Meoto Fuufu and Enmusubi

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Meoto Daruma and Takasago - 高砂
Daruma and a Happy Couple
fuufu Daruma 夫婦だるま

The Takasago Legend 高砂伝説
This legend is one of the oldest in Japanese mythology. An old couple - his name is Joo (尉) and hers is Uba (媼) known together as Jotomba - are said to appear from the mist at Lake Takasago. The old man and his wife are usually portrayed talking happily together with a pine tree in the background. Signifying, as they do, a couple living in perfect harmony until they grow old together, they have long been a symbol of the happiness of family life. The story is portrayed in a famous Noo play "Takasago no Uta":

At Takasago Shrine there is a very old pine tree, the trunk of which is bifurcated (相生の松); in it dwells the spirit of the Maiden of Takasago who was seen once by the son of Izanagi who fell in love and wedded her. Both lived to a very great age, dying at the same hour on the same day, and since then their spirits abide in the tree, but on moonlight nights they return to human shape to revisit the scene of their earthly felicity and pursue their work of gathering pine needles.

His pine tree is also called "The Pine of Sumi-no-e" (住吉の松) and hers is the Takasago pine (高砂の松). The old woman is using a broom to sweep away trouble and he carries a rake to rake in good fortune. In Japanese this is also a play of words with "One Hundred Years" (haku > sweeping the floor) and "until 99 years" (kujuku made > kumade, meaning a rake).

In Japan, at wedding ceremonies, the Takasago song is recited and Takasago figures are put on a special "Island Shelf" called called Shimadai (島台) together with auspicious Pine-Bamboo-Plum and Crane with Turtle decorations placed in the wedding room and presented to the bridal couple. Depictions of the Takasago figures can be made from lacquer, ceramics, wood carvings and textiles and are to invoke a long and fruitful married life for the newlyweds. These figurines are also given as presents for a wedding aniversary of 25 or 50 or more years. For the diamond wedding aniversary of 60 years, some communities also give Takasago Dolls to the happy couple.

Takasago city is located in Hyogo prefecture in Western Japan. It is situated on the Seto Inland Sea approximately 40 kilometers west of Kobe. The settlement that became Takasago city was established on the delta at the mouth of the Kako River. This river formation gave rise to the name of "taka" "sago" which literally means "high" "sand", a reference to the vast amounts of sand deposited at the mouth of the Kako River.

Takasago is well known as the birthplace of classical song "Yookyoku Takasago", which is a famous wedding song throughout Japan, and thus the town was declared as "The Bridal City Takasago" in 1988.



Takasago Shrine 高砂神社
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

According to the shrine's legend, when the Empress Jinguu returned in triumph from Korea, her ship stopped at Takasago port. She built a large shrine to maintain control of the country. Keep reading more about this old legend on the following HP.
神功皇后が韓国から戻ったとき、船が高砂に着いたといわれています。


. Jingu Kogo 神功皇后 and Japanese Dolls .

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Text of the famous Wedding Song Takasago 高砂や

高砂や、この浦舟に帆をあげて、この浦舟に帆をあげて、月もろともに出で潮の、波の淡路の島影や、遠く鳴尾の沖過ぎて、
はや住の江に着きにけり、
はや住の江に着きにけり。

Takasago Bay!
Raising the sail on this cable,
together with the moonrise, the rising tide.
See, the reflection of Awaji Island
bove the waves far past the offing at Naruo.
We have reached Sumi-no-e, already.
We have reached Sumi-no-e, already!


The Noo Play of Takasago 能の高砂
. . . CLICK here for Photos !

You find a full translation of the Noo Play (Noh Play) "Takasago" on the following HP.
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/japanese/noh/TylTaka.html


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Collection Gabi Greve

Takasago Dolls -
as children, with masks of the old couple

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誰をかも知る人にせむ高砂の
松もむかしの友ならなくに

Tare o ka mo Shiru hito ni sen Takasago no
Matsu mo mukashi no Tomo nara naku ni

Who is still alive
When I have grown so old
That I can call my friends?
Even Takasago's pines
No longer offer comfort.

34 - Fujiwara no Okikaze 藤原興風

. Ogura Hyakunin Isshu Poems 小倉百人一首 .


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Takasago Dolls 高砂人形 Takasago Ningyoo

These figurines are usually a present for a wedding or wedding anniversary, as we have stated above. They are very carefully made and quite expensive, as suits the occasion. Usually the old man is placed on the left and the old lady on the right, as you face them. This is the traditional position for a pair at a wedding of the nobility. But lately at weddings the bride stands on the right side. Maybe this is a copy of the position of the Royal English Couple? Since olden times, the seat on the right has been the "Elevated Seat" (kamiza 上座) for the most noble person in the room. So maybe the position of the bride has changed in this way? We may only wonder who is the most important person at a wedding.

The groom says: "You will live until one hundred (haku made>using the broom), I will live until ninety nine (kujuku made>kumade>using the rake), together we will live happily until our hair turns white!"

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Takasago Dolls belong to the group of "Storytelling Dolls", depicting scenes of famous stories, actors, dancers or "tableaux" from familiar tales, often Noo plays.


Takasago Dolls of the Nara type -
Nara Ningyoo 奈良人形
Nara Dolls typically represent Noo actors. Small wooden Noo figures painted in vivid colours were first used to decorate the hats of priests and musicians at the Kasuga Shrine festival in Nara. Other well known subjects are represented by Nara dolls, such as Jo and Uba, the happy old couple of Takasago.

Trees growing close together or two stems from one trunk are also called "meoto".
Meoto sugi 夫婦杉 pines growing like a couple
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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By chance I found a surprising Daruma item related to Takasago while writing this story.


Click on the photo to see the single figure.

At first it looks like some standing decoration figure, but as you might remember from the story about Sake pourers (Tokkuri) that the head comes off to become a little sake cup. This one is more wonderous. The head with the headband comes off and woo, there is a ladie's head beneath it. That one comes off too to bring you two cups for a happy couple.
Inside the head of Mr. Daruma we read:
"I will live until ninety-nine!" and
inside the head of Mrs. Daruma we read:
"I will live until one hundred!",
reminding us of the Takasago story and the hope that the wife will live just one year longer than her husband. The little tokkuri is just 11 cm high and nicely rounded to fit in a small hand.


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source :　kyoudogangu.xii.jp

Monkeys as the Takasago couple 高砂（申）
clay dolls from Nagoya


. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .


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Meoto Daruma 夫婦だるま　Mr. And Mrs. Daruma



MEOTO can also be read FUUFU and a memorial day for happy couples is the second day of the second month, 2月2日、since FU means TWO. Some hotels and restaurants also give special reductions for couples on the 22 of any month.
And if you blow on a hot soup in Japanese, your sound is: Fuu Fuu.





You buy them as a pair and keep them to remind you of the endurance and perseverance it takes to make a marriage sucessfull. They are sold at special temples and shrines dedicated to finding and keeping a partner for life. In some areas, dolls of the Daruma Couple are burned on the last day of the New Years festiviteis. Look at more pictures of this festival on January 14th.






I already introduced a nice couple in the story of Wakasa Laquer.
Wakasa Daruma ― 若狭　だるま Laquer and achate stone


A Daruma Couple is from the Great Shrine at Miwa.
In the large compounds of this shrine there is a sacred stone formation like a loving couple (meoto-iwa 夫婦岩)、and the gate leading to this stones is called "Gate of bringing together a loving couple" (enmusubi no torii 縁結びの鳥居). Our Daruma seems to be growing a beard, since his chin is colored in light gray. They are both made of papermachee, about 4 cm high and come in a little box.

You can learn more about this wonderful shrine and the legends of this old site on the following HP.
http://www.oomiwa.or.jp/eng.html


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A couple within a couple of kokeshi dolls




and some manekineko cat with a Daruma couple



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Next we have a couple from Arima Hot Spring near Kobe City.
Legend has it that the Arima Hot Spring was discovered by the ancient gods and that it was inherited from an era of myths and legends. The Arima Hot Spring is the oldest hot spring in Japan and the name of the Hot Spring itself dates back to at least the Man-yoohshuu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry.
The Daruma couple is made of wood and they are standing in front of a folding screen like at a wedding reception. They are about 2 cm high, the screen is 5 cm. Mr. Daruma's belly is painted in white lines, hers in red.
http://www.arima-onsen.com/
http://www.kinzan.co.jp/


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Once a merchant had hung up the Takasago figures at the top of his entrance. It was a prosperous sweet shop.
Then the house and shop moved, but the Takasago figures did not like it at all, so they had to be left at the entrance.


In Aomori a girl left her family home to become a bride and live with her husband and an old couple who looked just like the Takasago elders. When the bull turned back, after the girl had descended to go inside, in his footsteps delicious Sake begun to sprinkle over the road. The girl has first thought to open a Sake making shop but now she turned it into a Sake drinking pub.
The husband eventually divorced his wife, but the shop came into decline soon after that.

- source : nichibun yokai database -

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Enmusubi and more Happy Couples 　
縁結びだるま

If you are still looking for a good spouse, then you must pray to find a partner for life (enmusubi 縁結び). There are many shrines and temples in Japan specializing in this field of human activities and our Daruma sometimes comes as a go-between.



koimusubi 恋むすび　binding together in love
with a little fragrance bag (nioibukuro) to go!


There are lot of amulets and talismans for all kinds of problems in life. One of them is the "Enmusubi Daruma", which often comes as two little plastic Darumas with a little bell each. This one was purchased at Tsuruga Castle in Aizu Wakamatsu.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


There are some shrines in Japan, dedicated to happy couples.
Here are just a few samples.


from . Shrine Akama Jingu 赤間神宮 .


fuufu wago 夫婦和合　for a harmonious couple
fuufu omamori 夫婦守り happy couple amulet
ryooen jooju 良縁成就 to keep a good match

The Waka Poet
. Kakinomoto Hitomaro 柿本人麻呂 Hitomaru 人丸 / 人麿 .
is venerated as a Deity for Good Couples at
Hitomaru Jinja 人丸神社
in the compound of Ikuta Shrine 生田神社 .
兵庫県神戸市中央区下山手通1-2-1 Kobe



. wagoojin 和合神 Wago-Jin - Deity of conjugal harmony .
葛飾北斎 Hokusai - 萬福和合神 Manpuku Wago-Jin

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Shinzan Jinja 新山神社（夫婦神社）
夫婦松 Pine for a couple
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


Saifuku Meoto Jinja 齎福夫婦神社

Meoto Jinja in Osaka 大阪の夫婦神社

Meoto-Matsu at Akiba Jinja
Kasukabe no meoto matsu 春日部の夫婦松
Meoto-matsu, the married pine tree, is truly a natural wonder. A pine tree and maidenhair tree grow from a single trunk, branching out separately about a meter above ground. Meoto-Matsu was the sacred tree of Akiba-jinja Shrine.


. Izumo Taisha 出雲大社 Izumo Grand Shrine .
and the powerful enmusubi amulet


. Fushimi Inari Fox Shrine 伏見稲荷大社 .
Kyoto

. Hikawa Jinja 氷川神社 Saitama .

. Kifune Shrine 貴船神社 Kibune in Kurama .
Kyoto
むすび守袋型 Musubi bag form
むすび守文型 Musubi letter form


. . . . . and
. enkiri 縁切り　to cut the bonds with someone .



akuen kiri omamori 悪縁切御守 to cut bad partnership


. Wara ningyoo 藁人形 straw dolls for curses .

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八百万の縁結び
六所神社 Rokusho Jinja - Tottori

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CLICK for more photos !

縁結び不動明王 Enmusubi Fudo Myo-O
near Joojuu-in 成就院 Joju-In, Jojuin Kamakura
- reference -



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

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Doll for a Lucky Couple Fukumusubi no Ningyoo
福結びの人形

In the collection of old Japanese legends, Koojiki, we read the story of Emperor Nintoku who fell in love with a fair princess of the Kibi area (present day Okayama prefecture) and came all the way by ship from Kyoto to meet her. Remembering this sweet love we have a papermachee doll of one body with two faces.
You can buy one at Okayama station or other famous tourist places in the prefecture. If you get one you have to write your own name and the name of your beloved on two slips of paper, make a longlasting knot of the slips and hide them inside the doll while wishing for a happy future for the both of you. That should do the trick!




Here is one more special pair designed as ONE Daruma Doll with two faces. The producer, Mr. Nisaburo Yamashita had so many customers who wanted a male and female Daruma、 he decided to make it easier for them to buy just ONE doll.
両面だるま 　　山下仁三郎作
男達磨と女達磨


. Folk Toys from Okayama .

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Some Daruma Families だるま家族
Let us look at some happy Daruma families too, while we are at this subject.



Here is a group of Father, Mother and Child from Kibitsu Shrine, in the same area of Okayama prefecture as we have talked about above. They are made of clay (tsuchiningyoo 土人形) and are about 3 cm high. Father Daruma has a round face with only a round spot in the middle. Baby Daruma has a white bottom and both mother and child have very simple facial features. All three of them have a very heavy and broad bottom part. They are sold as a talisman for finding a partner, keeping one and having children with him. This talisman had been out of making for a while, but now you can get the funny family again.

. Shrine Kibitsu Jinja 吉備津神社 .

. Mingei Kukkii　みんげいクッキー　Mingei Folk Art Cookies .
Kibitsu Jinja Daruma 吉備津神社　だるま

. Folk Toys from Okayama .


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Kiyomizuyaki pottery from Kyoto


. WASHOKU - Meoto Tablewear for a happy couple 　


. Hashi 福だるま夫婦箸 Chopsticks for a happy couple ! 　


. WASHOKU
enmusubi manjuu 縁結び饅頭 rice cakes 　
from Izumo Shrine, Shimane



Couple’s Day (fuufu no hi, Japan) February 2
a KIGO


Daruma Museum

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土産に買ふめをとまんじゆう初聖天
miyage ni kau meoto manjuu hatsu shooten

as a souvenir I buy
rice cakes for a good couple -
first Shoten ceremony

Sekido Takahiro 関戸高敬

Kankiten (Kangiten　歓喜天, also
Shooten　聖天;
Vinaayaka, Nandikeshvara, Ganesh)



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. Hanayome ningyoo　花嫁人形　 bride dolls .
and wedding dolls


. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .


Enmusubi amulets . . . click for enlargement !

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- #enmusubi #kibitsudaruma #wago #fuufu -
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Ikkanbari Dolls

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Ikkanbari Dolls
一閑張・姫だるま

These dolls have been made since 1716 in Matsuyama Town, at the Dogo Hotspring.
They are made with the wish for the healthy growth of a baby.
They relate back to the empress Jingu Kogo 神功皇后.

Details of the Matsuyama Pricness Daruma Dolls !

These come as a pair in blue for the Emperor and red for the Emperess. Both have the hairstyle of nobility. The face is especially inserted.



一閑張「姫だるま」は、享保の初め（１７１６頃）　道後温泉に滞在中だった五世泉王子定吉が、
　道後温泉でご懐妊の喜びを得られた仲哀天　皇と神功皇后が伊佐爾波の神に一対の木彫 の人形を奉げて、生まれてくる皇子の「健やかな成長を祈った」という説話から発想して、大型の張り子だるまを創作したものです。
　紺色で仲哀天皇を、赤色で神功皇后を表し、顔を別づくりにして「はめ込む」という独自の技法を考案。また、髪型を王朝風の「みずら」に結い上げて、腹部に泉王子系譜の万葉文字の温泉碑文を記した。
© iyo-ikkanbari





. Empress Jingu Kogo 神功皇后 and Japanese Dolls .


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Hiki Ikkan 飛来一閑 (ひき いっかん)
papier mache style lacquerer
（1578年?～明暦3年（1657年）11月21日（旧暦））

His famliy is now in the 16th generation, Satomi, a woman, is now the head of this craft family.

For the tea ceremony of the Senke school, there is a special laquer technique of Ikkanbari also.

A wooden mold is carefully carved and tried, for more than 10 years. When the wood has settled down, just one layer of special Japanese rice paper (washi) is pasted on the wood. Then just one layer is applied on this paper base.

In this way, the first Ikkan, who was a poor man from China who had settled in Kyoto, could make tea utensils in a rather cheap way, but looking quite good.

Now the Ikkan family is one of the senke jisshoku, ten families of craftsmen that have traditionally served as craftsmen for the the Sen tea lineages.

Present day is Hiki Ikkan 飛来一閑 ひきいっかん

一閑張り・・・うるしぬりの一つで、木型をつかって和紙をはりあわせてもとの形を作り、それにうるしを塗って作る。
飛来 一閑（ひき いっかん）は千家十職の一つ、一閑張細工師の当主が代々襲名している名称。漆工芸の一種・一閑張の日本における創始者であり、また歴代千家に一閑張による棗や香合などの道具を納めてきた細工師の家系である。
当代は16代にあたり、12代・中村宗哲（故人）と並ぶ千家十職としては珍しい女性当主である 里美.
飛来家は亡命明人の末裔である。初代一閑は現在の浙江省杭州の出身であったが、清の侵攻が中国南部まで及び、身の危険を感じて大徳寺の清巌宗渭和尚を頼り、寛永頃に日本へ亡命した。日本ではこの清巌和尚の手引きにより千宗旦に紹介され、趣味であった一閑張の細工による小物の注文を受けるようになった。
その後家業を再開したのが3代一閑であり、4代一閑は表千家6代・覚々斎の御用細工師となる。しかし、6代から8代までは早世する当主が相次ぎ、家業の維持すら困難な状態となる。9代一閑は家業の再興に尽力するも、最晩年に大火に遭遇し失意の内に没した。10代一閑は初代一閑の作風に乗っ取った作風でお家再興に当たる。11代一閑は10代の意思を引き継ぎ、またその技術は「名人」とまで言われ、中興の人とされる。
14代一閑は後継者となるべく育てた2人の息子を太平洋戦争の徴兵による戦死で失う。後に婿養子として迎えた15代一閑は大成する前に急逝。その娘である16代一閑が現在夫と共に家業を支えている。
©　Wikipedia


Senke Tea Family and Ikkan
The Ten Designated Craftsmen of hte Senke family
http://www.omotesenke.jp/english/chanoyu/6_3_3.html


... ... ...

There is also a simple folk-craft type with paper and sap from the persimmons (kaki shibu)
一間張り、柿渋, 一貫張リ
e-shibu.com/ikkanbari.html


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source :　otsue.com

Tray with Old Paper Ikkanbari technique
古紙一閑張壁掛け

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.................... External LINK


Shitai (paper substrate) = Successive sheets of washi paper are pasted over a mould with nori-urushi, a mixture of urushi and rice paste, or warabi-nori, a glue derived from bracken. Once the desired thickness has been obtained, the paper from is removed from the mould and lacquered. This is known as the harinuki method. When washi paper is applied to a wood or bamboo core and lacquered, the term ikkanbari is used.

Handbook for the Appreciation of Japanese Traditional Crafts




MORE in the Daruma Museum
. Folk Toys from Ehime .

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Senooji Daruma Dolls 泉王子だるま

泉王子アトリエ
A tpye of Ikkanbari, made first by Senooji Osamu 泉王子（せんおうじ）治.
Now Watanabe san 渡辺　 makes these dolls .

The Shop in Matsuyama
一閑張十三世泉王子治
愛媛県松山市平和通５丁目１－１５



© PHOTO : 全国郷土玩具の旅



Here is a pair from Senoji Sensei


© PHOTO : kameshika.cocolog




One more is here in the Daruma News 18:
Senoji Daruma Dolls 泉王子だるま

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quote
一閑張（一貫張）Ikkanbari Bamboo Craft
Ikkanbari bamboo craft is designated as a traditional handicraft by Kagawa Pref. It is a kind of papier-mâché technique, in which washi paper is pasted on wooden or bamboo frames then coated with persimmon tannin. As Sanuki province (present-day Kagawa Pref.) is a hometown of Kobo Daishi Kukai, it is said that the lacquering technique to use persimmon tannin was introduced from China by Kukai.

This craft was, however, invented in the 17th century by Hirai Ikkan, a naturalized person from Ming dynasty China. Until plastic was introduced, persimmon tannin was used in many ways such as vessels or base for lacquering. The Ikkanbari product is very strong and durable because of the water-proof and antiseptic property of persimmon tannin. It is subdued in color and has staid gloss. At the present time, items such as baskets, plates and small boxes are being made.
Recently Ikkanbari is also favored as the material for Japanese-styled indirect lighting.
source : nippon-kichi.jp

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. . . CLICK here for Photos !


. Reference .


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連翹に一閑張の机かな
rengyoo ni ikkanbari no tsukue kana

for the forsythias
a table made of
Ikkanbari

. Masaoka Shiki 正岡子規

tsukue, might also be a desk.
rengyoo レンギョウ Forsythia suspensa
The combination of these often wild flowers on his Ikkanbari desk is quite charming.


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Matsuyama and Haiku

Tea Ceremony Saijiki 茶道の歳時記　

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. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .


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Examination Daruma gookaku

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. gookaku 合格（ごうかく）pass an examination

kigo for mid-spring


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Examination Daruma / Gookaku Daruma 合格だるま
Gokaku Daruma
This Examination Daruma helps with his both hands to pass an examination.
You use all your hands (ano te, kono te) to study and then pass.

He comes in a bag to hang on the wall.

合格だるま「合の手格の手」と書いてあのてこのてと読みます。

それを達成する為の「あの手、この手」があるハズです。あきらめずに、それぞれの目標に向かって頑張って！という気持ちをこめてだるま『手』を加えました。




On the Backside


Copyright 2003-2007 Itoro Wagakki All Rights Reserved


shuushoku 就職お守り amulet to find a new job
- see below
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Prayer for victory, Gokaku Daruma!



©　Strapya world

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source - blog.living-e.jp

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Amulets for students

gakugyoo jooju 学業成就お守り success at school
..... 学業守り
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


shigoto un koojoo 仕事運向上　お守り
amulet to improve the performance of your work



shigoto mamori 仕事守 amulet for work



koojoo mamori 向上守 improve your lot in life
(shool or work)

from shrine Seimei Jinja, Kyoto
The color of earth, yellow, signifies nebari, to stick to it.

The shrine Kotozaki Hachimangu 琴崎八幡宮 in Yamaguchi is especially famous for its "Work Amulets" and more than 700 other amulets of all kinds.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



The shrine Kaichu Inari Jinja 皆中稲荷神社 in Tokyo is famous for his "work" amulet for the gun shooters of the Edo period, who shot 100 times and hit the target 100 times with this amulet.

http://kaichuinari-jinja.or.jp/


chie sazuke 知恵授け becoming wise, learned
gakumon jootatsu 　学問上達 to have success at learning
naraigoto jooju 習事成就 sucess in learning




MORE
. Toys and Talismans from Japan .　

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shuushoku 就職お守り amulet to find a new job
shuukatsu 就活 to look for a new job


source :　sp.dazaifutenmangu.or.jp
Tenman-Gu Dazaifu is the best !




source :　mob.ajisaicarria.com

ajii kun あじぃくん to help you find a job



- LONG list of amulets for finding a job :
- source : tencoo.fc2web.com

The Sword of Wisdom of Fudo Myo-o 深川不動堂の不動智剣
from
. Fukagawa Fudo Do 深川不動堂 Tokyo .

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


. . . CLICK here for more Photos !


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. Jizō - Jizo Bosatsu 地蔵菩薩 .



gookaku Jizoo 合格地蔵 Gokaku Jizo





CLICK for more photos !

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more in the Daruma Museum

gokaku　五角 a pun with "five corners"
Daruma bookmark with five corners to pass an examination

mini torii kuguri ミニ鳥居潜り crawling through a small torii gate
The torii is made of pencils with 5 corners.
Awashima Jinja　粟島神社 - Uto, Kumamoto


Straps with Daruma

Curry from GLICO グリコカレー / glico カレー職人
Gookaku　合格　to pass the examination

Hamburger Cotelettes KATSU Daruma Food
合格祈願エビカツバーガー　to pass examinations

Juken Food 受験フーズ Examination Hell Food

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みさきタウンテレビジョン Misaki Town Television
Misaki Town, Okayama
- source : Misakicho on facebook -

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. KIGO with Daruma San


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Tsurukame

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Tsurukame ― Crane, Tortoise and Daruma
鶴亀とだるま


The Beard of Daruma was painted in the form of a snake (rather "Dragon"｢蛇＝龍｣) in the beginning. Why did it change to a tortoise?


The beard is a snake ｢蛇｣
The beard is a turtiose ｢亀」


This image dates from 1777 and shows a Tumbler Doll Daruma with Saigyoo Hooshi (a famous poet, Saigyo Hoshi 西行法師). This is probably the oldest picture of a Daruma Doll. From then on Daruma became a popular theme.



This illustration shows the face of this Daruma. His eyebrows are in the form of a crane and the beard clearly shows the form of a snake, or rather a wild dragon.




This is a modern classical Daruma Doll and as we can see the beard looks like a tortoise lifting its head."The crane lives 1000 years, the tortoise 10.000 years" as a Japanese proverb goes. Both animals are symbols of longevity.


But why was it a snake in the beginning?
And for what purpose did it change into a turtoise? And what about the combination with a crane? Maybe the tortoise is the painted version of the deformation of the snake's head and the scales?


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Tortoise and Snake　 亀と蛇
I have checked out about the connection of Turtoise-Snake first and the story brings us back to ancient China.

In Chinese culture, especially under the influence of Taoism (道教) the turtoise is the symbol of heaven and earth, its shell compared to the vaulted heaven and the underside to the flat disc of the earth. The tortoise was the hero of many ancient legends. It helped the First Chinese Emperor to tame the Yellow River, so Shang-di rewarded the animal with a lifespan of Ten Thousand Years. Thus the turtoise became a symbol for Long Life.

It also stands for immutability and steadfastness. We often see stone grave steles on a stone tortoise or reliquiaries standing on it.
The tortoise is also regarded as an immortal creature. As there are no male tortoise - as the ancient believed - the female had to mate with a snake. Thus the turtoise embracing a snake became the protector symbol of the north, but since the word "tortoise" was taboo in Chinese, it was referred to as the "dark warrior" (genbu 玄武 ) and finally became one of the protector gods of the four areas, Zhenwu in Chinese Taoism.


This sone sculpture is part of a sarcophage of a Chinese aristocrat around 500, showing a turtoise entwined by a snake. The symbol of Zhenwu, the Protector God of the North, as tortoise and snake dates back to the third century B.C.


This one (which is a little hard to see) we have an ink rubbing from a stele from the Pagoda of Six Harmonies in Zhejiang province, China, from about 1586. Here we see Zhenwu, the Perfected Warrior, standing on the back of a tortoise entwined with a snake.


The two animals themselves where also used to represent the protector gods of the north. This tradition was carried over to Japan, where for example Tokugawa Ieyasu was very concious in choosing a place for his new capital, Edo, with a Mountain (Mt. Fuji) and the Dark Warrior in the north.


. The four protector deities of Edo 　



During the birthday celebrations for a Chinese emperor, a crane and a turotise had to come forth and dance for him, praying for his long life. Then the emperor himself would perform a dance praying that his reign and life be long, his country be in peace and prosperous.

You can find out more about Taoism and Zhenwu in the magnificent catalog about "Taoism and the Arts of China".
http://www.asianart.com/exhibitions/taoism/


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Tsurukame tsuru kame 鶴亀 Tortoise and Crane

The connection between a turtoise and a crane also dates back to China. The crane too was a symbol of Long Life and also the symbol of the relationship of Father and Son according to the Confucian philosophy. Furthermore the crane is a symbol of wisdom. When a highranking Taoist priest died, it was said he was "turning into a crane".

In Japanese Buddhist art, we have a candle holder in the form of a crane standing on a tortoise (tsurukame shokudai 鶴亀燭台). This kind of temple decoration was often used by the New Sect of the Pure Land (joodo shinshuu 浄土真宗). Usually the crane was carrying a lotos flower with a long stem in his mouth and the flower was formed in a way to hold the candle. These types of illumination stands were produced since the Muromachi Period.

Tsuruame candleholder 鶴亀の燭台
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


At the famous Tooshoogu Shrine in Nikko, there is a huge monument in the form of Crane/Tortoise.
日光東照宮の鶴亀の燭台。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
http://sat.cside3.jp/home/1/tra27-1-4.html





There is a store that sells Tsurukame zabuton covers.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
座布団にも鶴亀。
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


In the tradition of Kaga Yuuzen, there is also a door curtain (noren) with this decoration as a wedding present for a bride.
“Hanayome Noren”（花嫁のれん）is said to be the origin of " Kaga Yuzen" a sheet of cloth on which felicitous designs such as "Shoochikubai"(pine leaves, bamboo and plum flowers) or "Tsurukame"(crane and tortoise) are hand dyed and used as one of the bridal items.
http://www.kimono.or.jp/dic/eng/03Dye-Hokuriku.html



Finally a classic Noh-Play with this conspicious title.
能舞台にも鶴亀があります。
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


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The famous Daruma from Shirawaka features more good luck symbols: The Pine/Bamboo/Plum with Crane/Tortoise. (Shoochikubai Tsurukame). The tradition goes back to Matsudaira Sadanobu (1758 -1829).
松平定信公のおかかえ画匠・谷文晁の考案によると伝えられる「鶴亀松竹梅」を取り入れた縁起だるま。

. Shirakawa Daruma 白川だるま 　



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We still do not know when and why the snake changed to a tortoise on the face of Daruma, but we keep looking. But the roots of these animals as symbols for good luck and longevity go way back to ancient China and the Taoist tradition.

Finally just one more stone Daruma in my garden,
with Crane and Tortoise as his facial features in my collection.



鶴亀のだるまの顔や春うるら
tsurukame no Daruma no kao ya haru urara

crane and tortoise
on the face of Daruma san -
a fine spring day


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Crane, Grus japonensis (tsuru) as KIGO

Turtle, turtoise (kame) as KIGO


. WHO is Daruma ?


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亀どののいくつのとしぞ不二の山
kame dono no ikutsu no toshi zo fuji no yama

and how old are you
Mr. Turtle?
Mount Fuji

Kobayashi Issa
Tr. David Lanoue


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. Turtle folk toys .
the Urashima Taro Legend 浦島太郎



. Tsuru and Kame - kites from Izumo Shrine .
Legends and Folk Toys from Tottori


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kifu　きふ (龟趺)
The [baxia 霸下 . guifu (龟趺)], big tortoises which like to carry heavy objects, are placed under grave-monuments.

hiiki 贔屓
The [bixi 贔屭], which have the shape of the chilong 螭龍, and are fond of literature, are represented on the sides of grave-monuments.
. hiiki 贔屓 / 贔負（ひいき) child of the dragon king .


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