Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: thing

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Kakemono

掛物掛け物掛軸
alternative words: Kakejiku
keywords: art , thing
related topics: Heian period , Muromachi period , Tokonoma , Japanese calligraphy
related web sites: http://kakejikudou.web.fc2.com
explanation: Picture put on a luxurious role paper and admired while vertically hung on the wall. Introduced during Heian period to Japan as a practical mean to represent Buddhist figures, it had become a medium for any pictures or calligraphy thanks to a development of "tokonoma" in Muromachi period. Being easily interchangeable following a seasonal change, it has become very popular in traditional houses. Don't confuse with "makimono" which should be scrolled horizontally.

Kamidana

神棚
alternative words: Kami-dana, Kami dana, Shrine in miniature, Shinto altar
keywords: craft , thing
related topics: Amaterasu , Shintoism , Edo period , Shimenawa
related web sites: http://www.kamidana.com , http://www.phoenix-c.or.jp/~jinjya/sub1/sub1-1.html
explanation: During Edo period, Japanese have been accustomed to visit Ise shrine which worships Sun Goddess, Amaterasu. There, it was distributing "ofuda", a kind of paper strip which is considered having the same holly power as shrine itself. So people built an altar in home to install it. Later this practice has been generalized for other shinto shrines. Kamidana looks like a shrine in miniature and is installed on a shelf. It should face to south or east direction and avoid a noisy place like near door.

Kenzan

剣山
keywords: ikebana , thing
related topics: Ikebana
explanation: Tool used by ikebana, allowing to plant flowers or stems on a water basin. It looks like a shoe brush but bristles are replaced by needles.

Kokeshi

こけし小芥子
alternative words: Kokeshi doll
keywords: art , craft , thing
related topics: Japanese doll , Kimono
related web sites: http://homepage3.nifty.com/bokujin/ , http://www.geocities.jp/kokeshi_net/
explanation: Wooden Japanese female doll, composed of a cylindrical body with motif of polychrome Japanese robe (Kimono) and a round head attached at the top. The fabrication began in Meiji period as a tourist gift of hot springs in Tohoku region (north western region) where farmers had many free time during long winter. According to manufacturing towns there exist a dozen of styles and old kokeshi is an object of collection.

Mikoshi

神輿
alternative words: Portable shrine, Portable shinto shrine
keywords: festival , religion , thing
related topics: Heian period , Shintoism
related web sites: http://www.big.or.jp/~haru/
explanation: Originated from a palanquin to transport nobles, it was first used to transport a deity from Hachimangu shrine in Kyushu to Todaiji temple in Nara in 749. During Heian period, it became a popular practice to carry mikoshi to purify the land around a shrine in annual festival. Mikoshi is composed with an altar of about 50cm with a golden phoenix at the top and supported with 2 horizontal wooden bars of about 5m. The whole structure is carried by 20-30 persons, going zigzag and crying "wassho wassho".

Netsuke

根付根付け
keywords: craft , thing
related topics: Edo period
related web sites: http://www.netsuke.org , http://www.netsuke.com , http://www.netsuke.co.jp , http://www.kousei-s.com
explanation: Kimono having no pocket to carry things such as tobacco pouches or seal cases, Japanese were hanging them to the belt (Obi). In order to avoid losing them inopportunely, people attached a small toggle (netsuke) at the cord of pouches. This custom has been expanded since the middle of Edo period and netsuke became a real artistic product. Its size is about 3cm and made with ivory, jade or metal. The preferred motifs are legendary figures, animals and birds. Anei Kaigyokusai is the most famous netsuke artist.

Satsuma ware

薩摩焼
alternative words: Satsumayaki, Satsuma-yaki, Satsuma yaki, Satsuma ceramic, Satsuma
keywords: art , craft , korea , thing
related topics: Invasion of Korea , Satsuma domain
related web sites: http://www.minaminippon.co.jp/kikaku/satuma/satuma21.htm , http://www.synapse.ne.jp/taka/tyoum.html
explanation: Ceramic originated by Korean potters brought by Shimazu Yoshihiro during Korean campaign of 16th century. Though the original technique has been lost in Korea, their descendants are still perpetuating the technique in southern Kyushu at Inashirogawa and Ryumonji. The most famous ceramic is Kokuyu (Kuro Satsuma i.e. black Satsuma) and Hakuyu (Shiro Satsuma i.e. white Satsuma).

Shimenawa

注連縄
alternative words: Shimenawa rope, Shime nawa, Sacred rope, Shinto rope
keywords: craft , shintoism , sumo , thing
related topics: Shintoism , Edo period , Yokozuna , Torii
related web sites: http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~auto/SIMENAWA.html
explanation: A rope made by twisting together straws. It is hung horizontally to indicate a sacred shintoism place such as praying hall or torii. Since Edo period, it has been also used as a belt of sumo champion, yokozuna during his presentation (yokozun means "horizontal rope"). The most of shrines hang "shimenawa" with its root (thick side) on the right but Izumo shrine observes the inverse. Until recently, it was made by farmers living in vicinity but it has become difficult to find volunteers.

Takarabune

宝船
alternative words: Takara bune, Takara no fune, Fortune ship, Treasure ship
keywords: thing
related topics: Muromachi period , 7 fortune gods
related web sites: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/matsukinpapa/ucd/essay16.htm
explanation: 7 fortune gods, invented in Muromachi period, have been popularized during Edo period with the collective presentation on a sailing ship: according to a popular belief, when man got a good dream by putting a ship image under the pillow on the 1st January, the whole year should be fortunate. The ship image is still used during a new year celebration and a shop's opening ceremony. The concept of "fortune ship" may have originated from China but the number of gods is 8, there.

Tatami

畳
alternative words: Japanese mat
keywords: architecture , thing
related topics: Muromachi period
related web sites: http://www1.coralnet.or.jp/taro/tatami.html , http://www.inh.co.jp/~yuichiro/100kaisetu001.html
explanation: Mats to cover the floor of Japanese traditional houses. A block of nested straws is covered by igusa plant (a kind of reed) When Tatami is worn, you exchange only igusa cover. Initially laid only at the sleeping place like a bed, its usage had been extended everywhere since Muromachi period in upper class houses, and also to middle class ones since Edo period. A tatami has about 90cm width and 180cm height and this surface (Jo) is used as the unit of a room size in Japan.

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