Bishamonten

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
. Legends about Bishamonten .
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Bishamon-Ten . 毘沙門天
Tamonten (Vaishravana)



Bishamon is the god of warriors (but not of war) and prayed to for victory prior to battle. He is also a god of defense against foreign invaders, a deity of healing with the power to save emperors from life-threatening illness and to expel demons of plague, to keep personal enemies at bay, and to reward followers with riches, good fortune, and even children. Around the 15th century, he was enlisted as one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods owing to his association with treasure and wealth.

Bishamonten is usually clad in armor, with a spear in one hand and a pagoda in the other. He is the scourge of evil doers, and the most powerful among the Guardians of the Four Directions.

The Shigisan Engi Emaki 信貴山縁起絵巻 (Illustrated Handscroll of the Legends of Mt. Shigi), was painted in the 12th century as a tribute to Bishamon's miraculous power to ward off illness and expel the demons of plague. It includes the story of how Bishamon cured Emperor Daigo 醍醐天皇 (885-930) by dispatching Kumāra 倶摩羅 (Bishamon's youthful dōji 童子 attendant) to help the sick emperor.

Mark Schumacher has all the details !

Bishamonten helps those born on the day of the tiger, in the hour of the tiger and in the year of the tiger.
He is especially venerated with tiger amulets at Mount Shigisan and Mount Kurama.
The tiger in the Asian zodiac represents the north-east, the direction of evil influences (kimon　鬼門). Thus Bishamon helps to protect in this direction.

. komainu 狛犬 / 高麗犬 / 胡麻犬 "Korean Dog" .


- Click for more photos !
Stone tigers like Komainu in front of Bishamon temples.

Bishamonten and Tiger Toys of Japan
Mount Shigisan and the Tiger
. Tora トラ　- 虎　- 寅　Tiger Toys .

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Prayer for his strength:

"Namu Tobatsu Bishamonten!
To subjugate the demons! Grant me thy power!"


Click on the photo to look at more statues !


source :　hidemichitanaka.net

成島毘沙門天 Narushima Bishamonten
The largest statue in Tohoku, made from one stem of keyaki wood, 4.73 meters high.

Iwate, Hanamaki 岩手県花巻市東和町北成島５－１

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Bishamonten Jin Jinja 毘沙門天神神社
Bishamon Tenjin Jinja
Shrine for the God Bishamonten in Tono, Iwate




source : dostoev.exblog.jp - 遠野不思議

. Tono Jisha Meguri　遠野寺社巡り　
temples and shrines in Tono, Iwate .

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Bishamonten Festival and Daruma Market



Bishamonten Festival in Fuji
富士、毘沙門天大祭

Bishamonten is one of the Four Great Deities (shi tenno　四天王) , who protect Buddhism in the four courners of the world.
He is also one of the Seven Gods of Good Luck (shichi fukujin　七福神).

This festival occures according to the old lunar calendar, so the date is shifting from December to February at the Temple Myoho-ji (Myoohoo-ji 妙法寺). Daruma dolls with a big beard are the speciality of this Daruma Market. This beard is one of the characteristics of the main deity, Bishamonten, of this temple. The road from the Yoshiwara station to the temple is lined with stalls and maybe more than 500.000 people are on their feet during the three days of this festival and more than 150.000 dolls are sold.

毘沙門天はだるま市が有名で、三大だるま市のひとつであることすら知らなかった。両脇の出店に売られているだるまの数は、良くこれだけの数を集めたかと感心するぐらい大量の数である。今まで見てきた数の何十倍以上のだるまが、両側に所狭しと並べられている .



Look at a Daruma stamp from the station :
. 吉原宿, Yoshiwara-juku .

Hige ひげだるま　髭だるま

Daruma with a beard


©　PHOTOS　http://f801.at.webry.info/


Bishamonten Festival Telephone Card




Japanese LINK
角田市鳩原毘沙門堂奉納絵馬

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Papermachee Doll of Bishamonten-Badger
Bishamon Tanuki 毘沙門狸


だるまNEWS　Nr. 18. Daruma News

It has the Sanskrit Sylable (bonji　凡字) for this deity on the belly:



. Tanuki　狸 Badger amulets and Talismans .

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The Bishamondo Hall in Yamashina Kyoto
毘沙門堂



This temple is most famous for the red autumn leaves (momiji), which form a red carpet on the stone stepp acces road to the temple.



It also has a "moving" painting on the fusuma sliding door, when you walk past it, the table seems to change from very small to very large.
宸殿襖絵 - 狩野益信の作 from the Kano School

MORE : www.bishamon.or.jp

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Bishamonten dorei 毘沙門天　土鈴 clay bell


Bishamonten ema 毘沙門天　 絵馬 votive plaque


Bishamonten hariko 張子papermachee doll


Bishamonten omamori 毘沙門天 お守り amulets

. Shichifukujin　七福神 Amulets .

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. . . . . H A I K U

Bishamonten and Atago
kigo for the New Year

Messenger from Bishamonten
Bishamon no tsukai 毘沙門の使 (びしゃもんのつかい)
毘沙門の使神
The Centipede is the Messenger of Bishamonten.
Ceremony at Atago, Atago no shinji 愛宕の神事（あたごのしんじ）
Messenger from Atago, Atago no tsukai 愛宕の使（あたごのつかい）
. . . o-koto no tsukai お事の使（おことのつかい）

Hatsu Atago, hatsu Atago 初愛宕 (はつあたご) First visit to Atago

In former times it was known that people who believe strongly in the Atago Deity will die on the special day dedicated to Atago 縁日の日, the 24th of each month. Legend says Saizo felt his death coming, made his preparations on the day before and then died in the evening of the Atago Day in the 6th lunar month.
. Kani Saizō Kani Saizo 可児才蔵 .


Hiroshige: Messenger to the Bishamon Temple. Shiba Mount Atago
広重『江戸名所図会』［芝愛宕山］

This is a ceremony on January 3 at the temple Enpuku-Ji in Atago/Kyoto.

Priests from various temples around gather here to celebrate the eating of the first white rice in large portions.
Suddenly the Messenger from Bishamonten appears (with two others) in special colorful robes. He wears a samurai's helmet and a large staff in the form of a rice spatula (shamoji 杓子）, whith which he stabs the earth three times.

The messenger (retainer) of Bishamon was thought of as a centipede (mukade, hyakusoku 百足 ), who also protected the gold mines. Centipedes are said to possess an ability to spot gold mines. Therefore people used to carry centipedes in bamboo tubes when they went to the mountains in search for gold.

These messenger centipedes are different from ordinary ones. There is something glossy and noble about them, and they appear in a drawing room, sitting room, and in the places Kojin deities and water gods preside over. You must not kill them by mistaking them for common centipedes. You may take their appearance for a sign of some change in your happiness and prosperity.


愛宕山円福寺毘沙門の使ひ
©　coocan.jp

. mukade 蜈蚣 と伝説 Legends about the centipede .

毘沙門の使ひの百足 殺めしも
Bishamon no tsukai no mukade ayameshimo

centipede, you messenger
of Bishamonten -
I will honorably kill you

- 　tahata masuhiro

a dragonfly
does the 100 prayers circuit -
Mount Atago

Kobayashi Issa and the Prayer Wheel


. The Atago shrines of Japan .

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The warlords Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin both used a centipede on their flags.


sashimono 指物／差物／挿物 war flag
mukade 無加天、蜈蚣

"WKD : Centipede gold coin", mukade koban . 百足小判
Bishamonten and Temple Kurama, First Day of the Tiger

. WKD : Kurama Festivals 鞍馬山 　

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Centipede, Millipede (mukade) KIGO


Tsuba sword decoration with design of Bishamon and centipede
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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Bishamonten Festival


Twinkling Orion
in the dark blue sky
the festival of Bishamon temple

People wait the midnight bells
start of the sutra
Full of smoke of incense sticks

Sharpen cold air
The long line of People
Under Orion

- 　etsuko yanagibori , 2008

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Bishamonten is often shown together with Fudo Myo-O.
毘沙門天と不動明王 - or rather a look-alike

Shitoku Dooji 指徳童子 Shitoku Doji


source :　kyobibutsuzou.com 不動三尊


source :　www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~kazu_san

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

External LINKS

Stone Carvings of Bishamonten and Fudo Myo-O
Mori Hachimangu, Kyoto

Stone Statues of Bishamonten and Fudo Myo-O
Shikoku

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Ema votive tablet with Kannon, Fudo and Bishamonten

BACK TO

Saijiki of Japanese Ceremonies and Festivals

. 俵藤太秀郷 Tawara Tota .
and the legend of the centipede at Lake Biwa

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..... Bishamonten, Tamonten (Vaishravana).....

Entstand aus einer hinduistischen Gottheit der Krokodile (Kubira).
Selbständige Version des Tamonten der vier Himmelskönige.
Lebt nördlich vom Heiligen Berg Kailash im Himalaya.
Nach der Theorie des Weltenberges lebt er als oberster Ten zusammen mit Taishaku Ten in der Welt der 33 Ten-Gottheiten (sanjuusan ten), dem Bezirk Tooriten (Traavastrimsa).

Gott des Reichtums, den er an gute Menschen verteilt. Beschützer der Kannon.

In China als Bewacher der oft rebellischen Nordregionen besonders verehrt. Der japanische Fürst (1530-1578) hielt sich für eine Inkarnation des Bishamonten.Uesugi Kenshin 上杉謙信
In Japan auch einer der sieben Glücksgötter. Dabei gewährt er die Gnade: Sofortige Zerstörung der sieben Übel und sofortige Gewährung der sieben Glückseligkeiten (shichinan kokumetsu shichifuku sokushoo).

Manchmal mit Mäusen zusammen abgebildet (Mäuse zerkauen die Bogensehnen der Feinde).
In gesonderter Halle verehrt zusammen mit Statue des Kichijooten als weiblicher Figur. (Kichijooten wahrscheinlich als Gattin oder Schwester des Bishamonten.)

Ikonografie:
Hohe Krone. Dreizack mit langem Stab oder dem Stab der Lehre in der rechten Hand; linke Hand mit der Pagode des Gesetzes hoch erhoben. Bei manchen Figuren, oft als Tamonten, werden diese Gegenstände gerade umgekehrt gehalten. Chinesische Rüstung mit Brust- und Beinpanzer. Auf dem Brustpanzer der Kopf eines wilden Meeresteufels, symbolisiert, daß Bishamonten früher wohl eine Meeresgottheit war.

Steht auf einem wilden Meeresteufel. Später wurde dieser Teufel auch "Amanojaku" genannt.
Eigentlich handelt es sich dabei um Kobolde (jaki), die nach der Theorie des Weltenberges Sumeru in der Welt unterhalb der vier Himmelskönige leben und auf Befehl mit ausziehen, um die Feinde des Buddhismus zu zerstören.

Zusammen mit Fudoo Myo- als Begleitfigur eines Nyorai oder Bosatsu.

Besondere Statuen:

Tobatsu Bishamonten 兜跋毘沙門天



Bewacht das Königreich Tobatsu im Westen. "Tobatsu" bedeutet möglicherweise Tibet (Toban), es bedeutet auch: einen wallenden Mantel tragen.
Wurde als Schutzgottheit der Burg-Städte besonders verehrt. In China in Anxi (Anseijoo) soll Tobatsu Bishamonten vor der belagerten Stadt erschienen sein und die Feinde vertrieben haben.

Trägt einen wallenden Mantel über der Rüstung und einen langen Stab mit drei Zacken in der rechten sowie eine Pagode in der linken Hand.
Steht auf den Dämonen Biranba, Niranba oder auf der Erdgottheit Jiten (Chiten). Diese Gottheiten ragen mit dem Oberkörper aus einem Felsensockel und tragen Bishamonten auf den hoch erhobenen Händen. Manchmal auch hohe Krone mit Vogelkopf.

©　Gabi Greve
Buddhastatuen (Buddhastatues) Who is Who
Ein Wegweiser zur Ikonografie von japanischen Buddhastatuen

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. Enkū 円空 Master Carver Enku (1632 - 1695) .



at temple Hoozenji 宝泉寺 Hosen-Ji. Gifu 関市. This temple has more Enku statues and is dedicated to Fudo Myo-O.
source : tabinoashiato.blogspot.jp


source : enkukobo.cocolog-nifty.com/blog
The wood is hinoki ヒノキ cedar.


CLICK for more photos !

Bishamon standing on a demon 邪鬼.
The wood is ichi-i 一位 yew tree.

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. Legends about Bishamonten .

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO　　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
- #bishamonten -
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Koma spinning top

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
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Spinning Top 独楽（コマ） koma

Turning round and round, like the four seasons, everything goes well. The spinning top is an auspicious symbol for a good harvest and the well-being of family and business.

I have quite a few spinning Daruma tops in my collection.


Darumakoma だるまこま



All kinds of spinning tops from Japan !
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

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quote
A top, or spinning top, is a toy that can be spun on an axis, balancing on a point. This motion is produced by holding the axis firmly while pulling a string. An internal weight then rotates, producing an overall circular motion. The top is one of the oldest recognizable toys found on archaeological sites.

Besides toys, tops have also historically been used for gambling and prophecy. Some role-playing gamers still use tops to augment dice in generating randomized results; it is in this case referred to as a spinner. A thumbtack may also be made to spin on the same principles.

Spinning tops are thought to have originated in ancient Egypt about 1000 BC and examples of spinning tops have also been found in Greece dating from around 700 BC.

Japanese tops are considered some of the very best in the world with new and inventive designs coming out each year.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Daruma koma yellow 達磨独楽




Daruma koma red




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itobiki Darumakoma 糸引きだるまこま
with a long thread




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uranai Oyako Daruma for divination
占い親子ダルマ



We often use it to figure out who is doing the dishes after a party !


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uranai IROHA koma
いろはに独楽
The Japanese alphabet I RO HA NI is written.





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ategoma 当て独楽（コマ）to divine something
about 10 cm high and 6 cm wide

The numbers 1 to 6 are painted.






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ategoma Kokeshi Daruma
当て独楽 (こま) 　こけしだるま







and one more kokeshi, with a fierce look

. . . CLICK here for "Spinning Top" Photos !


. uranai　占い fortune telling, divination .
- Introduction -

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H A I K U

kigo for late autumn

beigoma (baigoma) べい独楽（べいごま）
spinning tops made from shells
Muschel-Kreisel
bai mawashi ばい廻し (ばいまわし / 海蠃廻し)

BAI are special conch shells that were used as spinning tops in the Edo period. The conches were opened and the inside filled with wax or lead to make them heavy. They were especially used befor the 9th day of the 9th month of the Chrysanthemum festival. This was not only a toy for children, even grownups enjoyed a game. Later the tops were made of metal. The top of an opponent has to be kicked out of the box or round.
Now these tops are also used during the New Year holidays.
A play of words with BAI, to come back to you manifold. 福が倍にくる

Here are more related KIGO
. Autumn ... Games as Kigo 　


kigo for the New Year

koma 独楽 (こま) spinning top
Kreisel
. Things done at the New Year 　


澄みきつて独楽の廻れり冬日和
sumikitte koma no mawareri fuyu biyori

such clearness
as the top spins around -
fine winter day

Tanaka Fuyuji 田中冬二 (1894 - 1980)
Tr. Gabi Greve

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独楽にまでうつる右利き左利き
koma ni made utsuru migi-kiki hidari-kiki

it even shows
when spinning tops - right-handed
left-handed

Takenaka Hekisuishi 竹中碧水史 (1029 - )
Tr. Gabi Greve

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独楽打ちの生き残りみな老いにけり
koma-uchi no ikinokori mina oi ni keri

even the winners
of spinning top games . . .
all are getting old

Yamanoue Kazuichi 山上和一
Tr. Gabi Greve

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kurukuru to koma no yoo ni genki de ne

round and round
like a spinning top -
stay healthy


A New Year haiga, written for a grandchild

Hisae no E-tegami
http://www.geocities.co.jp/PowderRoom-Lavender/9389/book_109.html

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a top spins -
pattern on the shell
of a snail

Elaine Andre
Joys of Japan, February 2012

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. hina matsuri 雛祭り Hina Doll Festival .
Girls Festival, March 3

komabina 独楽雛 hina dolls as spinning tops
so the children could play with them.
They come in small numbers or a full hina display.


source and more hina dolls :　edoya/ohinasama

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. Saga Folk Art - 　佐賀県　 - Karatsu .

Karatsu no koma 唐津の独楽
spinning tops from Karatsu
Karatsugoma 唐津独楽


source :　My favorite corner
kenkagoma 喧嘩独楽 spinning top for fighting
This is a toy for fighting hard by hitting the other person's top, thrown from above. Therefore it is made from strong local wood　マテバシイ mateba shii oak, Pasania edulis Makino.
It is decorated with red, blue and green stripes.
It is similar to the
. Yamegoma 八女独楽 spinning top from Yame .
from Fukuoka.

. kenka-goma けんかごま from Ume 宇目 .
Oita

. shii 椎 Shii oak - Castanopsis cuspidata - .

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. Miyagi Folk Art - 宮城県　　 - Osaki .
keibagoma, keiba no koma 競馬ごま "horse-race spinning top”
In the middle is a large spinning top with a long handle. Two smaller tops are spinning on its surface until one is thrown off and out.

and - from Kanagawa, Odawara 小田原
keigagoma are also called
chirachiragoma ちらちらごま "flimmering tops"
since the two or more smaller tips make your eyes flimmer.



- Look at more samples here:
- source : koma/jiten/2-page -

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- quote -
Ooyama-koma　大山こま Oyama Spinning Tops
Oyama top is a traditional toy made in the mountain area of Oyama, Isehara City, Kanagawa Pref.



Mt. Oyama has been worshipped by the local people since ancient days. In the middle of Edo period, when the religious faith in Mt. Oyama was at its peak, turners in this area began to make tops as a souvenir for the people who visited to worship Mt. Oyama, using abundant timbers and their traditional skills in turnery.
In Japan, a spinning top is associated with everything going round well, so a top is considered to be a lucky item to bring well-being of a family, success in business, and bumper crops. This simple and massive top with a history of 300 years is one of a few excellent examples of the toy that are still made with traditional skills. Its folkloric colored stripe patterns in harmony with the texture of wood give very homely impression.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp -

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. Spinning tops from Yubara, Okayama .

. Sumo　相撲 　Sumo wrestling dolls .
sumoo koma 相撲コマ spinning tops with Sumo wrestlers

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. donkorogoma どんころ独楽 - Introduction
Donkoro spinning top for gambling .


- reference : asahi-net.or.jp/~RP9H-TKHS -

. Bakuchi 博打 Gambling Daruma Dice Holder .

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. Tokyo and Edo Folk Art .



Edo koma, Edo-koma　江戸独楽　spinning top from Edo / Tokyo

Three tops of different size are brought to spin on a special tray.
Street performances with spinning tops on a rope, a handfan or a sword blade were also popular in Edo.

kyokugoma, kyoku-goma 曲独楽　acrobatics with spinning tops


CLICK for more photos !

- quote -
Masaaki Hiroi
makes traditional super spinner (kyoku-goma) tops which are used by traditional spinning top jugglers for their professional performances. A very simple top but which needs highly trained craftsman to create the best balance and spinning movement.
- source : edo-spinning-tops-by-masaaki-hiroi -

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The 松井源水　Matsui Gensui family from Asakusa

- quote -
Matsui Gensui was a famous top spinner, equilibrist and juggler in Edo.


- wikipedia -

In a later generation the family travelled to Europe, around 1867.



Gensui with his wife Hana, their daughters Mitsu and Saki.
From 1867 onwards he and his family performed travelled all over Europe, sometimes in the company of other artists, performing their astonishing array of tricks.
- source : 19thcenturyphotos.com -


. daidoogei 大道芸 Daidogei street performance in Edo .

. Asakusa 浅草 district in Edo .


komashi 独楽師 making spinning tops
Spinning tops became a well-loved hobby of the grown-ups in Edo since the Genroku period (1688 - 1704). It was also a means of boys to find boy-friends.
. nanshoku、danshoku 男色 homosexuality in Edo .
Since this was becomming too obvious, the Bakufu government banned spinning tops in the year 1701.
The children of Edo were only using beigoma, spinning tops made from shells.
Since 1830 spinning tops from metal were sold.
Making spinning tops of wood was a side-business in Edo. The wood was first roughly cut, then smoothed with a file. After applying some colors it was covered with wax and polished.
Some tops were attached to a rope and used like ヨーヨー Yo-yo.


source : driveplaza.com/special/onihei

They were most popular in Nagasaki and called
tsurigoma 釣り独楽　"fishing spinning tops"
or teguruma, te-guruma 手車 "hand wheel".


source : yamada.sailog.jp/weblog
teguruma uri 手車売り vendor of a "hand wheel" toy

. Edo shokunin 江戸の職人 Edo craftsmen .

. kendama けん玉 cup and ball and Yo-Yo .

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. Tengupedia - 天狗ペディア　- Tengu ABC-List .



And one from Kawagoe, see the comments.

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a drunk tiger
on my road to happiness -
this long summer night



An amazing resource of spinning tops of all kinds
by 広井政昭作 Hiroi Masaaki (1935 - )
江戸独楽職人 広井政昭さん / 神奈川県海老名市上今泉1-16-1
- - - - - start exploring from here :
- source : park15.wakwak.com/~eohashi/hiroimokuji-
- even a special about 江戸 カラクリ独楽 Edo Karakuri Koma
- source : eohashi/karakuri -

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[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #koma #spinningtop #kreisel -
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