This display of traditional Japanese dolls (known as ningyō) commemorates the Japanese national holiday Children’s Day, or Kodomo no Hi, celebrated on May 5. This day pays tribute to the happiness of children and respects and honors their unique personalities. Dolls are displayed in family homes to evoke the country’s history and national myths and to hold up certain character traits as inspiration for young people as they grow toward adulthood. Families with girls set out dolls depicting members of the imperial court. For boys, warrior dolls are placed on view inside the home, and carp-shaped streamers are hung outside.
Collection Source: Mingei International Museum
Location: The Founder’s Gallery
from Martha E’s blog post, My My, It’s May
May 7, 12
My first child was born on May 5. We lived in Evanston, Illinois, and for the first six years of his life we celebrated his birthday on May 5, and for four of those years we also celebrated his brother’s birthday on May 2. The first week of May had become a special week in our house. When the boys were 6 and 4, we moved to San Diego and learned that something else had happened on…
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