The Origin of Kokeshi_5
>> Jun 8, 2010 –
History of KOKESHI,
traditional-kokeshi,
tsuchiyu
[kokeshi description]
- artisan : Kazue Abe
- tall : 38cm(15inch)
- max width : 10cm(4inch)
I have discussed "the origin of kokeshi" until now.They are summarized as below:
- There are some notable features of kokeshi - "dolls with no limbs","doll in Tohoku,north-east region In Japan","doll by using lathe".
- The direct ancestors of kokeshi are still unclear,they might even be non-existent.
- It is unreasonable that the reason of kokeshi with no limbs is attributed to backwardness of Tohoku.
- The beginning of production of kokeshi is at most in the early 19th.
Now let me talk about the origin of kokeshi considering the above.
Why with No Limbs?
At first,I think kokeshi was just a "new item" by wood turners - I don't think it is based on "esoteric mystery" or something - but I "do" think it was a new attempt in crafting dolls based on artisan's practical purpose and aesthetic.I'll talk about it later.
"Why with no limbs?" - Alan Booth interpreted it as fetish substitutes.
But - I really admire him for deeply thinking about Japanese kokeshi - I think he "overestimated the position of kokeshi" - because "kokeshi really didn't took root in Tohoku as its custom or convention".
The beginning of production of kokeshi was at most in the early 19th,and they got old-fashioned in the early 20th - for only 100 years or so.Although they were spotlighted as "folk art craft in Tohoku" once again by kokeshi manias in 1930s,that is "another thing".
If they had really taken root in Tohoku culture as fetish substitutes or mementos,relics of them would have been left in its traditional culture like custom or convention or folklore in one way or another.But I haven't heard or seen such cases.So,I think - "kokeshi didn't prevailed in Tohoku as much as we thought".
Then again,why kokeshi with no limbs? I simply think "artisan just didn't create kokeshi in their shapes".They were sure that anyone could easily recognize kokeshi as dolls even without their limbs.
Please remember just stick dolls - "commoners kids of those days played with these simple stick dolls"(cf."The Origin of Kokeshi_3").So,"it make no difference whether with limbs or not".
But their judgements were really right as toy business? It was because kokeshi were replaced with more realistic tin toys that they they got old-fashioned in the early 20th.But I think this is also a supporting evidence that kokeshi didn't deeply took root in Tohoku.
(Actually,I even doubt artisans really intended to craft kokeshi as "toys" because the design of them were heading for "art" - in terms of their shape or painting patterns.)
However - I still had one question about "with no limbs" - why didn't they just carve shape of limbs on the surface of kokeshi? - this was common practice in crafting dolls or sculptures.Actually,we can see it in creative-kokeshi,but I have never seen it in traditional kokeshi - while other dolls or wooden sculptures has been caved by using them.
I think "artisans stayed full value of their skills,wood turning".And this was the most significant key to "the origin of kokeshi".
"Why with no limbs?" - Alan Booth interpreted it as fetish substitutes.
But - I really admire him for deeply thinking about Japanese kokeshi - I think he "overestimated the position of kokeshi" - because "kokeshi really didn't took root in Tohoku as its custom or convention".
The beginning of production of kokeshi was at most in the early 19th,and they got old-fashioned in the early 20th - for only 100 years or so.Although they were spotlighted as "folk art craft in Tohoku" once again by kokeshi manias in 1930s,that is "another thing".
If they had really taken root in Tohoku culture as fetish substitutes or mementos,relics of them would have been left in its traditional culture like custom or convention or folklore in one way or another.But I haven't heard or seen such cases.So,I think - "kokeshi didn't prevailed in Tohoku as much as we thought".
Then again,why kokeshi with no limbs? I simply think "artisan just didn't create kokeshi in their shapes".They were sure that anyone could easily recognize kokeshi as dolls even without their limbs.
Please remember just stick dolls - "commoners kids of those days played with these simple stick dolls"(cf."The Origin of Kokeshi_3").So,"it make no difference whether with limbs or not".
But their judgements were really right as toy business? It was because kokeshi were replaced with more realistic tin toys that they they got old-fashioned in the early 20th.But I think this is also a supporting evidence that kokeshi didn't deeply took root in Tohoku.
(Actually,I even doubt artisans really intended to craft kokeshi as "toys" because the design of them were heading for "art" - in terms of their shape or painting patterns.)
However - I still had one question about "with no limbs" - why didn't they just carve shape of limbs on the surface of kokeshi? - this was common practice in crafting dolls or sculptures.Actually,we can see it in creative-kokeshi,but I have never seen it in traditional kokeshi - while other dolls or wooden sculptures has been caved by using them.
I think "artisans stayed full value of their skills,wood turning".And this was the most significant key to "the origin of kokeshi".
Why in Tohoku?
There was a much booming industry in Tohoku at that time - lacquerware.Its main objects covered with lacquer were wooden products - bowls,cups,dishes and so on.These utensils needed much skills of wood turning.So,many woodworkers were asked to come and settle there.They were highly hailed -"in the beginning".
Originally,wood products were controlled by woodworkers -from chopping down trees to distributing products.But when the industry developed,the new production system was introduced for high volume production -division of labour.The more lacquerware prevailed in Japan,the more its division of labour became thorough - it caused the reduction of woodworker's power.They were degraded as the position of "wood turning workers".Some of them got out of their business.
Some struggled to seek new fields,in which they could manage by themselves and take advantage of their own skills.Then,they found a new rising,but still uncertain market in Tohoku - hot spa.The custom of touji,a kind of Balneotherapy had been prevailing in Tohoku(cf."Relax in Onsen") in 19th,so they moved into a new business - wood crafting in hot spa areas.
They tried desperately to craft many wood crafts there -spinning top,lamp stand,pot,bowl and so on by using lathe - although they were too simple wood crafts without lacquer -because they were not lacquerers.
This was the main background of "why in Tohoku?".
Originally,wood products were controlled by woodworkers -from chopping down trees to distributing products.But when the industry developed,the new production system was introduced for high volume production -division of labour.The more lacquerware prevailed in Japan,the more its division of labour became thorough - it caused the reduction of woodworker's power.They were degraded as the position of "wood turning workers".Some of them got out of their business.
Some struggled to seek new fields,in which they could manage by themselves and take advantage of their own skills.Then,they found a new rising,but still uncertain market in Tohoku - hot spa.The custom of touji,a kind of Balneotherapy had been prevailing in Tohoku(cf."Relax in Onsen") in 19th,so they moved into a new business - wood crafting in hot spa areas.
They tried desperately to craft many wood crafts there -spinning top,lamp stand,pot,bowl and so on by using lathe - although they were too simple wood crafts without lacquer -because they were not lacquerers.
This was the main background of "why in Tohoku?".
Beauty of Wood turning
I said above,"artisans stayed full value of their skills,wood turning" - it was based on not only their practical purpose - most use of their skills - ,but also their "aesthetic".
[sculpture description]
- kind : sculpture of peacock by hand with chisels and knives
- type : traditional "Sasano-Itto-Hori" in Yamagata Tohoku
- height : 7cm(3inch)
- width : 15cm(6inch)
Before lacquerware developed,wooden product had been plain.The quality of wood products depended on their balanced symmetry,beautiful curving line,smoothness,or fine wood grain -these were all wood turner's fields.But when lacquerware prevailed,people valued much highly lacquering than wood turning -people preferred "fancy colouring" to "austere elegance".
This was so humiliating to wood turners.In addition,there were already many popular carved dolls or sculptures by hand with using chisels or knives - the above picture is an example,which was one of major sculptures in Tohoku (frankly speaking,I have to acknowledge I also like it).Anyway,once they moved into new fields,they had to look for their own product - differentiation strategy.
Kokeshi was one of the fruits of their much efforts.I think they attempted "re-establishment of wood turning".I think,kinakina,simple wood object,a kind of baby's pacifier(dummy) was also "one of their attempts".
(So I also think - "there must have been many obscure wooden products by them")
This was so humiliating to wood turners.In addition,there were already many popular carved dolls or sculptures by hand with using chisels or knives - the above picture is an example,which was one of major sculptures in Tohoku (frankly speaking,I have to acknowledge I also like it).Anyway,once they moved into new fields,they had to look for their own product - differentiation strategy.
Kokeshi was one of the fruits of their much efforts.I think they attempted "re-establishment of wood turning".I think,kinakina,simple wood object,a kind of baby's pacifier(dummy) was also "one of their attempts".
(So I also think - "there must have been many obscure wooden products by them")
Why do people feel comfortable when they see kokeshi? I think it is attributed not only to their pretty and rustic visage,but also to their form - symmetry and smooth curving lines.This is so simple,but not easy works."Traditional-kokeshi" - if the term has really some degree of positive significance,it is attributed to artisans' historical attitudes to lathe,wood turning,which has been the cornerstone of their professionalism,I think.
