Goshiki Five Colors

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Goshiki Daruma and Color Symbols
五色だるま ― 色彩散歩



Goshiki 五色　means "Five Colors".

The concept GOSHIKI comes from Buddhist philosphy, so I quote part of an excellent explanation of this online dictionary:

五識 The five consciousnesses produced in connection with the five sense organs of eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin, which take as their objects the five physical categories of form, sound, smell, taste and tactile objects: therefore, the visual consciousness 眼識, auditory consciousness 耳識, olfactory consciousness 鼻識, gustatory consciousness 舌識 and tactile consciousness 身識.

The five consciousnesses taught in the Awakening of Faith:
(1) The activity (karmic) consciousness 業識, which arises with the unenlightened mind due to original ignorance.
(2) The changing (transforming) consciousness 轉識, wherein the activity consciousness undergoes a single transformation producing the subjective view.
(3) The manifesting consciousness 現識, in which based on transformation of the activity consciousness the objective world is manifested.
(4) The knowing consciousness 智識, in which the mind creates mistaken discrimination based on its perception of the objects in the external world.
(5) The continuing consciousness 相續識, wherein, based on mistaken discrimination, the thoughts of pain and pleasure continue without abatement, thus enabling the continuity of samsara.
http://pears2.lib.ohio-state.edu/acmuller/dicts/ubdict/data/007.htm




Daruma Dolls in five colors 五色だるま
are ment to remind us of these truths all the time.



The Heart Sutra 般若心経 teaches us:
"All color is void, all void is color".
Color means worldly affairs, or on a more scholarly level, the five Skandhas.

Sutra, Sutras, Buddhist scriptures (kyoo, o-kyoo お経)
Hanya Shingyo 般若心経　Heart Sutra　and more

深大寺達磨 Temple Jindaiji
Jindai-ji Temple and the Sanskrit ajikan meditation 阿字観


"During his practice of contemplation and illumination the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (観音菩薩) attained Truth. By means of his minutely subtle Dharma practice he penetrated the five skandhas, perceiving them as empty.....".
http://www.buddhanet.net/heartl03.htm

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From the Great Buddhist Dictionary (仏教大辞典、小学館) we can learn the following:

The five basic colors are
Green, Yellow, Red, White and Black.
They refer to the five Skandhas (goshiki 五識), the five Wisdoms (gochi 五知) or the five Buddhas (gobutsu 五佛) as an expression of the various Buddhist teachings. In Japan there was the custom during the Heian period to hang a scroll of Buddha Amida Nyorai in front of a dying person, whith a fivecolored string (goshiki no ito 五色の糸) coming from the hand of the Buddha extending to the hands of the person. If you hold it firmly during your last minutes, you were assured a strait passage to the Paradise of the West (Amida Joodo 阿弥陀浄土).

One of the objects in the hand of a Kannon with 1000 Hands (Senju Kannon 千手観音) is a Fivecolored Cloud (goshikiun 五色雲).
The water poured over the head of the statue of Shakyamuni as a child during the festival for his birthday on April 8 (kanbutsu-e潅仏会) is called Fivecolored Water (goshikisui 五色水).

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But what are these five colors?



Tibetan Prayer Flags
The flags are fashioned in colors representing the elements of the universe.
Blue is the sky;
White is for the clouds;
Red is fire;
Green is water; and
Yellow is for the earth.
Each wave of the flag by the wind is considered one complete reading of the prayers printed on the flags.
http://www.karmacarpets.com/tibetan.htm

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. Japanese Prayer Flags in Five Colors
(goshiki ban 五色幡) 　　


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In Edo there were five temples with five identical statues of Fudoo Myoo (Acala) (Goshiki Fudoo 五色不動) to secure supernatural power for the protection of the city from the north. The stautes only differed in the color of the eyes: The place names for the black eyed Meguro and the white eyed Mejiro are still used in Tokyo today. The red eyed was in Komagome, the yellow eyed in Komatsugawa and the green eyed in Setagaya.

Goshiki Fudo / Fudo eyes in five colors in Edo
江戸の五色不動明王


Meguro Fudo Sama 目黒のお不動さま
The most famous of these five Fudoo is the one in Meguro, where even today on the 28th of each month, the day dedicated to Fudoo, there is a huge festival and bazaar in the temple grounds where I always went to check out Daruma dolls and antiques. If you visit there, do not forget to walk around the main temple hall to the little forest in the back. There is someone waiting for you worth meeting. I will not spoil your fun by telling!

On the 28th there are also great fire rituals (goma kuyoo 護摩供養) at different hours during the day, where you can get your talismans and other belongings consecrated by Holy Fire. I once bought one talisman with the number of our car for Traffic Safety and the priest would not hand it over until it had passed the Holy Smoke. Since that day, we never had an accident with that car.
The temple compounds are quite big, with a lot of other buildings and statues to look at. One of my favorite is a stone grotto with En-no-Gyooja, the Founder of the Mountain Priests (yamabushi). I strongly recommend you visit Meguro Fudoo on any 28th day of a month, it brings back memories of OLD EDO which you have never known.
Have a look at Meguro temple.
- - quote - tomiaki/goshiki/meguro -

My Visit to
. Meguro Fudo 目黒不動 .
and Tako Yakushi TAKO Yakushi　多幸薬師

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There are also some scenic areas in Japan called GOSHIKI.
Usually they have very colorful natural sourroundings to justify this name.

The Five-colored Beach Goshiki Hama in Awaji Island 淡路島の五色浜。
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Goshikihama Shrine in Iyo、Shikoku 伊予の五色浜神社
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

The Five-colored Swamps in Aizu, Urabandai 裏磐梯の五色沼
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Mount Goshiki (五色岳, Goshiki-dake) is a mountain located in the Daisetsuzan Volcanic Group of the Ishikari Mountains, Hokkaido.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Sanuki no Goshikidai 讃岐の五色台
near Takamatsu, Shikoku　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

Goshikichoo 五色町 Goshiki Village / Town
in Hyogo
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

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There is a shrine at Gasshooyama 尾鑿山 Gasshoyama in Tochigi, where the stump of an old cedar tree of more than 1800 years is venerated as the deity BLACK DARUMA Kurodaruma (黒だるま).

御神威「黒だるま」発祥の社
境内には樹齢1800年余の杉の切株が在り国内でも比類なき巨木の跡に驚く。 現在は、尾鑿山山頂の奥宮の位 置する峻厳な雄姿を象った御神威「黒だるま」。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
http://www.kanuma-kanko.jp/miru/shrine_details6.shtml


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The first HP I encountered checking about GOSHIKI in German was about a sort of decorative carp fish with that name.

A dark koi with red (kohaku style) hi pattern. Appears similar to an Asagi with little or no Hi below the lateral line and a Kohaku Hi pattern over reticulated (fishnet pattern) scales.
The base color can range from nearly black to very pale sky blue.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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You can read all about different colors for different needs of a papermachee Daruma on this HP of Imai Shop in Japanese and order the one you need online. They all come as papermachee with no eyes, so you can make your wish and hope for the best.

- - - - - I give you an overview:
Purple is for a long life and preventing disasters.
Green to remind you of your beginners mind all the time.
Pink for safe delivery and good relations (see story about ANZAN).
Yellow brings good luck.
Black wards off evil and brings black colors to your bank account.
White is for purity of mind and a wedding present.
Gold will bring you riches. (The chinese characters for Gold 金and Money 金 are the same.)

The Imai store also offers an opportunity to make a papermachee Daruma yourself. Or you can order a white one with your special wish or name written on the belly.　



- source : page.sannet.ne.jp/forest/imai

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Mini Daruma in Five Colors

　　　
In Pink, Yellow, Green, Red and White　　　　
カラー（ピンク・イエロー・グリーン）。赤・白はミニだるま

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Arai store offers Daruma in gold, silver and other colors. Have a look.
A blue and red couple for the Dolls Festival (だるま雛) is also available.　　　　　　　http://www.darumayahonpo.com/sakuhin/index.html


Kimura store
has a set of colorful Daruma. The black one is especially conspicious as a New Years Present for a company, since it contains a wish for Black Numbers on your balance sheet.
開運色だるま
White for Good Luck and Long Life, Yellow for Safety, Blue for peace, Black for Good Business, Purple for Long Life,
Pink for Love.
白は福寿、黄は安全、緑は健康、青は和、黒は隆盛、金は金運、紫は長寿、
ピンクは愛を願っただるまです。 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

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Here are the Darumas in five colors from my collection. They are really quite small, only 3,5 cm large. I got them in a store in Kurashiki. For some reason, the blue one is striking purple.
私の小さい五色だるまたちです。倉敷市で2001年に購入しました。


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And the last one shows four of a group of five tiny Daruma in a little basket. They are only about 1 cm each.
これはミニだるまで, 高さは1cmです。五色ではなく四色しか保存されていませんでした。小さい籠に寝ています。


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五色に塗る餅柔かしお命講
goshiki ni nuru mochi yawarakashi o-meikoo

the mochi cakes
in five colors and so soft ...
memorial for Saint Nichiren

Hasegawa Kanajo 長谷川かな女 (1887 - 1969)

. Saint Nichiren and related KIGO


omeikoo, o-meikoo, same as oeshiki, o-eshiki 御会式(おえしき)
kigo for autumn
Buddhist festival commemorating Saint Nichiren, who passed away at Ikegami on October 13,1282.
Saijiki of Buddhist, Shinto and other Ceremonies



source : iyokannet.jp/front/gourmet
goshiki soomen 五色そうめん Somen noodles


. WASHOKU - Goshiki dishes of Japan 　
goshiki dorayaki 五色どらやき Dorayaki
goshiki namagashi 五色生菓子 sweets
goshiki toogarashi 五色唐辛子 red pepper
goshiki soomen 五色そうめん Somen noodles
goshiki sushi 五色寿司 Sushi
goshiki mochi 五色餅 Mochi rice cakes

. goshiki 五色と伝説 Legends about the five ritual colors .
goshikifu, goshiki fu 色麩色 Fu gluten in five colors
goshiki no hana musubi 五色の花むすび rice balls in five "blossom" colors
goshiki senso 五色鮮蔬 fresh vegetables in five colors
goshiki soomen 五色そうめん Somen noodles in five colors

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goshiki no ito 五色の糸（ごしきのいと）string of five colors
negai no ito 願の糸 (ねがいのいと) "string for wishes"
..... ganshi 願糸（がんし ）
for the Tanabata Star Festival
observance kigo for early autumn

. Tanabata Star Festival 七夕 .


. Gankake 願掛け to make a wish .

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Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America
quote
Go-Shiki / 5 color Gem Mamori Bracelet
Ame-no-Koyane-no-Mikoto and Futo-Dama-no-Mikoto brought the 500 branch true sakaki trees as offering, hanging the divine e jewels in the upper branches, the divine mirror in the mid branches and cloth offerings on the lower branches. Ame-no-Hazuchi-wo-O-Kami wove cloth of many colours, these pacificatory offerings are the origin of the Masakaki.....as for the colours, the 5 colors represent the 4 directions + center:

Mitsudomoe (symbol of Shrine Shinto) can also be called "Mikubitama" and consists of:

Black (purple) means North (Ara Mitama)
Blue (green) means East (Kushi Mitama)
Red means South (Sachi Mitama)
White means West (Nigi Mitama)
Yellow means the sacred Center (Nao-Hi =sun rays)



As Sarutahiko Okami is Kunitsu Kami Oyagami/ ancestor Kami of all Earthly Kami as well Dousoujin/Michibikikami/ Kami of the way, guidance and opening the path when we stand firmly centered on the Earth receiving sacred sunshine we can make correct progress on our individual life paths. Go-shiki-mamori bracelets mean to stand in the current moment in the divine center and receive power from Earth and Heaven. These mamori bracelets are made of very high quality hand carved gemstones. The semi precious gems are of "AA+ " grade. The power gems used are:

Black/purple = murasaki suisyo/amethyst. Highest colour vibration/ healing stone....Amethyst means both love and also stimulates the intellectual side of your life while calming your nervous system. Amethyst meaning is also reveal hidden charm and abilities.. Increases activity of right-side brain - purifies blood - reinforces immune function - increases psychic skills and intuition - peaceful mind.

Blue/ Green = Hisui/jade Calming, dispel misfortune, bravery in face of adversity, increased patience, protection of love and friendship. Jade was prized more highly than gold. green jade is the most highly sought after and its color comes from chromium.... green Jade enhances healing of both the emotional and physical. It is linked to the heart and is said to enhance prosperity and abundance and especially longevity

Red = Carnelian is to energize the blood. Excellent for both being in the moment and motivation to make correct choices, decisions and movement. Known as the most powerful ACTION gem---self-actualization--stimulating analytical capabilities, precision and motivation.

White = clear suisyo/crystal is for harmony and protection Clear Quartz has very strong powers of protection as it can absorb negative energies and harmonize KI of the wearer and enhance power. It has the ability to transmit and receive energy. In transmission, it can amplify, focus, and direct the energy. In receiving, it can store energy for later use, transform it into any usable condition, screen out unwanted vibrations and purify, calm and balance/centre one's own Ki

Yellow = Ki iro hisui/ yellow jade jade used for millennia as the ultimate symbol of calm, serene joy. Connected to spirituality, longevity, positive fortune and prosperity -- yellow jade means joy, confidence and self assurance.
source : www.tsubakishrine.org

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Goshiki Fudo / Fudo eyes in five colors in Edo
江戸の五色不動明王


. Goshiki jika 五色鹿 deer in five colors .
Kasuga shrine, Nara

. Goshiki suzu 五色鈴 five-colored clay bells .


..... Colors in Haiku Traditional Japanese Colors

. goshiki 五色と伝説 Legends about the five colors .

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. Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規 .

夕栄の五色が浜をかすみけり
goshiki ga hama

絵の島や石も五色の花盛
goshiki no hana

宮城や五色にそろふ初霞
goshiki kasumi

星消えてあとは五色の初霞
goshiki kasumi



source : isonokami.jp/blog

蜘の囲の五色に光る春日かな
kumo no i no goshiki ni hikaru harubi kana

this spring day
sparkles in five colors
in the spider web


文月のものよ五色の糸そうめん
fumizuki no mono yo goshiki no ito soomen

so good in the
seventh month - Somen noodles
in five colors

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- more combination of GOSHIKI and haiku -

花見団子五色の白きより食ぶる 猿橋統流子 goshiki dango

雛の膳京の五色麩色どりに 岩田つねゑ goshiku fu

浜大根網も五色の御座の磯 鈴木公二 goshiki goza

夕栄の五色が浜をかすみけり 正岡子規 goshiki hama

山寺や五色にあまる花見堂 蓼太 goshiki hanamidoo

雲丹の針五色に動く汐干かな 栗原ゆうゆう goshiki hari

五色旗は垂りても五色秋晴るゝ 久米正雄 goshiki hata

花の雲鳩は五色に舞ひあそぶ 茅舎 goshiki hato

はひまわる五色の火蛾や楽譜書く 池内友次郎 goshiki higa



goshiki ishi 五色石 pebbles
拾ふ石五色揃ひぬ磯遊 井上杉香
掌に揃ふ石の五色や磯遊び 加倉井秋を
絵の島や石も五色の花盛 花盛 正岡子規
角巻や浜に拾ひし五色石 石田野武男
五色石渚に拾ふ近松忌 石田野武男

五色針糸の尾長う縫ひ初め goshiki ito
冬茜五色の糸にみちびかれ 川崎展宏
薬玉や五色の糸の香に匂ふ 嘯山

夏の川カヌーの五色揃ひけり 大谷ひろし goshiki kanuu

風車まはり消えたる五色かな 鈴木花蓑 goshiki kazaguruma

宮城や五色にそろふ初霞 正岡子規 goshiki kasumi
星消えてあとは五色の初霞 正岡子規


梶の葉を懸けて五色の絹帷 桂樟蹊子 goshiki katabira

五色湖は女波ばかりや鳥曇 角川源義 goshiki ko - lake

手折りもす五色の香の今日の菊 石口光子 goshiki koo - incense

幕間や五色の独楽を買初に 千手和子 goshiki koma

スケーター五色の蜘蛛の散るごとし 石塚友二 goshiki kumo
蜘の囲の五色に光る春日かな 正岡子規

五色幕はりめぐらしてお取越 枌さつき goshiki maku



goshiki mame 五色豆 beans
五色豆のざらつく甘さ春の雪 鍵和田[ゆう]子
花疲れ膝にこぼせる五色豆 斎藤朗笛
春燈下紙にいただく五色豆 清崎敏郎
松過ぎの肉桂のにほふ五色豆 高澤良一
買初めの色のほのほの五色豆 高澤良一


五色饅頭青は色濃き春の風 久米正雄 goshiki manju

霊峰の風を五色に秋立てり 吉原文音 goshiki mine - peak

麦わらを口に妖婦や五色水 松瀬青々 goshiki mizu

五色に塗る餅柔かしお命講 長谷川かな女 花寂び goshiki mochi

蔵王紅葉五色の山気流れ出づ 渡辺恭子 goshiki mojimi

五色沼鴨来て色を深めけり 鈴木漱玉 goshiki numa
五色沼その瑠璃沼の明け易き 山口青邨
五色沼つなぐ小径の落し文 秋本文茶
五色沼鴨来て色を深めけり 鈴木漱玉
花薄色それぞれの五色沼 目代智子
鳥わたる豆粒ほどの五色沼 杉良介

起し絵の山紫水明五色摺り 伊藤瓔子 goshiki okoshi-e

五色縷の垂れも垂れたり肘枕 飯田蛇笏 goshiki ru (line of spittle)

切山椒五色置かれしめでたさよ 河野多希女 goshiki sansho

文月のものよ五色の絲素麺 文月 正岡子規 goshiki soomen

五色椿満開色の定まらず 塩川雄三 goshiki tsubaki
柵内に五色椿を散らしめし ふけとしこ



goshiki uchiwa 五色団扇 handfan
五色団扇の一本を手にしつつまし 梅林句屑
夜まどゐや五色団扇の我は青 皆吉爽雨
いつしかに五色団扇も青ひとつ 福田蓼汀

羊羹の三色五色秋しぐれ 久保田万太郎 goshiki yookan

うぐいすの肺ひと呼吸に五色なす 橋本夢道 uguisu no mune

- reference : haikureikudb database -

goshiki no sen 五色の賤（ごしきのせん）outcasts

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- reference : goshiki at amazon com


授業で使える「五色百人一首 goshiki hyakunin isshu
五色あられ goshiki arare - food
五色の舟 goshiki no fune
五色の花たば goshiki no hanataba
怪談五色 goshiki kaidan
五色蟹 goshiki kani
五色なげコマ goshiki koma toys
五色の虹 goshiki no niji
五色温泉 goshiki onsen
五色黄土石けん goshiki sekken
五色詠－Immortal Lovers
. . . and more at amazon com

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- #goshiki #fivecolors -
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Fude pen

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Pen 筆 Fude and Daruma

Fude Daruma 筆だるま
Daruma Fude だるま筆


Fude Daruma 筆だるま
Daruma with paintings of a pen on his belly


source : ichikawashop.com

This is a talisman doll for people to start making a career as calligraphers.



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Daruma Fude だるま筆　pen called "Daruma"



The pens with a big belly for fat letters are DARUMA.


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Kokeshi wooden dolls in the form of a pen




More kokeshi on a pen






Photos from my friend Ishino　　


. Kokeshi, Wooden Dolls こけし 　


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Daruma with a pen for a beard
kanban for a pen shop
Daruma Museum




. Kanban, Shop Signs, 看板 with Daruma


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- quote -
Kumano fude 熊筆 brushes from Kumano, Hiroshima
Kumano cho is the capital of brushes, and produces 80% of the brushes made in Japan for painting, writing and cosmetics. However, none of the materials used to make the brushes come from Kumano. In other words, natural hairs of sheep, horse, itachi wolf, or raccoon are all imported from North America and China. Materials for brush handles are either from Okayama and Shimane prefectures, or imported from Taiwan and Korea.

Kumano has an interesting history for this successful industry.
A long time ago, the farmers used to buy brushes and ink from Nara and sell them to the locals in order to earn extra income after harvesting rice. The Hiroshima local government encouraged this activity and Kumano began making brushes eventually as well. Later, Japanese calligraphy was introduced as a school subject, and the increased demand for brushes brought stability to the industry in Kumano.

It normally takes 70 steps to create one brush. It is a manual process. It is said to take at least 10 years to be able to handle animal hairs properly and proficiently. The price of brushes varies: for example, one for a calligraphy class goes for about 1000 yen ($10). On the other hand, one used by a professional makeup artist or calligraphy artist will cost anywhere between several tens of thousands and 300,000 yen ($3-400 to $3,000). When Japan’s women soccer champions for the World Cup in Germany received the People’s Honor Award from the Japanese government, a Kumano make-up brush was presented to each player as a special gift.

The tips of the hand-made brushes are naturally uneven, which produces a nice and delicate contact with paper or one’s face, helping to create a superb finish. Therefore, Kumano brushes are very popular among many world-renowned make-up artists.
- - - - - 5-17-1 Nakamizo Kumanocho Aki-gun Hiroshima-ken
- source : japan-brand.jnto.go.jp/crafts -


Kumano Fude Matsuri 筆まつり（ふでまつり）
brush festival
Hiroshima prefecture, Kumano Town 熊野町




Fude Kuyo　筆供養 "memorial service for brushes"

Kumano is the greatest producer of brushes in Japan, more than 80% are made here. On the yearly event more than 1000 used brushes from professional writers are burned in a memorial sercice at the shrine Kitano Tenjin sha.
There is a stone arrangement with the "brush burning flame of eternity" and a lot of brushes hang in the compound between the trees.
During the festival people use large brushes to write their favorite calligraphy and demonstrations are held.

. . . CLICK here for Photos !


This kind of service is also held at other temples and Tenmangu shrines of Japan.
道明寺天満宮筆まつり

. Reference

In Kumano they celebrate
haru no fude no hi 春の筆の日 Day of the Brush in spring
day of the spring equinox



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. Hiroshima Prefecture Festivals 　

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ningyoofude, ningyoo fude 人形筆 pen dolls



from Airma onsen 有馬温泉 Arima hot spring

Arima is one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, even Hideyoshi used to come there.
The dolls also have a long history and are mentioned already in a travel book of 1682. There used to be five families producing them till the Taisho period, but now only one has remained.

The body of the pen is decorated with colorful silk thread in various patterns. Some of the patterns have auspicious meanings to ward off evil. Some patterns are suited as a present, for example for a wedding.



On the end of the bamboo shaft it a little doll, sometimes resembling a Daruma san, which pops out and seems to dance when using the pen for writing. When the pen is laid on the table, the doll disappears. This is a kind of "mechanical doll" (karakuri ningyoo).

. Folk Toys from Hyogo .



有馬には人形筆の初しぐれ　　
Arima ni wa ningyoo fude no hatsu shigure

at Arima
there is the first sleet　　
on the pen dolls　

Suzuki Isuzu 鈴木五鈴
source :　karasuyama


Arima fude 有馬筆 pens from Arima
komochi fude 子持ち筆 pens with a child




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The Dying Trade of Yamato

The Hankeidou Workshop (攀桂堂, Hankeidō)
Shiga prefecture (滋賀県).

The Hankeidou workshop is renowned for manufacturing traditional Japanese brushes, known generally as unpei fude (雲平筆), a tradition started by Fujino Unpei (藤野雲平) some 400 years ago during the Genna Era (元和年間, 1615 – 1624).

source : beyond-calligraphy.com




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HAIKU and SENRYU


humanity kigo for the New Year

fude hajime 筆始（ふではじめ）first use of the brush
..... shihitsu 試筆（しひつ）, shigoo 試毫（しごう）
shikan 試簡（しかん）, shimen 試免（しめん）
shiei 試穎（しえい）, shiko 試觚（しこ）
shishun 試春（ししゅん）"first calligraphy in spring"

hatsu suzuri 初硯（はつすずり）first use of the ink stone


. Calligraphy and Kigo 　

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taking the brush
365 days
first calligraphy

Gabi Greve


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. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


露凍てて筆に汲み干す清水かな
tsuyu itete fude ni kumihosu shimizu kana / hitsu ni

The moss pure spring

beginning to melt,
I soak it dry with my brush:
the pure water spring
source :　Tr. Barnhill

winter of 1687 貞亨4年. Oi no Kobumi 笈の小文
Written at a haikai meeting at Nagoya 名古屋昌圭亭.
Some sources link this to the pure water of a spring in Yoshino.


dew is freezing
and with my brush I soak up
this pure water . . .
Tr. Gabi Greve

This hokku has the cut marker KANA at the end of line 3.

Basho stepping out into the garden after a very cold winter night, trying to pick up some dew from the leaves and write a hokku with it.

This is written in memory of Saigyo:

とくとくと落つる岩間の苔清水
汲み干すほどもなき住まひかな

tokotoku to otsuru iwama no koke shimizu
kumihosu hodo mo naki sumai kana

Trickling down,
pure spring water falls
over the mossy rocks,
not enough to draw up
for this hermit life.
Tr. Barnhill


Another version is

凍て解けて筆に汲み干す清水哉
ite tokete hitsu ni kumihosu shimizu kana
. ite tokete fude ni kumihosu shimizu kana .


. 　Basho and Saigyo 芭蕉と西行法師　.

. . . . .


大津絵の筆のはじめは何仏
Ootsu e no fude no hajime wa nani botoke

. the first brush stroke
for an Otsu-E painting -
which Buddha will it be ? .


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fude nagete tsuki ni mono iu bakari nari


I throw my brush away -
from now on I speak only
to the moon


. Koha (Kooha)　香波


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mannenhitsu 万年筆 fountain pen

from Old Imari pottery kilns



古伊万里風楼閣桜図 万年筆
黄緑彩兜唐草 万年筆
染付章魚唐草濃 万年筆

- Shared by Ken Ichihashi, facebook -

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fudeya　筆屋 brush maker


source : novelty3355.jugem.jp

wooden shop sign of a brush maker 木製筆屋の看板
From professional painters to official letter writers to bookkeepers to children at Terakoya schools . . . everyone needed a pen to write in the Edo period.
When a pen was made, the brush maker licked it in a final test of its finishing.
Therefore we have the following Senryu :

奥様は筆屋が唾をなめ給う
okusama wa fudeya no tsuba o nametamau

the housewife
licks the spittle
of the brush maker

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- quote
Edo Fude 江戸筆 Handmade Calligraphy Brushes

■ Traditional Technologies and Techniques
1- Hair for calligraphy brushes is chosen based on the intended brush type and the length of the brush tip. The craftsman relies on instincts developed over many years of brush making.
2- Removing defective strands of hair is part of the tip-formation process. The tip represents the most important part of a calligraphy brush. A metal comb is used to comb through the strands of hair and align them accordingly, and strands without proper tips as well as those that are incorrectly oriented are removed from the clump.
3- The tip is formed by arranging strands into clumps for the very end of the tip (inochige 命毛), the middle portion of the tip (nodoge 喉毛) and the base portion of the tip (koshige 腰毛). One brush's worth of hairs is then taken from each of these clumps to make a tip. Advanced skills are required to both ensure balanced spacing between the hairs and to also achieve an elegant brush-tip shape.
4- Nerimaze 練りまぜ is a process carried out to achieve an evenly distributed mix of differing strand lengths, and it makes a major contribution to determining the final quality of the brush tip.
5- Shintate 芯立て is the formation of the final brush-tip shape using a ring-shaped implement. The craftsman feels the tip by hand to check its firmness and resilience, etc. The volume of hair used in the brush tip may be adjusted accordingly in response to how the tip feels.

■ Traditionally Used Raw Materials
-- Brush Tip - goat hair, horse hair, pig hair, raccoon dog hair, weasel hair, cat hair, and other varieties.
穂―山羊毛・馬毛・豚毛・たぬき毛・いたち毛・猫毛ほか
-- Brush Handle - Bamboo, wood 軸―竹・木

■ History and Characteristics
Concerning the "calligraphy brush," one of the "Four Treasures of Study" within the Chinese classical canon, in the Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) it is recorded that in March of the 18th year of the reign of the Empress Suiko (610); "the methods of making paper and ink were brought about" by the Buddhist priest Damjing. This reference indicates that Damjing was a pioneer figure with respect to the arrival in Japan of writing implements in the form of calligraphy brushes, ink and ink stones.

Since then, there have been numerous advances and improvements made in production technologies as calligraphy brushes (and the written word that accompanied them) became key implements in Japan's cultural and traditional development, with many different types of brush produced for different purposes.

Around the middle of the Edo Period, along with the rise to prominence of the commercial class, Edo witnessed a dramatic increase in the number of "temple schools". In that the general population also began to write, calligraphy brushes came to be widely used among the masses. Furthermore, a number of classic Edo Fude (handmade calligraphy brushes) were born around this time as production technologies employed by craftsmen developed even further. The dominant production method in Edo was called nerimazeho 練りまぜ法 (literally "the mixing method"), and its processes were established by Hosoi Kotaku (1658-1736) in the Genroku Era (1688-1704). This method of manufacture went on to spread quickly due to the new national education system that was promulgated in the fifth year of the Meiji Era (1872).

Due to the combined calamities of the Great Kanto Earthquake (1923) and the Pacific War (1941-1945) many calligraphy brush craftsmen left Tokyo. However, those who were left focused both on the production of high-end calligraphy brushes, and on working to keep the relevant technologies and techniques alive.

Goat hair, horse hair, pig hair, raccoon dog hair, weasel hair and cat hair are but some of the materials used to make the tips of calligraphy brushes. In many cases the hair of goats native to China is used, with the hair grown below the nape of the neck in the vicinity of the upper forequarters being considered the best quality and thus highly prized. When making a calligraphy brush, in forming the tip which is said to represent the most important part, a metal comb is used to comb through the hair strands and align them accordingly, with strands without proper tips as well as those that are incorrectly oriented being removed. Shaping is the process of forming the brush tip, and advanced skills are required to ensure balanced spacing between the hairs and to also achieve an elegant shape.
Nerimaze is the process of taking strands of different lengths and mixing them evenly. This process plays a major role in determining the final quality of the brush tip. Shintate is formation of the final shape of the tip using a ring-shaped implement. The craftsman feels the tip by hand to check its firmness and resilience, etc. The volume of hair used in the brush tip may be adjusted accordingly in response to how the tip feels.

Tokyo Stationary Industrial Association
- source : www.sangyo-rodo.metro.tokyo.jp - 32 -

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- quote -
Tokyo Teue Brush 東京手植ブラシ Handmade Brushes, "western brushes"
Traditional Technologies and Techniques
01 Processing of base wood:
The base wood is cut and planed down.
02 Marking:
A template is placed over the wooden base of the brush and the bristle insertion positions are marked out using ink.
03 Creation of bristle holes:
Bristle holes are made at the points marked in ink on the base wood.
04 Bristle cutting:
The bristles are cut to a specific length.
05 Bristle mixing:
Bristles are mixed by hand so that the (soft) tips and (hard) roots are aligned identically.
06 Sorting by hand:
Short bristles, bristles with irregular shapes and other problematic strands are removed.
07 Bristle insertion:
Predetermined clump quantities of bristles are picked out precisely and folded in two, and a metal wire is passed through and drawn along the center of the wood to pull the bristles firmly down into the bristle holes.
08 Cover attachment:
A thin, wooden cover piece is attached to hide the metal wires and make the product easier to use.
09 Base wood finishing:
① The size of the main body and attached cover are made uniform and the physical feel of the product when held is improved.
② Grooves are added to the side portions to make the product easier to hold.
10 Bristle trimming:
The bristle tips are trimmed to achieve a uniform, predetermined bristle length throughout.
11 Finishing:
The product's surfaces are painted uniformly.

Traditionally Used Raw Materials
- Bristles: 刈萱 Karukaya, Palm, Cedar, Tampico, fern, horse hair, pig hair, goat hair.
- Base wood: Katsura, Magnolia, Cherry, Japanese Beech, Bamboo

History and Characteristics
Brush production (of so-called "western brushes") commenced in Japan around the 7th year of the Meiji Era (1874). At the time, brushes made in France were used as product examples. In the 10th year of the Meiji Era (1877), the First National Industrial Exhibition was held at Ueno Park, with a display of western-style brushes being very well-received. Following on, craftsmen who had traditionally made Japanese brushes began to get involved in the manufacture of western brushes. Production started off with horse hair being used for bristles, oak being used for timber, and bristle holes being made using hand gimlets.

In Meiji 21 (1888), Japan's first brush manufacturing company was established by Matsumoto Jutaro (1844-1914), who was at the time a director of the Dai Hyakusanju Bank (the National 130th Bank). Due to numerous improvements, what resulted was a penetration of brushes into society in much the same way as can be witnessed today. The brush manufacturing industry developed focusing on Tokyo and Osaka. As new machinery was introduced to industries, it came to pass that there were a great variety of brushes used for industrial purposes in workplaces. Moreover, as Japanese home life became increasingly westernized, demand for household brushes increased. Accordingly, in locations such as Wakayama Prefecture, brush manufacturing companies introduced large-capacity machinery and mass production commenced. Later on, in factories in Osaka and Wakayama, even greater industrialization steps were taken. In Tokyo by contrast, a city that had started out with many businesses engaged in producing industrial-purpose brushes, highly-durable brushes whose bristles were hand-inserted were developed.

Because hand-inserted bristles in such brushes run together in that they are all pulled down by an internal metal wire called a "pulling string," they are more robust than bristles in machine-made brushes because with machine-made brushes bristles are directly inserted into each individual hole (and they are not secured by a "pulling string"). It is for this reason that Tokyo's brush manufacturers continue the traditional practice of inserting brush bristles by hand.

Tokyo Brush Manufacturing Association
- reference source : sangyo-rodo.metro.tokyo.jp - 38 -

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. shokunin - Edo craftsmen　江戸の職人 .

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- #fudebrush #kumanofude -
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Sanpo-Ji Kyoto

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Temple Sanpo-Ji 三寳寺 （さんぽうじ）
Sanpooji 三宝寺 Sanpoji



A Nichiren sect temple founded in December 8 1628.
The statue in the Myoken-do Hall was carved around the middle of the Edo period and the deity it depicts is affectionately known as 'the Myoken of Narutaki.' Chinese quince trees line the approach to the temple while the cherry trees next to the Main Hall are said to have been transplanted from the Imperial Palace. Both quince and cherry trees are well known features of the temple.
On the first Sat and Sun in December, the temple bustles with people who come to take part in the 'Nichirenshu no Daikodaki' or 'Nichiren White Stewing Radish Festival.'
source : kaiwai.city.kyoto.jp

Narutaki no Myoken-san
Matsumoto-cho Narutaki Ukyo-ku
京都市右京区鳴滝松本町32


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Mikuji - fortune telling slips in a wooden Daruma


source : Copyright (C) 2009 ZauCats
http://www.geocities.jp/philn/kyoto/ukyoku/sanpoji/sanpoji11.html



Charm





Click for enlargement


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厄落としの大根焚き（お会式）Daikotaki
Cooking Radishes for Nichiren
kigo for mid-winter




This festival is in memorial of Saint Nichiren and Nichiro 日朗上人.
If you eat a piece of the radish stew, you will be protected for the coming year and also not contract palsy 中風封じ祈祷.
Radishes are cooked with tofu from Saga 嵯峨豆腐.

When believers gave this soup to Nichiren, he tasted it and said

大根は大仏堂の大釘の如し、
あじわいは『とうり天』の甘露のごとし」

The big radish is like a nail of the big Buddha Hall.
It tasts like the sweet dew in the paradise of Tooriten.


There is also cooked rice with yuzu citron flavor, yuzu gohan ゆず御飯, another speciality which Nichiren liked very much and praized highly as food to warm the body.



厄落としの大根焚き



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Japanese HP
http://www.sanpouji.or.jp/index.html


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Saint Nichiren 日蓮上人
and related KIGO

Bishamonten and the Tooriten paradise とう利天

Myooken Bosatsu 妙見菩薩 Myoken Bosastu



Daikodaki (daikotaki) 大根焚 Cooking large radishes
kigo for mid-winter


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Sanpo-Ji in Tokyo, Nerima Ward
練馬区の石神井公園近くにある三宝寺
Tokyo, Nerima, Shakujiidai


source :　Nobuhiro, facebook

. Fudō Myō-ō, Fudoo Myoo-Oo 不動明王 Fudo Myo-O
Acala Vidyârâja - Vidyaraja - Fudo Myoo .


- quote
Ikefuchi Historical Park
On the south of Shakujii Pond 石神井公園, just behind a little fox shrine, is the much smaller Ikefuchi Historical Park (池淵史跡公園) where shards of pottery were found, believed to be connected to the Shakujii Castle mentioned above. It is due to have a small museum built in it by March 2010.

Just a little east of Ikefuchi Historical Park is Sanpoji Temple, built in 1394 and later moved here.

At the eastern end of Sanpoji Pond, just in front of the site of Shakujii Castle, is where Japan's first 100 meter pool was built, in 1918, for training Japanese swimmers in preparation for the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. In 1989, the eastern end of the old pool was turned into a "Waterside Observation Park" (水辺観察園) where various rare waterside flora can be seen, and serving as a resource for the full renaturing of the area.
- source : www.japanvisitor.com



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WKD - Black Daruma - charcoal

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
sumi 炭 charcoal
sumi 墨 Chinese ink for writing with the brush
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for kigo, see below

Black Daruma 黒字の炭だるま
made with coal coating




白河のだるまの意匠は松平定信公お抱えの絵師・谷文晁（たにぶんちょう）が考案したものと伝えられ、マユは鶴が飛ぶ姿に、ヒゲは亀に、ビンやアゴヒゲは松竹梅に見立てています。かつては目を入れて売られていましたが、今は願い事が叶うと瞳を入れる「だるま」になりました。
source : ysp.gr.jp


sumi Daruma 炭だるま charcoal Daruma
Made with the wish for writing black figures in your business.

A Daruma Doll in a traditional way, made of paper, but the final cover is a coating of charcoal (eco-powder) which is supposed to do the following things:

Minimize evil influnence of magnetic waves
Keeps things fresh
Effect of infrared wavelength
Effect of fresh wood air
Regulates heat
Odoeater




. . . . .

. Charcoal Daruma from Nagano .


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sumishi 墨師 making charcoal for writing


source : edoichiba.jp/. sumisi...

. sumiyaki 炭焼 (すみやき) making charcoal .


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ALL WINTER KIGO : COALS

sumi 炭 (すみ) charcoal
Holzkohle
mokutan 木炭（もくたん）charcoal
katazumi 堅炭（かたずみ）hard charcoal

shirozumi 白炭（しろずみ）white charcoal
often used in a decorative way for the tea ceremony
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
yokoyamazumi 横山炭（よこやまずみ）a kind of white charcoal

binchoo 備長（びんちょう）special charcoal from Wakayama
..... binchootan 備長炭 binchotan charcoal from Wakayama
(see below)




hanazumi 花炭（はなずみ）flowers prepared as charcoal

suminaya 炭納屋（すみなや）shed for charcoal
sumi hiku 炭挽く（すみひく）sawing charcoal
konasumi 粉炭（こなずみ）fine coal, powder coal

sumikuzu 炭屑（すみくず）scraps of charcoal
sumi no ka 炭の香（すみのか）smell/fragrance of charcoal

Sakurazumi 佐倉炭（さくらずみ）charcoal from Sakura


Onozumi 小野炭（おのずみ）charcoal from the Ono area in Kyoto
This region was famous for its white coal for the tea ceremony.

消炭に薪割る音かをのの奥　
keshizumi / keshi-zumi ni maki waru oto ka Ono no oku


小野炭や手習ふ人の灰ぜせり　
Ono-zumi ya tenarau hito no hai zeseri


白炭やかの浦島が老の箱　
shirozumi ya ka no Urashima ga oi no hako


MORE - poems about charcoal by
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


. Ono no Komachi 小野 小町 .
The famous beauty.

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sumiuri, sumi-uri 炭売（すみうり）charcoal vendor, charcoal seller


They sold charcoal in small amounts to the poor people of Edo.

炭売りに鏡みせたる女かな
sumiuri ni kagami misetaru onna kana

to the charcoal vendor
this woman shows
a mirror . . . . .

The cut marker KANA is at the end of line 3.


炭売に日のくれかゝる師走かな
sumiuri ni hi no kurekakaru shiwasu kana
(1771)

for the charcoal vendor
the sun is about to set
on the last day of the year . . .

The cut marker KANA is at the end of line 3.



蕪村こがらしや炭売ひとりわたし舟
kogarashi ya sumiuri hitori watashibune

withering wind -
only one charcoal seller
on the ferry boat

. Yosa Buson 与謝蕪村 in Edo .

- - - - -


炭売りの人をぬくめて身は寒し　
sumi uri no hito o nukumete mi wa samushi

the charcoal vendor
makes other people warm -
his own body cold　

anonymous from the Edo period

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sumibi 炭火 (すみび) charcoal fire
sumigashira 炭頭（すみがしら）smoldering charcoal
..... iburizumi 、燻り炭（いぶりずみ）
hanezumi 跳炭（はねずみ）scattering charcoal
..... hashirizumi 走炭（はしりずみ）
joo 尉（じょう）white ashes (from charcoal fire)
..... okorizumi おこり炭（おこりずみ）

uzumibi 埋火 (うずみび) "hidden fire"
..... ikebi いけ火（いけび）, ikezumiいけ炭（いけずみ）
Some charcoal is left under the ashes to smolder and provide a bit of warmth.

keshizumi 消炭 (けしずみ) extinguishing the fire
..... keshizumi 消え炭（きえずみ）, ukizumi 浮炭（うきずみ）, keshioki消燠（けしおき）, hikeshitsubo 火消壺（ひけしつぼ） pot to extinguish a fire
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Gefäß, das über ein Holzkohlefeuer gestülpt wird, um es zu löschen.




fukube, looks like Daruma san

sumitori 炭斗 (すみとり) basket to carry charcoals
..... sumitori 炭取（すみとり）
. . . CLICK here for sumitori Photos !
sumikago 炭籠（すみかご）, sumibitsu炭櫃（すびつ）
sumihisago (hisago) 炭瓢（すみひさご）
sumifukube 炭ふくべ（すみふくべ）coal carrier in the form of a gourd
ubu 烏府（うふ）ubu coal carrier
. . . CLICK here for ubu Photos !
juunoo 十能（じゅうのう）metal ladle for carrying coals
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

sumibako 炭箱（すみばこ） box with charcoals



sumidawara 炭俵 (すみだわら) sack for wrapping charcoal
..... sumigamasu 炭叺（すみがます）, sumisugo 炭すご（すみすご）, datsu だつ
sack for charcoal



tadon 炭団 (たどん/ tandon たんどん ) charcoal briquette
tadon hooshi 炭団法師（たどんほうし） producer of briquettes
tadondama 炭団玉（たどんだま）round briquette
tadon hosu 炭団干す（たどんほす）to dry briquettes
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Brickett


sekitan 石炭 (せきたん) coal, hard coal
..... tan たん、ishizumi いしずみ
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
goheita 五平太（ごへいた）Kyushu dialect. Named after one Koheita, who first dug it out of the ground in Kita Kyushu.
iwaki 岩木（いわき）"cliff stone" type of coal


rentan 煉炭 (れんたん) small charcoal briquet, briquette
rentan hibachi 煉炭火鉢（れんたんひばち）brazier for small briquettes


mametan 豆炭（まめたん）"small briquette" like an egg
Often used for the small burners for grilling fish and vegetables.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !
Eierbrikett


. Hibachi, Braziers 火鉢　 . Japan

. Jiko (brazier) and makaa (charcoal) . Kenya

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. sumiyaki 炭焼 (すみやき) making charcoal 　
a KIGO list

. sumigama 炭竈 charcoal kilns .
- and their legends

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Binchō-tan or white charcoal
or binchō-zumi (備長炭) is a traditional charcoal of Japan. It dates to the Edo period, when during the Genroku era, a craftsman named Bitchū-ya Chōzaemon (備中屋 長左衛門) began to produce it in Tanabe, Wakayama. The raw material is oak, specifically ubame oak (Quercus phillyraeoides), now the official tree of Wakayama Prefecture. Wakayama continues to be a major producer of high-quality charcoal, with the town of Minabe, Wakayama producing more binchō-tan than any other town in Japan.

The fineness and high quality of binchō-tan are attributed to steaming at high temperatures. Although it is often thought that binchō-tan burns hot, it actually burns at a lower temperature than ordinary charcoal but for a longer period of time. Because it does not release smoke or other unpleasant flavors, it is a favorite of unagi and yakitori cooks. Due to difficulties in identifying the producing region, the name binchō-tan has come into broader use to designate white charcoal generally, and even products from outside Japan, as well as those made of other species, have come to use the name. The amount of binchō-tan sold domestically in Japan markedly decreased following a 2004 export restriction promulgated for forest protection by the People's Republic of China.

To differentiate the aforementioned "non-pure" products, there is a movement to call binchō-tan produced in Wakayama Kishū binchō-tan.

Binchō-tan has found uses other than as a fuel. Because it has numerous small pores, it can absorb chemical substances. Bits can be added to rice during cooking to remove chalky flavor, placed in shoe-cabinets to absorb odors, and put in rooms to freshen the air. There are many more supposed benefits and health values of white charcoal. Currently there are a number of binchō-tan-based consumer products on the market such as socks, shirts, shampoo, cosmetic products, and many more.
Binchō-tan or white charcoal is harder than black charcoal, and rings with a metallic sound when struck. Wind chimes and a musical instrument, the tankin ("charcoal-xylophone") have been made from it.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

Reference : Binchotan



備長炭枕すがしき虫の秋　　
binchootan makura sugashiki mushi no aki

my pillow of charcoal
just so refreshing -
autumn of the insects　
(tr. Gabi Greve)

Yooko 葉子
Insects and Kigo




尉厚く被てゐて春の備長炭
joo atsuku kisete iru haru no binchootan

the white ashes
cover it thickly -
bincho coals in spring

Fuke Toshiko ふけとしこ (鎌の刃)
Tr. Gabi Greve


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Black Daruma with Child

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. WASHOKU
Yakiniku, beef grilled on binchotan charcoal


sumidawara amu 炭俵編む（すみだわらあむ）
making straw bags for charcoal
kigo for late autumn



Ash, ashes (hai) and related kigo


Check the WKD LIST of
. HUMANITY and Winter Kigo


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More kigo with black KURO

. kurogeta 黒北風 (くろぎた, kurogita) north wind in spring 　


. kuro mebaru 黒めばる（くろめばる）black rock fish
all spring　


. kuro suzumebachi 黒雀蜂（くろすずめばち）
black hornet 　
all spring


. kurohae, kuro-hae 黒南風 (くろはえ)
"black southern wind" 　
mid-summer


. kurogoma 黒胡麻（くろごま）black sesame 　
mid-autumn




. Kokutei 黒帝 Black Emperor 　
deity of black and winter

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WORLDWIDE

Ireland

"black ice"
which is the very dangerous condition of the roads, arising when it rains on a still-frozen surface.

The ice is not, of course, black, but transparent -- it is the black of the road surface that makes the ice invisible and causes many accidents.

Isabelle Prondzynski


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USA

black friday
the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
On this day, many retailers open very early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season, similar to Boxing Day sales in many commonwealth countries. Black Friday is not actually a holiday, but many employers give their employees the day off, increasing the number of potential shoppers. It has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005 . . .
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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sumi ningyoo 炭人形 dolls made from charcoal


from Tozawa village 戸沢村, Yamagata
Yaguchi dolls 矢口人形
Made from powder of paulownia coal.
A pun on words with the owl, fukuro
すみ福ろう（不苦労） fu kuroo - know no hardship
source :　yamagata-np.jp



. Suwa no Sumi Daruma 諏訪の炭だるま .
from Suwa town, Nagano

. sumi ningyoo 墨人形 / 人形墨 dolls from Sumi writing ink .
sumi 墨 Chinese ink for writing with the brush


. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .


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. Black Dragon 黒龍 Kokuryu .

. Black Buddha Statues 黒仏 kurobotoke .


. Daruma Museum . TOP
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO　　TOP . ]
- #sumi #charcoal -
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