Santa Claus

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Santa Claus and Daruma San －Merry Christmas!
サンタさんとダルマさん ― クリスマス散歩

I have always wondered what would happen if Daruma meets Santa.
Here is what I overheared the two of them the other day.




Daruma: Greetings to you, my younger brother!

Santa: Hi there, but don't call me in that anonymous Asian way. My name is Saint Nicolaus, but you may call me Claus, as all the others do. I hear you are a saint too?

Daruma: Yes, but here in Japan they don't call me Saint Daruma, they call me "Daruma Daishi", the Great Master. I always envy you since you have to work only once a year. Me, I have to use a lot of little clones to get over the New Year, but even after that I cannot rest. People pray to me for good luck and good business all year round.

Santa: Yea, I have seen your clones, all these little red dolls without arms or legs. You must have been doing some serious meditiation, haven't you, to loose all your limbs in that way. But tell me, why do you dye your beard? You must be almost as old as I am and my beard is all white! And why do you always wear a red robe? Me, if I don't, nobody would recognize me, but YOU?

Daruma:
Well, I come in many colors, forms and shapes, as you might have seen on this BLOG by Gabi san. I may have no arms and legs sometimes, but I am sure proud of my big black beard, I have been taking a lot of Chinese medicine and doing my martial arts exercises every day to keep me young. But I also have no eyelids and eyelashes, haven't you noticed?

Santa: Yes, your eyes are always sooo big and scary! And you drink a lot of tea to keep you awake, that's why you tossed our your eyelashes on the ground to have them grow into tea plants, right?

Daruma: A little miracle once in a while, just to keep me busy during meditation. Just sitting around doing nothing can be pretty boring sometimes, you know. But you, poor fellow, must be getting nuts this season, with all the kids waiting for presents!

Santa: I got my reindeers and my sledge, but Mrs. Santa has been complaining about this old-fashioned transportation lately, she wants a red Mercedes!

Daruma: At least I don't have to worry about that one. Me and my Princess, we always take the Shinkansen, since the streets around Japan are so crowded, we couldn't get anywhere in time even in a Mercedes. Did you know, they call them BENZ here in Japan!

Santa: Yea, the Japanese do many things different than anybody else, don't they! But no more time to muse about our similarities and differences, Big Red Brother. I really must run off, see you next year!

Daruma:
Hey, wait, wait, Santa Claus! You forgot to fill our stockings!

Gabi Greve, December 2002



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Santa Claus St. Nikolaus, Santa san
kigo for mid-winter


Daruma is one of the best-known Gaijin (外人) foreigner in Japan.
You can learn a little more about him in my introduction :
. Who is Daruma ? 　

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Now I have a Christmas Medley for you, just to enjoy, while I was looking for the Santa-Daruma connection. If you have any more links, please let me know.


Chad sees a connection between Daruma and Santa. Here are his words:
"I think I like images of Santa for the same reasons I like Darumas. Both images are of mythic figures who combine both joy and sacrifice. The Daruma grants wishes and so does Santa. The Daruma and Santa are examples of folklore simplifying and humanizing religious figures."
...geocities.com/Tokyo/7540/SANTA.HTM


.......................................................................

Mrs. Santa:
Mrs. Claus came on the scene in 1889. She first appeared in a book entitled "Goody Santa Claus on a Sleigh Ride," by Catherine Lee Bates. (Goody is a contraction for "Goodwife".) And about her busy husband we can learn:
Due to the different time zones and the rotation of the Earth, Santa Claus actually has 31 hours to complete his work, providing he travels East to West.
Reference Mrs. Claus


Here are some impressions of the Japanese New Years events.
日本のお正月についてのお話もあります。
Children, of course, also look forward to having a few days off from school and to the promise of giftsﾑbut not from Santa Claus. He, and Christmas, have already come and gone. This important winter holiday, called "Oshogatsu" (oshoogatsu), is an ancient New Year's celebration, which remains a cornerstone of the Japanese festival calendar.
. The New Year in Japan and Haiku 　



If you are more into the tradidional European Christmas, have a look at the annual Chritsmas Market at Nurnberg, Christkindlesmarkt in Nuernberg.
もっと伝統的なクリスマス市場は毎年ドイツのヌレンベルグで開かれています。スライドショーがあります。
. . . CLICK here for Photos !


On a seasonal list of English words for Children we find
Santa Claus and the Snowman (Yuki Daruma).
If you are teaching English in Japan, this list might get you some ideas of FUN English, so I include it here.
子供達に英語を教える先生方のためにこほHPを紹介します。楽しい英語の勉強がいっぱい。雪達磨も登場します。
http://www.genkienglish.net/vocablist.htm
On their Flashcard List, you find Santa Claus and Yuki Daruma again.
塗り絵のフラッシュカードにサンタさんも、雪ダルマさんもあります。
http://www.genkienglish.net/clipart.htm


Christmas at the Japanese Toy Museum
日本玩具博物館のクリスマスとだるまさんの特別展示会。姫路のお話で、この博物館を紹介しました。
To celebrate the start of the New Year various symbols of happiness and good fortune dear to Japanese were shown in this building. Among the figures selected from the permanent collection of folk toys were the seven lucky gods, including Ebisu (god of wealth) and Daikoku (god of wealth), treasure ships, beckoning cats, and Daruma (roll-over toys of Bodhidharma). Other exhibitions about Christmas on this page include Christmas ornaments, trees and markets from all over the world. We have already visited this lovely museum in the story about Himeji.
http://www.japan-toy-museum.org/english/ekikaku2.htm




.................................................................................

"Daruma" 　
by Dr. Albert Cheknaov
Albert wrote about his Haiku experience, Chritsmas shopping and Daruma.
He writes Haiku, but recently found out that Japanese generally do not recognize English speaking Haiku as real ones. They just being polite by letting foreigners entertain themselves with their poetic efforts.
"Well, I decided that I should start writing in Japanese. But as I don't think it will happen very soon, please tolerate me one more time.

Daruma (Haibun)
Recently, while doing my Christmas shopping I found a store selling, among other things, Daruma dolls. Well, of course I've seen them before but there was a note and fortunately enough for me in English. It was saying that if you have a wish you should buy a doll (which looks like a head without body, of somewhat fierce appearance and with white spots in place of the eyes). Then you should paint one eye and wait until your wish comes true. If it does then you should paint another eye (and I don't know, keep it or bring it to a shrine, that's where I saw them before, all having two eyes)? Anyway, sure enough I spotted a one-eyed Daruma doll on a kaishain's desk when I walked past some company's office last night.

Winter morning .....
I lay still for
quite a while
with one eye opened!

- quote : toyota-ti.ac.jp -

Mary Christmas, Albert, as the Japanese say, or maybe marry Christmas! And many more Haiku next year!


- quote facebook -

.................................................................................

Daruma as a Snowman 　　
. Yukidaruma 雪だるま Daruma as a Snowman

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hungarian Daruma

Christmas Gifts



quote
I started this painting like 6 months ago for the longest time it was just a daruma on a piece of wood for Christmas I decided to finish the painting by adding Hungarian (since Laura's family is Hungarian) flower designs inspired by their traditional style of embroidery, Kalocsa.
This seems to be something I have been doing combining Daruma's and western European culture, I hope it isn't too culturally insensitive of me, I just love the design of the Daruma as well as the cultural meaning. Surprisingly I think that the flowers and the daruma work well together and the Kalocsa was a fun style to work in.
source : Eric Royal Arts

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


source :　atsuko blog

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Santa Daruma 2020

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

source : はかた伝統工芸館

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Santa Claus, a KIGO


[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #santadaruma #darumasanta -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　

Koma spinning top

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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 !

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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 !


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Daruma koma yellow 達磨独楽




Daruma koma red




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


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




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


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 !


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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





:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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.






:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


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 -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


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

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



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

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

a top spins -
pattern on the shell
of a snail

Elaine Andre
Joys of Japan, February 2012

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. 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

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. 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 - .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. 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 -

.......................................................................

- 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 -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Spinning tops from Yubara, Okayama .

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

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. 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 .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. 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 -

.......................................................................

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 .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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



And one from Kawagoe, see the comments.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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 -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

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

Zenringai Hirosaki

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Zenringai Temple Area in Hirosaki
禅林街 / 禅林三十三ヶ寺



This is a park-like area, where 33 Zen-temples are located in the town of Hirosaki. They are supposed to protect the castle of Hirosaki, which is famous for its late cherry blossoms.

This historic area, the former "Nakamachi", was the living quaters of the samurai of the Tsugaru clan. There are still many traditional buildings left.
You can enter through the Black Gate, Kuromon　黒門 or the Red Gate, Akamon 赤門.
Walk along uwatera doori 上寺通り（うわでら）or shitadera doori 下寺(したでら）通り.
http://homepage1.nifty.com/ja7bal/zenrin.htm




The historic site of historic site of temple Choshoji (Chooshoo-ji) 長勝寺 is included.
This temple was the official temple of the Tsugaru domain.
. . . CLICK here for Photos !



Hirosaki Castel in spring 弘前城の桜



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

H A I K U





禅林に石の声聞き達磨の忌
zenrin ni ishi no koe kiki Daruma ki

at the Zenrin park
I listen to the voice of stones -
Daruma memorial day

Moriwaki Teiko 森脇貞子
Tr. Gabi Greve


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




Hirosaki Daruma 弘前だるま


. Ringo Daruma as an apple 林檎達磨



. Folk Toys from Aomori


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Daruma Memorial Day 達磨忌 　


Daruma Museum

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO　　TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::　

Triangular Daruma Sankaku

[ . BACK to DARUMA MUSEUM TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

SANKAKU Daruma 三角だるま・三角ダルマ
Triangular, conical Daruma

The Daruma with a sharply pointed head, called “Triangle Daruma” (sankaku Daruma) is a clay doll produced in Northern Japan in the province of Echigo, village of Suibara.(水原)。
新潟県水原（すいばら）



The big red one is the Mother, the blue one the Father and the little white one the child.
Thus the Daruma family represents kaka denka　かか天下 where mother has the saying to keep the family in harmony.







This is a real roly-poly doll with a special weight at the bottom.

In 1806, the first generation Imai Denjuuroo started making these dolls in the tradition of clay dolls from - Fushimi - Kyoto with the colors mixed with laquer.

famous Imai Tokujiroo of Suibara in Niigata Prefecture. He passed away when he was almost 100 years old.

The Family Imai is now in the eights generation producing this funny Daruma. It has become a standard present in this area for a wedding and at the birth of a child.

Some of these dolls are now also made in other areas and also of other materials, like paper or wood.
The paining of the face is a simple dot eyes, dot-nose and mouth-line, and is quite humorous.


There are a few varieties of these dolls in the Tohoku region, but their origin seems to be in Aizu Wakamatsu, Fukushima.

Since it is a strong symbol of getting up again (okiagari), it was well loved by the silk farmers, as an amulet to hope the silk worms would "get up" and produce a lot of thread.

Fishermen put it in their boats to "get up" when they were in a difficult position at sea.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


新潟の三角だるま From Niigata

越後の漁師たちの間では、昔から縁起物とされてきた


Since the bottom is heavy and the doll stands up allways, it is a good-luck charm for the local fishermen of Niigata, who “want to float a boat in need as fast as possible”, a play with the word “uki-agaru”, to get up, to float.

越後の三角ダルマは、

その独特の形から全国のダルマ玩具の中でも異色の存在だ。かつては高田、柏崎、見附今町など各地で作られていたらしい。「三角のオキアガリコボシというのは、180年くらい前からあったんですよ。それを先代が今の三角ダルマの姿にしたんです。」
制作しているのは水原町山口にある今井家、通称「鳩屋」。現在、7代目伝三氏が当主である。初代今井伝十郎が人形作りを始めたのは、文化年間(1806)という。山口人形は京都伏見人形の流れを汲む土人形で、粘土で型を作って丸一日焼き、漆を混ぜた絵の具を塗ったもの。時代の流れにつれ色彩に工夫がこらされ、素朴な中にも郷土色の濃い芸術作品として、生まれ変わってきた。
　6代目徳四郎のとき、戦争などの理由で製作が中断されたが、昭和31年に地元水原町の力強い支援を受けて、製作を再開。三角ダルマの名が天下に響くこととなった。「ひょうきんな表情が魅力でね。縁起物だから、結婚式や出産の祝につきものだった。こういうおもちゃ、今は少なくなってきたね」。伝三氏は父の意思を継ぎ、退職した12,3年程前から手伝い始めたという。現在、8代目の和博氏が後継者として修行中だ。
郷土玩具は土地土地の生活風俗や、祖先の願いを反映して作られてきたもの。三角ダルマも味わいのある玩具として、水原の人々に愛され、育てられてきた。その表情を見ていると、手作りの愛情が伝わってきそうだ。


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


The famous Zen priest Ryookan (Ryokan) also painted a triangular Daruma.


source : shinzos10.cocolog-nifty.com


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



by Masaaki.K
source : 風邪のコリドー


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Local dolls from Niigata.

On the first picture you can easily recognize our triangular Daruma, one with a simple face and a small one with eyebrows and beard and stripes on the long head. These Daruma are also called “Tsuno-n-gyoo” (Dolls with a horn) or “okorobi” (the falling-down doll).

この地方では三角だるまのことを、「つのんぎょう」「おころび」などと呼んでいます



source : www.asahi-net.or.jp



and with a cat doll from Echigo


source : momoten


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Shiori, bookmark with Niigata Daruma
新潟水原のだるまは円錐形の特異な形

On a page of a collector of bookmarks (shiori) there is also a nice one with our triangular Daruma. It is a woodblockprint with two of our friends.


source : sibainu63/siori-9.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


　WASHOKU
Daruma Monaka だるま最中 Daruma Waffles 　
in the form of our Sankaku Daruma 三角だるま Triangular Daruma


. Folk Toys from Niigata .


. Japan after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011　.

Daruma Museum

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
- #sankakudaruma #darumasankaku -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::