Shun Ba (First Horse)
In the age of the samurai, a celebration called “sekku” was introduced. A boy from a samurai family was given his first toy horse at age five (four, by today’s reckoning), and his family prayed that he would grow up healthy and strong. The gift had dual symbolism: as a samurai, the boy would learn to fight on horseback, and the toy horse was considered the beginning of his training; and, as a samurai, the boy would have the exclusive privilege of riding a horse in peacetime. During the Edo Period (1603-1868), this celebration was one of many customs that rich merchants copied from their social superiors, the samurai. Today, the custom of celebrating sekku is preserved in the “shichi-go-san” celebration.
The doll’s hair is typical of samurai boys. He will wear a sword at about 15, and shave the top of his head, and oil and tie the fringe—a style that is retained with today’s sumo wrestlers.
Kazuko’s Crafts ©
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