Shoujou (Scarlet)
Shojou, the name of this doll, has two meanings: one is “deep scarlet”; the other is “big drinker”. The doll is wearing a costume from a Kabuki play and is holding a large O sakazuki for drinking sake. He is a father celebrating his son’s filial piety and bestowing on his son an inheritance “beyond imagining,” that is, something beyond mere material things. In this famous Kabuki dance, the father serves his son sake.
The play itself is based on the Chinese story of Shutendouji, who was a lazy, drunken, irresponsible god. His son, however, followed the way of Buddha. When his father slept in a drunken stupor on the floor, the son covered and protected him; when the father’s wild, drunken dancing caused storms that made mortals suffer, the son restrained him. No wonder the father is overjoyed at his son’s filial piety and virtue.
Allusions abound, for those who can read them. In Chinese tradition, The kanji character for shoujou refers to orangutans, who are believed to be long-haired, heavy drinkers; one significance of the color scarletis drunkenness; in Japanese tradition, gods have very long hair.
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