Master-classes: dolls and amulets

Okiagari-koboshi
Okiagari-koboshi
Okiagari-koboshi
Okiagari-koboshi

Okiagari-koboshi 起き上がり小法師 - dolls, a symbol of resistance and perseverance. At the master class we will make our own amulet for resilience and perseverance, using a clay or wooden base. It's a fun, informative and brings good luck.

The process of painting Okiagari-Coboshi develops various skills, improves the intellect and brings joy.

Our Okiagari-Coboshi will be our faithful companion, helping in business and in life situations, to be persevere and follow our objectives.

On the small bamboo plank, we inscribe the name given to our new friend using Japanese calligraphy!

daruma
daruma
daruma
Daruma

Daruma (Jap. 達磨 or だ る ま) - Japanese God of desires, bringing happiness. Daruma - it is also a Japanese traditional doll, which embodies Bodhidharma.

The doll is made of wood, papier-mâché or paper, and usually painted in red. Less frequently in green, yellow or white colors. It is given beard and mustache, but its eyes are not drawn.

The owner of Daruma, making a wish, draws one eye. During the year, Daruma is kept at home in a prominent place. If the next new year wish comes true, Daruma gets another eye, and if not – the owner burns it and gets a new doll.

At the master class everyone makes God of wishes Daruma and by doing all the elements of the ritual, makes a wish!

Sarubobo
Sarubobo
Sarubobo
Sarubobo

Sarubobo is a Japanese amulet in form of a doll, which has no facial features. It is not by accident. Depending on the situation, one could imagine a person in its sole discretion. When the owner is sad, the doll is sad too, when happy – it smiles too.

Sarubobo literally translated from Japanese means "monkey baby". Traditionally, sarubobo was made by a grandmother for her grandchildren like a doll, or by a mother for her adult daughters as a symbol of a happy marriage, a strong family.

In ancient times, dolls were made of tissue remaining from mother’s kimono. Nowadays you can buy them in stores.

The semantic meaning of the amulet - three wishes:

- Protection from all sorts of negative things

- Happy family

- Many children for women

Japanese dolls
Japanese dolls
Japanese dolls
Japanese dolls "Hina"

Hina Matsuri is a holiday of dolls, that is why very popular pastime on this holiday is the production of dolls made of paper, cloth, clay.

Hina is an amulet for little children. It is believed that a bell around its neck drives away evil spirits. The same amulet is popular among drivers and travelers.

At the master class we will make our own doll!

Akabeko
Akabeko
Akabeko
Akabeko

Akabeko 赤 べ こ – a red cow or bull, drives away misfortune.

Akabeko is made of wood, clay and papier-mâché and then painted for the desired purposes.

Kibuna
Kibuna
Kibuna
Kibuna

Kibuna き ぶ な is a yellow carp with the red head and green fins according to legend, cures smallpox. The amulet is believed to bring health.

Carp is a symbol of wealth, health and prosperity in many cultures. Japanese carp can give you courage. And especially for the new year the Japanese make with their hands "kibunu" so the courageous fish all year guards their health.

Kibuna is made of clay, wood (master classes used the blank) and tissues.

Uso
Uso
Uso
Uso

Uso 鷽 is a bullfinch doll.

The Chinese character for the USO ("lie") means sin and misery. By combining two values, we get the bird which embodies the sins of the previous year. The sins are redeemed, when at the New Year we make a new doll change.

Warauma
Warauma
Warauma
Warauma

Warauma 藁馬 is a straw horse, a good harvest amulet. A straw horse is made for good harvest. The Japanese "good harvest" concept is somehow wider than it is commonly believed. We are talking about the "harvest" in various spheres of life. This may be a cash "crop" and a "crop" of good relations and friends. At the master class we will make our helper for any business.

tamago sama
tamago sama
tamago sama
Amulet "Tamago-sama"

In ancient times the egg was considered to be a symbol of the spring sun, carrying life, joy, warmth, light, rebirth of nature, getting rid of the shackles of the cold and snow, in other words, the transition from non-being into being. Once there was a tradition to bring an egg as a simple little gift to the gods, to give eggs to friends and benefactors on the first day of the New Year and birthday.

Tamago-sama is an ancient Japanese amulet, combines the strength and wisdom of the creator of the universe. The amulet is able to fulfill every wish of the one who created it.

At the master class, we will create our own amulet for a particular purpose.

Utide-no-kozuti 打ち出の小槌 - a gold hammer of happiness, fulfilling desires
Utide-no-kozuti 打ち出の小槌 - a gold hammer of happiness, fulfilling desires
Utide-no-kozuti 打ち出の小槌 - a gold hammer of happiness, fulfilling desires
Utide-no-kozuti

Utide-no-kozuti 打ち出の小槌 - a gold hammer of happiness, fulfilling desires.

ermanent attribute of one of the seven gods of fortune Daikoku (Daykokuten - "The Great Black," an echo of Shiva). In one hand of the God there is a bag of rice. God is responsible for the wealth, commerce and trade, also helps in housekeeping. It is often used in tattoos of yakuza for luck. We also met this "hammer" in an ornament of kimono!

丑時之女 - ushi no koku mairi
丑時之女 - ushi no koku mairi
丑時之女 - ushi no koku mairi
Voodoo

丑時之女 - ushi no koku mairi (Ushi No Koku Mairi) - is a Japanese version of Voodoo. Loosely translated, it means something like "Going to the temple at the hour of the Ox". Bull’s Double Hour is "the time when trees and plants are asleep, the time when the souls of the dead and the gods are alive." From 1 to 3 o’clock in the night.

This time for the full moon was the best to make a wish. The man should be dressed in white, with a bleached face and have a special headpiece (gotoku 五 徳, a tripod used in the hibachi – a roaster for the kettle) with three candles. Straw figures for protection from evil influences can be found everywhere, such as near Fukushima Airport. It was built to protect against flu epidemic in 2010, has about 4 meters in height.

Hariko Inu
Hariko Inu
Hariko Inu
Hariko Inu

Hariko Inu 張子犬 is a dog made of papier-mâché. An amulet, which helps women in childbirth and childrearing. Material: clay, wood and accessories. Creating the amulet, we will choose a certain pattern, which also has its own symbolism and meaning.

Mede-Tai 目出鯛
Mede-Tai 目出鯛
Mede-Tai 目出鯛
Medetai

Medetai, Mede-Tai 目出鯛 is a red magic fish (tai - Redfin) carrying prosperity and good fortune.

Made of fabric, clay and wood. It may be issued in the form of an amulet, a decoration for neck, a trinket or a souvenir.

Kumade
Kumade
Kumade
Kumade

Kumade 熊手 ("bear paw") is a bamboo rake to get happiness and good fortune.

Kintyaku
Kintyaku
Kintyaku
Kintyaku

Kintyaku is a bag of money, an auspicious symbol.

To produce this amulet we will require knowledge of the characteristics. Some things are very important, as the overall design depends entirely on the wishes of the one who masters.

At the master class, we will create our own bag and put a few coins in it!

Hamaya 破魔矢
Hamaya 破魔矢
Hamaya 破魔矢
Hamaya

Hamaya 破魔矢 is an arrow, casting out evil spirits, it is bought in the temples for the New Year to bring good luck.

At the master class we will make an arrow to decorate it in a certain way, and prepare special plates for good luck!

7 gods of happiness Sitifukudzin 七 福神
7 gods of happiness Sitifukudzin 七 福神
7 gods of happiness Sitifukudzin 七 福神
Sitifukudzin

7 gods of happiness Sitifukudzin 七 福神 and a vessel of treasures Takarabune 宝船.

Japanese dolls made of washi-paper
Japanese dolls made of washi-paper
Japanese dolls made of washi-paper
Japanese dolls

Japanese dolls made of washi-paper

Nagashi-bin
Nagashi-bin
Nagashi-bin
Nagashi-bin

At the heart of the celebration of Hina Matsuri are several different traditions. One of them dates back to the Heian era (794-1185) - on this day in noble families were invited exorcists who performed special prayers directed to ensure that all the troubles of people switched to paper dolls, which were thrown to water. These dolls called "Nagas bin" - dolls, get down the river. Hina Nagase (hina-nagashi) literally translated as "floating doll".

At a master-class we will create a hanashi-bin and then you will decide to throw it to water or just leave it as a nice souvenir.

Kokeshi-dolls
Kokeshi-dolls
Kokeshi-dolls
Kokeshi-dolls

Making Kokeshi-dolls Producing and painting take place at the master-class. Workpiece of Japanese clay or wood can be made in advance. Participants will only paint the doll.

Kokeshi dolls are known for over 300 years. Japanese dolls valued and protected, there was a belief that if a child is playing with such a doll, it will take care of the child. People believe that Kokeshi bring good luck, help to gather good harvest and bring wealth and happiness to the house.

Maneki-neko
Maneki-neko
Maneki-neko
Maneki-neko

The maneki-neko (Japanese: 招き猫, literally "beckoning cat") is a common Japanese figurine (lucky charm, talisman) which is often believed to bring good luck to the owner. In modern times, they are usually made of ceramic or plastic. The figurine depicts a cat beckoning with an upright paw, and is usually displayed—often at the entrance—of shops, restaurants, pachinko parlors, and other businesses. Some of the sculptures are electric or battery-powered and have a slow-moving paw beckoning. The maneki-neko is sometimes also called the welcoming cat, lucky cat, money cat, happy cat, beckoning cat, or fortune cat in English.

Imperial Japanese dolls
Imperial Japanese dolls
Imperial Japanese dolls
Imperial Japanese dolls

Imperial Japanese dolls. The first stage - the top tier - on the background of the gilded screens arranged paired dolls - the Emperor (Odairi-sama) and the Empress (Ohime-sama - Ohime-sama). Between these dolls there is usually a vase with flowering branches of a peach (the symbol of a happy marriage) and a small cup of sake, as in the old days to the imperial couple a dog as a symbol of fidelity could be added. Made of clay such dolls will be a great souvenir, specially made by you personally!

Papuru Douro - your pocket Japanese doll voodoo
Papuru Douro - your pocket Japanese doll voodoo
Papuru Douro - your pocket Japanese doll voodoo
Papuru Douro

Papuru Douro - your pocket Japanese doll "voodoo"! The doll has a chain and a ring, so you can use it as original keychain or an accessory for your bag, and perhaps as defense against negative energy. It can also be a nice gift for your friends.

Imperial Japanese dolls made of beads
Imperial Japanese dolls made of beads
Imperial Japanese dolls made of beads
Imperial Japanese dolls made of beads

Royal couple is the most important part of all the dolls in the set, and represent an ideal marriage. They are a kind of wish the girl growing up to become a real princess - smart, beautiful, educated, elegant and, of course, in the future to find a decent noble husband.

On both sides of the imperial couple paper or silk lanterns decorated with a pattern of cherry blossoms are lit in the evenings and the composition looks really fabulous!

Hanamusubi dolls
Hanamusubi dolls
Hanamusubi dolls
Hanamusubi dolls

The royal couple, in the technique hanamusubi, a common gift to the newlyweds to the wedding. Special bundles tied for happiness and a long marriage. And the puppets themselves symbolize success and prosperity.

ball-jointed doll
ball-jointed doll
ball-jointed doll
Ball-jointed dolls

A ball-jointed doll is any doll that is articulated with ball and socket joints. In contemporary usage when referring to modern dolls, and particularly when using the acronyms BJD or ABJD, it usually refers to modern Asian ball-jointed dolls. These are cast in polyurethane synthetic resin, a hard, dense plastic, and the parts strung together with a thick elastic. They are predominantly produced in Japan, South Korea and China.