The beginning of the Edo period (1603-1868) ushered in 260 years of peace and growing prosperity. After the horrors of the never-ending wars for power of the previous years, this period was known for its rich cultural life.
This is especially true of popular culture. Many of the customs and celebrations of contemporary Japan have their origins in the Edo period. More than one new holiday sprang up celebrating the lives of children who now had better chance of surviving to adulthood. The shichi go san, or “seven-five-three” celebration, is thought to have started over a thousand years ago in the Heian period when the nobility marked their children surviving until these ages, but the custom spread to the common people in the Edo period. Three and seven-year old girls and five-year-old boys were dressed in fine kimonos and entire families went to Shinto shrines to pray.
Here we see a seven-year-old girl dressed in her shichi go san kimono. The length of her hair tells us her age, as does the ribbon in her hair. Her obi (the belt of her kimono) is called a tare-obi, and tells us she comes from a wealthy family. In the rear view, we can see a pine design on the right of the obi and highly geometric turtle motif and green chrysanthemums on the left. All are symbols of long life. On the bottom edge of the obi (unseen in these views) are plum blossoms, which are symbols of joy. The kimono itself has a chrysanthemum design, which was worn by members of the nobility.
Girls from wealthy households typically started tea ceremony, calligraphy, flower arranging, and other lessons at age seven in order to help them attain the proper degree of cultivation for ladies of that class. Kazuko Adams, the maker of this doll, imagines we are watching a high-spirited child who is happy to escape momentarily from this discipline. Kazuko imagines that she is playing with a crane (tsuru) of folded paper (oru means “to fold”—together, the words are pronounced orizuru) as she enjoys a break from the formality of her lessons.
Weight: 8 ounces; Height: 7 inches |
