Hijiori.So,it resulted in the birth of the hybrid.

Half and Half Kokeshi

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Sei-ichi Suzuki
• type : Traditional Hijiori
• tall : 26cm(10inch)
• max width : 8cm(3inch)
• max circumference : 26cm(10inch)

This is a typical example of the hybrid."Large-headed" is inherited from Togatta kokeshi,and "square-shouldered" inherited from Naruko kokeshi.But accurately,her dominant gene seems to be Togatta's,because;

• red patterns radiating from the top of head
• red patterns from forehead down the side of both cheek
• eye with pupil,with lower eyelid
• piled up chrysanthemum patterns around body

These features are all Toggata's.But other Hijiori kokeshi have Naruko's features,so,as a whole,they are "half and half".

Well,haven't they built their own personalities but inherited characteristics?
See next picture.

Individual Kokeshi

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Shoichi Sato
• type : Traditional Hijiori
• tall : 30cm(12inch)
• max width : 10cm(4inch)
• max circumference : 30cm(12inch)

How about this unique visage? I am not sure whether this doll is a girl or a boy.Or,it might not be human -Zashiki-warashi,a child spirit in Tohoku.
But I 'am sure he(she) is a lively monkey - very often annoying his(her) parents.

Hijiori's artisans express such old Japanese rustic simpleness in their works,and this is just their style.

Generally,visages or expressions of kokeshi are also noticeable reflections of each artisan's individuality,and it especially applies to Hijiori's artisans.They seems to have pursued rather developments of their own individualities than those of their style as a group.

But, it is also an unavoidable matter - due to few artisans.Now,there are just several artisans in its group,and just one in the native town.

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The Icon in Traditional kokeshi - Naruko Kokeshi

Background of Naruko Kokeshi

Naruko is a onsen town located in Miyagi,Tohoku.It has been one of the three biggest onsen town in Tohoku - that means it has been the biggest of all kokeshi production towns.So,Naruko kokeshi is the most well-known to such an extent that its name ring a bell even with Japanese who know little about kokeshi like my father - he used to rub his stiff neck with kokeshi to relieve them.

There is a famous saying among kokeshi manias - "Kokeshi collecting starts and ends with Naruko".It vividly represents its popularity.So,maybe I should revise the title - "The King of traditional kokeshi".

Its beginning of kokeshi production was in early 19th.According to a folklore,the origin was a wooden charm figure by a native Shinto priest - he went to "Ise Grand Shrine" ,virtual head shrine in Japan,about 700km(450mile) far from his home all the way,and met across a wooden charm there.After returning his home,he made the doll on the model of the charm for souvenir.
(actually,this folklore is so important in the study of origin of kokeshi.I will talk about it next time.)

Naruko kokeshi is really the king in the following respect:

• the largest number of artisans
• strong leadership that it have inspired other kokeshi production areas
• many fans from beginners to experts

What's the draw? I think one of the keys is a "draw" -elegant drawing and painting.Anyway,see its features.

Truly Elegant Kokeshi

 

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Akira Goto
• type : Traditional Naruko
• tall : 25cm(10inch)
• max width : 7cm(2.8inch)
• max circumference : 22cm(8.7inch)

Please see this floral patterns around the body(especially,lower part).This is chrysanthemum, as same as Togatta kokeshi.

The difference between them is its shape - one is lozenge-like pattern(somewhat extending downward),the other is repeated bowed patterns,the former called "Hishi-Kiku",literally lozenge-chrysanthemum,the latter called "Kasane-Kiku",piled up-chrysanthemum.
("Kiku" means chrysanthemum in Japanese).And this lozenge-chrysanthemum is the "trademark" of Naruko kokeshi.

See another picture.

Colourful and luxurious pattern! (if you don't think so,that's my fault.Sorry for my poor picture...)Such picture patterns are seen in Japanese pottery and porcelain,contemporary trendy product - yes,Naruko's patterns were inspired by them,so they were "the fashion icon" in traditional kokeshi.

Next is about her hair style.She plaits her hair in one thick braid with red ribbon,called "Mizu-hiki".This hair style with Mizu-hiki originally comes from Kyoto doll,where has been the major cultural center in Japan.We can also find she is truly cultured and elegant.

The third feature,but the most popular characteristic is "squeaky head" - when you twist her head,her head squeaks.Of-course,it is due not to her worn-out,but to a special set-up of attaching head part to body part.(and again off-course,I'm sorry that I'm never liable for the result of your twisting her head as heavily as twisting your waist).

Other Features:

• square shoulder(I think this is also urbane design like shoulder pat)
• gentle curbed body line,and (somewhat) hourglass body
• head diameter nearly same as body diameter

Actually her body is so steady that she can deal even with an earthquake calmly -compare to this Togatta kokeshi!

Straight-A student in Kokeshi

As a whole,she is perfect,and I find well-calculated design in her.I really respect the founders of Naruko kokeshi in terms of their pursuit of its formal beauty.But at the same time,and frankly speaking,I can't exactly understand - most kokeshi authorities say,"Simpleness and rusticity of kokeshi give us much tranquillity".And they also admire Naruko kokeshi as the representative of such kokeshi.I agree to the former in general,but how about the latter? I think she stands far from such unsophistication.


Maybe this is the matter of comparison not within kokeshi,but with other dolls and so on.And I might be jealous of her - because I had been C student at best,and even gotten "F" in art class...

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Earth Mother Kokeshi - Nuruyu Kokeshi

Latecomer Kokeshi

There is a large-scaled,traditional -about 300 years of history- summer festival in Tohoku,Japan - Aomori Nebuta Matsuri.

It is very often said that natives of Tohoku are silent,careful,and stoic (and following cut and dried line is,"harsh weather in Tohoku has built their such characters").But if you go and see its festival with the hearsay,you may think either its character analysis is quite wrong or they are stressful enough to erupt - they are quite intense during the festival.

Nuruyu is located in the above Aomori prefecture.It is so rustic and calm onsen(hot spa) spot that it seems to be no related to such a revel - that's right,but Nuruyu kokeshi are aggressively involved in it.

Its beginning period of kokeshi production was about early 20th,not so early(according to an old record,there were some wooden dolls in early 19th,but it isn't proven till now).And there were mainly two trends in style of kokeshi -one was Naruko style,which was literally based on the design of Naruko kokeshi,the most major kokeshi production area,and another was original by its native artisans.

I will introduce the latter to you because "aggressively involved in it" is the latter.It has unique characteristics,and these characteristics reflect wide range of native history in the region.

Truly Native

[kokeshi description]

• artisan ; Senzo Mori
• tall ; 25cm(10inch)
• max width : 6.7cm(2.6inch)
• max circumferences : 21cm(8.2inch)

You may think this doll is quite different from other kokeshi.It make sense because:

• sensual body line
• purely dark hair
• long and thick eyelash
• gaudy painting
  

These features are opposite to "pretty" - innocuous remark which most people tell when they are asked to give impression of kokeshi. The most striking is "the tattoo of heavy-bearded Kabuki-face".What a far out fashion! She is rather avant-garde.

Actually,this design is one of Kabuki pictures,and it is inspired by Nebuta festival - Many floats are paraded in the festival,and most of them are painted with Kabuki pictures.So,this design is based on its native tradition.

And look at the red spiral pattern just below the Kabuki picture.This apparently seems to be just plain pattern.But this pattern comes from an ethnic - Ainu,Japanese indigenous people.This is called "Moreu",one of the patterns in their ethnic costume.Ainu have lived mainly in Hokkaido,northernmost area in Japan,and some of them have lived in Tohoku.So,we can see that the doll inherits the native design from them as well. Honestly,her look have some of the same features as Ainu have -purely dark hair,long and thick eyelash so on.I think Nukuyu artisans truly respect Ainu culture and tradition.

Earth Mother Kokeshi

Some people say this kind of kokeshi "play rather eccentric",and it is because that they are latecomers - that is,"they need draw everybody's attention." This is the landscape which we have seen before -"traditional kokeshi versus creative kokeshi".

In fact,I think this kind of Nuruyu kokeshi is "a creative kokeshi among traditional kokeshi".But at the same time,I have something to say,"This is really creative".This is far from "uniform product" - some of creative kokeshi are the case.And as we saw above, it really includes its tradition deeply rooted in its long history,in a way,than other traditional kokeshi.

Above all,she is so broad-minded.She can accept everything with her smile,even such a heavy-bearded man like bogeyman - he is also in Tohoku,Japan,called ""Namahage". I think she seems to be a symbol of  Earth Mother -who is the archetype of all people.

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Whether call it kokeshi or not?

[kokeshi description]

• artisan : Jitsutaro Susumago
• type : Traditional Hanamai
• tall : 18cm(7inch)

"Faceless" Kokeshi

Look at this odd object in the picture.It is literally "faceless".This is called "Kinakina",a local craft in Tohoku.If I wake at midnight and look at it,I may scream from fear as if I met across "Noppera-bo", a faceless ghost in Japanese. It looks like kokeshi.Kokeshi authorities say that this was originally a baby's pacifier(dummy),already in being in early 19th.Indeed,the reason why this craft is colourless is its craftworkers might think dye could be toxic to sucking babies.

I said above, "it looks LIKE KOKESHI".It is also "faceless" in another way. There used to be a little argument among kokeshi manias about it -"kinakina is included in kokeshi or not?".Most authorities voted "No" -for the main reason of "just a pacifier".Some of them even say that kinakina shouldn't be appreciated as much as kokeshi.But at the same time,they almost always introduced it in their own authors,and even says in them that kinakina was the basis of Hanamaki kokeshi,a type of traditional kokeshi.I hear early kokeshi in Hanamaki was "painted kinakina".Is this treatment unfair - of a contributors to kokeshi?

Features of Kinakina

• Faceless and colourless
• Bobbing head -head inserted into body part somewhat loosely(but the extent that it is not easily pulled off)
• Slim body -for baby's easy grasping

Just What's Kokeshi?

"Kinakina shouldn't be appreciated as much as kokeshi" -the aforementioned statement really reflects the essence of the matter. Actually,the word "kokeshi" was formed as a unified term in 1939 -"unified" means the words for wooden dolls had varied regionally before(I'll discuss about this further more some time soon).And the more important is "why was it formed?"

At that time,there was a movement of revaluation of kokeshi.It was originally just a toy,furthermore,in the stage of old-fashioned "dog" from the market analysis,being ousted by tin toys.Then,kokeshi was miraculously "promoted to the higher position" of craft art by voluntary kokeshi devotees.

I really respect them because kokeshi would not have been what it is without them.But as for this too simple faceless doll,kinakina,"it wasn't their taste".Maybe they thought as following:"Kokeshi should be one of craft ARTS.And ART should be an activity which express some beauty or serious message or some such.But kinakina is just an infant toy,and moreover non-expressive! So,it shouldn't be included in kokeshi." I can partly take their points.But someone might say "this is a kind of abstract ARTS!" -unfortunately,I have little appreciation for abstract arts,but if Tarou Okamoto were alive,he might take a case for it.

Anyway,apart from its artistic quality,it is a little pity that kinakina is excluded from the category of kokeshi in spite of its primitive ancestor.So,at least I will regard it with reverence based on our traditional moral -"filial piety". Although,I really want to be exempt from being possessed by ghost.

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