Tide Jewels kanju manju

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

kanju manju 干珠満珠 the tide jewels
manju kanju 満珠干珠

quote
Tide jewels
In Japanese mythology, the tide jewels-- individually, the kanju (干珠, lit. "(tide-)ebbing jewel") and manju (満珠, lit. "(tide-)flowing jewel")-- were magical gems that the Sea God used to control the tides. Classical Japanese history texts record an ancient myth that the ocean kami Watatsumi 海神 "sea god" or Ryūjin 龍神 "dragon god" presented the kanju and manju to his demigod son-in-law Hoori, and a later legend that Empress Jingū used the tide jewels to conquer Korea.
Tide jewels interrelate Japanese dragons and wani sea-monsters, Indonesian mythology, the nyoi-ju 如意珠 "cintamani; wish-fulfilling jewel" in Japanese Buddhism, magic jewels of Nāga kings in Hindu mythology, and the pearl associations of Chinese dragons in Chinese mythology.
- - - - - Terminology
The Japanese compounds kanju 干珠 lit. "ebb jewel" and manju 満珠 lit. "flow jewel" combine kan 干 (cf. 乾) "dry up; drain off; ebb (tides); recede; oppose" and man 満 "fill; full; rise (tides); fulfill; satisfy" with ju, shu, or tama 珠 "gem; jewel; precious stone; pearl; bead". Compare the reversible compounds kanman 干満 and mankan 満干 or michihi 満ち干 meaning "ebb and flow; high and low tides; the tides". Shiomitsu-tama 潮満珠 and shiohiru-tama 潮干珠 are archaic "tide jewel" names using shio or chō 潮 "tide; flow; salt water".
- - - - - Early references
Two Nara period (710-794 CE) historical texts record myths that the Sea God presented the kanju and manju to Hoori, and a Kamakura period (1192-1333 CE) text says the legendary Empress Jingū used the tide jewels to conquer a Korean kingdom in 200 CE.
The tide jewels
are central to "The Lost Fishhook" legend about the fisherman Hoderi and hunter Hoori, two brothers who argued over replacing a lost fishhook. Hoori went searching to the bottom of the sea, where he met and married Toyotama-hime, the daughter of the dragon Sea God. After living three years in the undersea Ryūgū-jō 竜宮城 "dragon palace castle", Ryūjin presented Hoori with his brother's fishhook and the tide jewels, and arranged for him to take his sea-dragon bride back to land.
- - - - - Kojiki
The ca. 680 CE Kojiki 古事記 "Record of Ancient Matters" uses the archaic names shiomitsu-tama 潮満珠 "tide-flowing jewel" and shiohiru-tama 潮干珠 "tide-ebbing jewel" in two consecutive passages.
The first describes the sea-god's advice to Hoori about how to confront his duplicitous brother Hoderi.
- snip -
- - - - - Nihongi
The ca. 720 CE Nihon shoki 日本書紀 "Chronicles of Japan" or Nihongi日本紀 has several references to tide jewels.
..... Empress Jingū found a Buddhist nyoi-ju 如意珠 lit. "as-one-wishes jewel",
- snip -
- - - - - Mizukagami
The ca. 1195 CE Mizukagami 水鏡 "Water Mirror", which is a collection of historical tales, confabulates the Nihongi legends about the tide jewels and Jingū conquering the Koreans (Bassett 1885:74). This text uses some different names, Sāgara 沙竭羅 (one of the 8 Dragon Kings) for the Sea God, and Koryo 句麗 or Koma 蓋馬 for the Korean kingdom Goguryeo.
- snip -
- - - - - Later references
The history of the kanju and manju tide jewels continues into the present day, long after the myths about Hoori's lost fishhook and Jingō's invented conquest.
..... The Japanese word for "pearl", shinju 真珠 lit. "true jewel", compares with kanju 干珠 "tide-ebbing jewel" and manju 満珠 "tide-flowing jewel".
This kanji 珠 is also pronounced tama, cognate with tama 玉 "jewel; gem; jade" seen above in the name Toyotama-hime and below in the next.


Princess Tamatori steals Ryūjin's tide jewels,
by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

The fable of Tamatori-hime 玉取姫 "Princess Jewel Taker", which was a favorite ukiyo-e subject of Utagawa Kuniyoshi,
- snip -
Manju Shima 満珠島 "tide-flowing jewel island" and Kanju Shima 干珠島 "tide-ebbing jewel island" are uninhabited islets in the Kanmon Straits near Chōfu 長府 in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. In the 1185 CE Battle of Dan-no-ura during the Genpei War, the Minamoto (Genji) fleet defeated the Taira (Heike) fleet by taking advantage of the tides around these two islands.
In 1943, the Manju maru 満珠丸 and Kanju maru 干珠丸 Etorofu class coastal defense ships were named after the tide-jewel islands.

Several Shinto shrines were allegedly repositories for the ancient tide jewels. The ca. 1335 CE Usa hachiman no miya engi 宇佐八幡宮縁起 "History of the Hachiman Shrine at Usa" notes .....
..... the Ōwatatsumi-jinja 大海神社 in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka and the Mekari-jinja 和布刈神社 in Moji-ku, Kitakyūshū purportedly housed the original tide jewels. The Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto annually holds the Gion Matsuri celebrating the legend of Jingū using the tide jewels to defeat the Koreans.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !


Umisachihiko うみさちひこ【海幸彦】Hoderi
Yamasachihiko やまさちひこ【山幸彦】 Hoori
. Food from the Sea, Food from the Mountains .
and
the deity Watatsumi 海神 / 綿津見

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- ABC - List of ebb and tide clay bells from the Prefectures


source : ezbbs.net/cgi/ 茶々丸
from Iminomiya jinja 忌宮神社 Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi

kanju manju no suzu 干珠満珠の鈴 clay bells of ebb and tide

. dorei どれい【土鈴】 clay bells from Japan .
- Introduction -

..............................................................................................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . Ehime




On a very small princess Daruma doll there is only one of these jewels.
The three jewels remind us of the Korean war of Empress Jinguu, which was favoured by a strong wind called "Treasure of Ebb and Tide" (kanju manju 干珠満珠). But come to think about this name, there should be only two jewels!


Two clay bells (dorei 土鈴) with the "Ebb and Tide" Jewel

© PHOTO 都道府県の民芸品


. Hoju and the "Crow Script" of the Kumano Shrines
Amulets with a design called "crow character" 烏文字.

..............................................................................................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . Fukuoka



. Koora Taisha 高良大社 Shrine Kora Taisha.

During her conquest of Korea, Empress Jingu Kogo stopped at 筑前国香椎 Chikuzen, Kashii to pray at the shrine to Sumiyoshi Myojin 住吉大明神. The Deity told her to get the Tide Jewels from the Dragon King Palace. When she asked how that could best be done, the Deity told her to sent Azumi Isora and have him dance for the Dragon King.
So she send her sister 豊姫 Toyohime and Azumi to the Dragon Palace and they returned with the Tide Jewels.

. Empress Jingu Kogo 神功皇后 .

. Azumi no Isora 阿曇磯良 .

..............................................................................................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . Hyogo


source : tsuchinosuzu.web.fc2.com/chiiki_kinki

海神社満珠 Watatsumi Jinja
5-1 Miyamotocho, Tarumi Ward, Kobe, Hyogo


..............................................................................................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . Kyoto


source : maharishi.co.jp/kyoto

Azumi no Isora holds the Tide Jewels, an expression of his superior understanding of the sea.
His ancestor is the deity Wadatsumi no Kami 少童命 / 綿津見神.

. Azumi no Isora 阿曇磯良 .
He is also venerated at Kasuga Taisha in Kyoto under the name of
Ame no Koyane no mikoto 天児屋根命 Amenokoyane
He was a sea admiral 海上指揮 in the time of Jingu Kogo during her Korean wars.


..............................................................................................................................................
. . . . . . . . . . Yamaguchi, Shimonoseki

kanju manju no rei 干珠満珠の鈴 clay bells of ebb and tide




Kanju-shima、Kanju-jima 干珠(かんじゅ)島 Kanju Island
Manju-shima, Manju-jima 満珠(まんじゅ)島 Manju Island

In 1958 Mount Hinoyama and the Islands Manju and Kanju with their forests were incorporated into the Setonaikai National Park. The islands have many Castanopsis sieboldii trees.

干珠満珠物語（かんじゅまんじゅものがたり）　
The story of Kanju and Manju
- reference : hotokuenhp/yamaguchidensetu - senjyumanjyu -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. Reference 干珠満珠 .

. gangu 玩具　伝説, omochcha おもちゃ 　toy, toys and legends .
- Introduction -


. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

- - - #kanjumanju #tidejewles #watatsumi #claybells - - - - -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

御講凪満珠干珠の島浮かぶ
okoonagi manju kanju no shima ukabu

calm day for the Shinran ceremony -
the Tide Jewel Islands
float in the sea

Ryuuzu Mikiko 龍頭美紀子 Ryuzu Mikiko

. Okoonagi 御講凪 Memorial Ceremony for Saint Shinran Shonin 親鸞聖人 .
okoonagi 御講凪 calm wind during the honorable preaching ceremony
okoobiyori お講日和 fine day on the honorable preaching ceremony
- kigo for early winter -




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

kookai shin, kookaishin 航海神 Kokaishin Deities of Seafarers - Legends
hooryooshin 豊漁神 Deities for a good catch

The Horyoshin 豊漁神 Deities for a good catch are venerated at

Miho Jinja 美穂神社 Miho Shrine in Matsue in Shimane
Mishima Jinja 三島神社 Mishima Shrine / 三嶋大社 in Shizuoka
Benten Shrine 江の島の弁天 at Enoshima, Kanagawa
Itsukushima Jinja 厳島神社 Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima, Hiroshima
Kotohira Gu 琴平宮, 金毘羅さん Konpira Shrine in Kagawa

.......................................................................
Okinawa 沖縄県 伊平屋村 Iheya village

ryuuguu no kami リュウグウノカミ，hanadamaganashi ハナダマガナシ Kami of the Dragon Palace
In Iheya village this Kami of the Dragon Palace is also called hanadama ganashi ハナダマガナシ.
People come here to pray before going for a long sea trip.

ryuuguu no kami 竜宮の神， Nirai Kanai ニライ・カナイ，hooryooshin 豊漁神
. ryuuguu 竜宮と伝説 Ryugu Legends about the Dragon Palace .

.......................................................................
Yamagata 山形県 鶴岡市 Tsuruoka city 下川 Shimogawa

The Temple 善宝寺 Zenpo-Ji in Tsuruoka is famous from Tohoku to Kanto as a place to pray for a good catch.
In Mie it is the Temple 青峯山正福寺 Shofuku-Ji.
Once a statue of 十一面観音像 Kannon Bosatsu with 11 faces came riding on kujira 鯨魚 a whale.
She became the portector deity of fishermen and sailors at Shofuku-Ji.
Kujira Shusse Kannon 鯨山出現観音

..............................................................................................................................................

- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Join the MINGEI group on facebook ! .  


. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples .


. Tohoku after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hita Tenryo Oita

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
. tenryō 天領 Tenryo Government Land "Land of Heaven" .
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hita 日田市 - Bungo no Kuni Hita 豊後国日田
Part of Bungo is now in Oita prefecture, part in Fukuoka.



- quote -
Hita (日田市 Hita-shi) is a city located in Ōita Prefecture, Japan, that was founded on December 11, 1940. It is an agricultural and industrial centre that primarily produces lumber, furniture, and pottery. Its attractions and scenic beauty also make it a popular tourist destination.
..... Hita is located in the far west of Ōita Prefecture, and borders the neighbouring prefectures of Fukuoka, and Kumamoto. Surrounding cities include Kurume to its west, Nakatsu to the north, and Kusu to the east.
..... Many rivers that run through Hita join up to the Mikuma River. This river was used to distribute lumber to Kurume and Ōkawa at the end of the Edo Period but with the completion of the Yoake Dam, the use of this route stopped.

----- History
In 1593, Hita came under the direct control of the Toyotomi Household as the main city overseeing Kyushu. After the completion of Hinokuma castle and fortification of Nagayama castle, Hita passed from the Toyotomi household to the new Daimyo Tokugawa Ieyasu and became a "Tenryo" town, in which the town was under direct control of the Tokugawa Shogunate. After the Meiji period it was known as Hita Prefecture, and after that, it was assimilated into Ōita Prefecture.
..... During the Edo period, Hita was modeled after Kyoto and its merchant culture, and even now, it is called "Little Kyoto".
- - - - - Festivals
Hina Dolls Festival (February/March)
Cherry Blossom Festival (First Sunday in April): Kizan Park
River Opening Festival (First weekend after May 20)
Gion Festival (First Sunday after July 20)
Tenryo Festival (Third weekend in October)
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

.......................................................................

- quote -
Hita is famous for its quality bamboo and cedar timbers.
This resource made it to a Tenryo.
Hita prospered as tenryo 天領 (direct controlled territory of Edo Shogunate) during the Edo period (1603-1868). It is called "Little Kyoto", and has old buildings standing in a row, even today, near the hot spring resort. In Mameta town, you can enjoy a stroll through the historic streets.
Hita hot spring is known as "spring for birth", and is effective for neuralgia, recovering from fatigue and more.
source : wikitravel.org

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Taio kinzan 鯛生金山 Taio Gold Mine, goldmine
大分県日田市 中津江村合瀬3750



Once the largest gold mine in the East (42 tons), this mine stretched 110km in length. Now about 800m has been recreated as an underground museum to demonstrate the gold mine in the old days.
The gold mine was closed in 1972.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

ayuyana　鮎簗 bamboo fish traps



Along the Mikuma river from July till November.
The fish are caught and grilled with salt

. yana 魚簗 (やな) fish trap .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hita geta　日田下駄 geta wooden sandals from Hita



Made from the wood of sugi 日田杉　Hita Cedar trees

. geta 下駄 wooden sandals, clogs .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hita Gion Matsuri 日田祇園祭り　Hita Gion Festival



The Gion Festival Centre in Kuma-machi provides information about the history and activities of Hita's annual summer festival, and exhibits six full-sized floats which are paraded around the city during the annual Gion Festival.


CLICK for more photos !

日田祇園山鉾会館 Hita Gion Float Museum

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Hita Tenryo Matsuri　日田天領まつり　Hita Tenryo Festival
Third weekend in October



This festival celebrates Hita's Edo period, when it was under direct Tokugawa supervision. The highlight is a procession of 200 people through the city in full Edo-period costume. The name of the festival comes from the phrase tenryō, used to describe such direct Tokugawa landholdings (Hita was part of the territory overseen by the saigoku gundai, the deputy of the western provinces).

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Tenryo Hita Doll Festival　天領日田雛まつり
February 15 ~ March 31 豆田町 Mameda-machi, Kuma-machi



Hina Dolls: Suffused with the Traditional Beauty of the Edo Period
The doll festival is a harbinger of spring in Hita’s Tenryo district.
The vividly-colored, elaborate dolls and their accoutrements, which were made from the Edo period to the Meiji era, are displayed throughout the area and attract tourists from all over Kyushu.
The exhibitions are held in 20 locations in Mameda-machi and Kuma-machi on either side of the JR Hita Station, and the colorful doll festival atmosphere brightens the neighborhood in a way evocative of ages past.
The dolls on display have been well preserved by commercial establishments in the city. They present an excellent opportunity to see the inherent beauty of traditional crafts, particularly the attractive coloring of the clothing, the workmanship of the accessories, and the unique expression on each doll’s face.
The exhibition area itself has many buildings dating from the Edo period and the Meiji era. Mameda has been designated an important traditional architectural preservation district by the national government. Combined with the doll exhibits, the buildings offer visitors a stately sense of history.
Hita is dotted with three-story wood frame buildings that date back three centuries, so visitors can also enjoy the street scenes.
Tenryo Hina Jinya (museum) 天領雛陣屋
- source : fukuoka-now.com/en/article -

The 草野本家 Kusano family Hina Dolls can be viewed at the oldest house in Hita during the tourist season. In the March Doll's Festival, up to 200 of the collection are on display at once.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

kiji uma きじ馬 "pheasant horse"



Kitayamada no kijiguruma 北山田のきじ車 and Kusu village 玖珠町
This model is found in many parts of the Kusu plain, in the north of Oita prefecture. The villages are trying to revive the village life with this toy, especially Oonohara village 大野原 Onohara.
The toy is made from plain wood of the magnolia hypoleuca tree ホオノキ, with two wheels and a saddle.
It was given to a family when a baby boy war born.
It strong and simple making allowed the boy to sit on it and ride it like a horse.
Other villages to make this type are Tobata 戸畑 and Yamaura 山浦.

. Kiji-guruma きじ車 pheasant on wheels - Introduction Kyushu


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Ontayaki 小鹿田焼 Onta ware, Onta pottery
created in the mountain village of Sarayama



- quote -
Onta Kilns 小鹿田焼 / おんたやきOntayaki - (Ondayaki)
... Onta Village is one of the most unique places to discover in all of Japan - and that's not just in terms of its ceramics.
Administratively, Onta is part of Hita City in central Northern Kyushu, right on the Oita side of the Fukuoka - Oita prefectural border.
Hita itself is an ancient town with plenty of historic quarters to visit.
- - - - - Onta Village
The first thing you will notice when you walk into the village, are the ancient style water-powered wooden hammers whacking away at piles of yellow clay. The thump-thump- thump of the hammers echoes through the entire valley, providing a unique soundtrack to your walk. Every house in the village is close to the river flowing through it and they all use the power provided by the water to get their clay powdered - the base of their ceramics.
The principle of the hammers
dates back centuries at least: the wooden beam that carries the hammer has a large hollow carved in. That hollow fills with water, the weight of the water raising the hammer. After a few seconds, the beam is raised by that weight so high up that the water flows out - which lets the hammer whack down. The procedure repeats, repeats and repeats. You can see that some of the beams already have noticeable cracks in them - they will be replaced soon.
The village
consists of ten families, all with their large houses and all with their own kilns.
All pottery here is produced in ancient ways. The water-powered hammers prepare the clay. The clay is then watered by hand and readied for the potter's wheel where the shapes of the plates, cups and bowls are formed by hand while the wheel is driven by the potters' feet. The typical Ontayaki patters are impressed on the ware manually with combs, brushes or irons.
Weather permitting,
the wares are then dried on boards outside the houses before they go into the wood-fired kilns for burning and glazing. No modern machinery is used in the production process at all. All wares are manufactured exactly the way they were when the village was set up 300 years ago.
This, of course,
has been only possible by maintaining a social structure of the most conservative kind. One young woman encountered at a visit to Onta relayed that she had grown up in a modern metropolitan area. She fell in love with an Onta boy and they married. That was the end of going to clubs and bars. She had to become a real potter's wife, spending all her waking hours on the family pottery work. She grew to enjoy that way of living, she said, though she admitted that it was tough in the beginning.
Every family pottery has its own store.
Most likely you will have to go look and find someone of the family and interrupt them in doing some other work to serve you.
- -- - - Onta Ware
Onta Ware is heavy-duty ceramic for daily use. Most of it is basic kitchenware like plates, bowls and tea cups but also vases and traditional drink pitchers. It's beautiful and every piece is handmade and unique.
- source : Johannes Schonherr -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

urushi日田漆 laquerware from Hita
Made from the wood of the Hita cedar trees.


相澤漆器 Aizawa laquer shop - Daruma




蒔絵盃

- Look at more photos : 日田のお雛様
- source : 田中秀子 -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. - Yamawaro, Yama-Waro やまわろ / ヤマワロ / 山童
"Child of the Mountain" - .
- - - - - and his alter ego
Kappa　河童 "Child of the River"
Yamawaro is a mixture of man and monkey.

yamawaroo 山童 ヤマワロ，yajin 野人
むかし豊後国日田の伏木村で、ある親が泣き止まない子を家から出していたら、声が次第に山の方へ消え入り、子が行方不明になった。１０年ほど後に日田に住む小一という者が日向の梓越嶺を歩行中、満身に毛が生えた２～３ｍの動物と遭遇した。それは人語を話し、我は伏木で行方不明となった子で、今はある者に仕えて数山の主となっていると告げて別れた。これは山童・野人の類である。

.......................................................................

daija no hone 大蛇の骨
筑前国の佐田村に流れる谷川の中に、大蛇の骨が発見された。嘉永６年（１８５３）に豊後国日田の松原という里で現れた、約１０ｍの大蛇よりも一層大きく、昨年の大地震で圧死したのであろう。長年日田近辺で大蛇を探していた山田兄弟がその骨を買い、図を作って送ってよこした。


.......................................................................
前津江村 Maetsue village

貧しい身なりの旅僧（弘法大師）が，芋や大根を洗ったり洗濯をしている老婆にそれらを所望したが，断わったり，洗わない芋を与えたので，その川の水が無くなった。


.......................................................................
Hita city, 渡里 Watari

oni 鬼 a demon
筆者の郷里に渡里という場所がある。土地の古老が言うには、ここは鬼の首を埋めた場所だという。ただし筆者によれば、これは賊の事を指しているのだろう。

.......................................................................
- source : nichibun yokai database -

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- - - - - H A I K U - - - - -

日田杉のずんと高むや秋の空
Hita sugi no zun to takamu ya aki no sora

it looks even higher
above the Hita cedars -
this autumn sky

Takazawa Ryooichi 高澤良一 Takazawa Ryoichi




.......................................................................

日田杉の身に入む山に泊りけり
鈴木しげを

日田杉の鉾をそろへて山始
岩崎照子

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Join the MINGEI group on facebook ! .  


. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples .


. Tohoku after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]

- - - #hitatenryo #hitaoita - - - - -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

kites from Kyushu

[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Kites from Kyushu　九州の凧　



西九州伊万里凧あげ大会 - Great Kite Meeting in Imari, Kyushu


. tako　凧 Kites of Japan - Introduction .

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

- ABC - List of kites from the Prefectures

..............................................................................................................................................

. . . . . . . . . . Fukuoka Folk Art - 福岡県

Kitakyushu, Kita Kyushu 北九州 　

Kitakyushu is famous for its various types of kites which have to resist the strong winds of the season.


- source : www.asahi-net.or.jp


- quote -
Kyushu kite makers prepare for year of the dragon
A couple in Kita-Kyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, plan to make 600 kites decorated with images of dragons ahead of the start of 2012, the year of the dragon in the oriental zodiac.
Yoshihiro and Hideko Takeuchi's Kite House Magoji in Kita-Kyushu's Tobata Ward will supply the kites to folk-craft stores across Japan and tourist attractions around the city.


Japanese kites decorated with images of dragons at the Kite House Magoji in Kita-Kyushu's Tobata Ward

Yoshihiro, the 68-year-old second-generation owner of the business, makes the frames while his wife Hideko, 63, paints the images. They receive orders from across Japan every year.
- source : Cool Japan Guide





magojidako, Magoji-dako 孫次凧 Magoji kite
The most common themes are the semi cicada, fugu pufferfish, Kappa water goblin and the uso bullfinch.
They were first made by Magoji san 孫次さん, and the production is now with his grandson, 義博 Magoji Yoshihiro.

孫次凧・製作者：Takeuchi Yoshihiro 竹内義博：北九州市戸畑区新地1-6-4


Kappa Kite　かっぱたこ
- source : www.acros.or.jp/r_culture



. usokae 鷽替えexchanging bullfinches .


- KAPPA - 河童 / 合羽　/ かっぱ /　カッパ - ABC-Index -


.......................................................................


Chikuzen bunbun-dako 筑前ブンブン凧 humming kite from Chikuzen

Made in the town of 直方 Nogata. They are rectangular, with paintings of famous people, like Kabuki actors and show kumadori 隅取り make-up. ブンブン凧 bunbundako



The first maker, Ishii Nihei 石井仁平 , improved the kites from the Suruga province (now Shizuoka prefecture), and the production is now in the hands of the third generation.
When the kite rises in the sky, it makes a humming sound, called "bunbun" in Japanese. The kites are made of fresh green bamboo and Japanese paper and come in many different sizes, from the size of a tobacco box to more than one meter. They can withstand very strong wind, making their special sounds as they dance in the storm. Some are painted with faces of famous Kabuki actors, others with traditional graphic motives.
福岡県直方市頓野2016-2


. Papermachee dolls and toys from Nogata 直方張子 .


Echizen bunbun tako 越前ブンブン凧 from Kita-Kyushu

.......................................................................


Hakata semi dako 博多せみ凧 kite like a cicada from Hakata
and
福岡県北九州市戸畑のセミ凧土鈴
Kita Kyushu Tobata Cicada Kite



semidako as motive for a clay bell　土鈴

.......................................................................


doojintako 道人凧 kites with Chinese motives

The name is the local dialect for toojin tako 唐人凧（とうじんたこ）.
They were first made by Magoji 孫次どうじん凧, with the top of dragon 龍道人凧 and the bottom of a tiger.
Now they are also made by Ikuno Yasuyuki 生野保幸 in his free time.
生野保幸：北九州市八幡西区木屋瀬3-6

tatsu doojindako 龍道人凧 kites with dragon motives
red flames are blowing from the mouth of a dragon


- quote -
小倉どうじん凧 Ogura Dojindako
from Ogura ward 北九州市小倉南区城野 in Kitakyushu.










小倉どうじん凧の起源は「小笠原（玲）文書」178「源忠直公年賦二」寛永十五年戌寅、「公43歳(1638年)」島原の乱に出陣する武将に、小倉藩の典医花房道順正信が島原地方で見てきた凧に、龍が波をけって空に昇る姿に雷と太鼓を描き加えて、戦勝祈願として武将に送ったのが始まりと伝えられている。
- source : www.kitakyushu-museum.jp



.Toojin tako, tojindako 上総唐人凧 Tojin kite with Chinese faces .
- Introduction -

.......................................................................


Yanagawadako 柳川凧 kites from Yanagawa town

made by Sakata Nobuyoshi 坂田信義, who also runs a restaurant.
He uses pure washi paper and bamboo and has seven different patterns (men).
- from left to right -


- source : www.asahi-net.or.jp

megaeshi men 目返し面 moving eyes
is the most typical one, with large eyes and moving pupils. When the kite swings in the sky, it is easy to follow the pupils, which are fixed in a special manner and can look kind of upside-down.

komori men 子守面 babysitting faces
They are much smaller that the mekaeshi faces and have bamboo stick of abuot 1 meter.
They are also called ororondako おろろん凧.
ororon is the local dialect to pacify a baby. In former times when mothers carried the babies on their back, they would stick the bamboo with the child so it has something to watch.

karagasa toojin から笠唐人 kite with Chinese motives
This is a very special kite incorporating various motives.
karagasa, karakasa から傘・denden daiko でんでん太鼓・mukai-tai 向い鯛・sensu 扇子・ sakedokkuri, tokkuri 酒徳利.
The umbrella, a twist drum, two auspicious sea breams facing each other, a folding fan and a sake flask.
These are all auspicious motives and this kite is flown on special auspicious days.
One explanation:
These symbols remind of the eight auspicious symbols of Tibetan Buddhism 八吉祥文.

mukadedako 　むかで凧 kite like a centipede
Up to 20 kites are linked together in a long row (rendako 連凧 "kite train", stringed kites).

His other motives are
「えび尻（角凧にえびの尻尾のような尾がついている）」「奴さん」「とんび」「義経」




八吉祥財神宝幔彩壇 Ashtamangala. "eight Tibetan symbolic attributes"


source :　plaza.rakuten.co.jp/ajiatoan

The eight symbols are
法螺 Conch、法輪 Wheel、宝傘 Parasol、宝蓋 Victory Banner、蓮華 Lotus、宝瓶 Urn、金魚 Fish、吉祥紐 Knot

Ashtamangala - with explanations of these symbols
- source : wikipedia

- - - - - - - - - - - - -


目返し面

more photos from Yanagawa town 水郷柳川
- source : cooljapanx.web.fc2.com - Hatada

..............................................................................................................................................

. . . . . . . . . . Nagasaki Folk Art 長崎県

Fukue town 福江市 - Goto Retto 五島列島 Goto island chain



baramondako, baramon tako バラモン凧 kite
Gotoo Baramon 五島バラモン凧 Goto Baramon kite

This type of kite has a long history at the Goto islands.
baramon in the local dialect means to be active and lively.
The paintings are of samurai in armour, facing a devil.
The main producer of these kites is 野原権太郎 Nohara Kentaro.





hinodezuru, hinode tsuru, hinodetsuru 日出鶴 kite in the morning sun with a crane
and
kite with a tsubaki camellia pattern
The crane as a symbol for long life and the sun of Japan - both auspicious symbols for the New Year kite flying.



.......................................................................


Hirado town 平戸　

Most kites are called yoochoo ようちょう Yocho.


oniyoozu 鬼洋蝶 kite with a demon face
oniyôcho, oniyoochoo

. Oni 鬼　Demon Amulets .

There is even a shochu shnaps with this label.




. - hyoozu no kami, Hyōzu 兵主神 Hyozu no Kami
- Deity of Wind and Weapons - .
. hyoosube, hyōsube 兵主部 / ひょうすべ Hyosube . from Saga, Kyushu



. kintoki yoochoo 金時凧　/ 金時ようちょう　kite with Kintoki .

.......................................................................


Ikinoshima, Iki no Shima 壱岐島 Iki Island


ondako 鬼凧 "demon kite"

Related to the Demon Legend of Iki Island.



Iki is full of legends associated with oni devils, from the Devil's Footprint in Makizaki Park and Tatsunoshima Island to the Devil's Tomb Cavern. The traditional craft of ondako makes a kite depicting a particular heroic battle.
The warriorDaijin Yuriwaka beheads an oni, who dies sinking his teeth into Yuriwaka's helmet.
source : ikishi.sakura.ne.jp

Yuriwaka Daijin 百合若大臣


Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Yuriwaka Daijin is a character in kōwakami, a form of musical dance-drama (similar to nō) that was popular in the late sixteenth century. His name may be translated as Young Lord Lily, and lilies decorate the series title border. After fighting in the war against the Mongols in the thirteenth century, Yuriwaka is stranded on an island and is unable to return home for years. When he comes home at last, he has been gone so long, and is so changed by his experiences, that no one recognizes him. His wife believes that he is still alive but is unaware of his return, and she is threatened by the villain Beppu because she has refused to marry him.

In the climactic scene shown here, Yuriwaka demonstrates his identity by stringing and drawing the great bow that only he, a renowned archer, is strong enough to use. He kills Beppu and its happily reunited with his faithful wife.
The inset landscape is framed with bowstrings, another reference to this episode.

As early as 1906, the writer, translator, and critic Tsubouchi Shōyō pointed out that the story of Yuriwaka is strikingly similar to the basic plot of Homer's Odyssey, . . .
Further research by various scholars has shown that the Yuriwaka story is not found in older Japanese sources but appeared suddenly in the late sixteenth century, just when Jesuit missionaries were most active in Japan (prior to the banning of Christianity in the 1630s).
Moreover, the name Yuri (Lily) is very unusual for a man, but it could well be a Japanese abbreviation of Ulysses. All in all, it seems extremely likely that this tale was inspired by one of the greatest classics in Western literature and was probably written by a sixteenth-century Japanese who had heard the story of The Odyssey form a visiting European.
Quoted from:
Utagawa Kuniyoshi: The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidō
by Sarah E. Thompson, p. 36.
- source : woodblockprints.org

.......................................................................

Nagasaki hata 長崎ハタ Nagasaki Hata kite



quote
Hata is build at Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu.
It does not look like other Japanese traditional kite in shape. It is believed that this kite is imported from far-east Asian counties,such as China,Thailand and Indonesia.
Nagasaki was the only one harbour when Japan closed to foreign countries during Edo period(1603-1867).
It is fairly certain that Nagasaki Hata fighting kite is a derivation of the Indian Fighter. It bears a close resemblance to the classic Indian Fighter, differing only in the absence of the Indian support fin at the tail, and in having its two leading edges supported by guidline of string, while the Indian version has its leading edges unsupported. Nagasaki Hata is traditionally coloured red, white and blue, in the manner of the Dutch ensign.
This is an exceptionally manoeuvable kite capable of flying at amazing speeds with considerable directional control. Equipped with cutting devices such as porcelain glued to the line below the bridle be means of egg white, rice or other natural adhesives, it is a fearsome opponent in competition.




. byoobu 屏風 Byobu Folding Screens .

..............................................................................................................................................


kara kintoki, kara-kintoki から金時　
'Kintoki' is the name of a boy-hero who appears in Japanese old tale.



源頼光と坂田金時 Yorimitsu and Kintoki

. 金太郎 Kintaro "Golden Boy" .
. . . he became a loyal follower of Minamoto no Yorimitsu under the new name Sakata Kintoki 坂田金時 / 坂田公時.


..............................................................................................................................................

. . . . . . . . . . Oita Folk Art - 大分県

yokanbee よかんべえ Yakko kite

Yakko kites 奴凧　have been a favorite in the Edo period since more than 230 years.
They are also called Edo kites.
Some famous regions of Oita for these kites are　 Takeda 竹田, Usuki臼杵 and Bungo Takata 豊後高田. yokanbee is the local diaclec for these kites


source :　yonechan kite collection

made by 三郎福助 Saburo Fukusuke





ura yakko tako　裏奴凧　Yakko from the backside from Usuki臼杵
The Lord Inaba had seen similar kites in Edo and had his retainers make them here in Oita. When the kite begins to fly high, it looks like a manservant, slowly vanishing in the clouds. This kite was especially flown at the O-Bon お盆 rituals for the ancestors.


. Yakko Daruma 奴だるま .
yakko 奴
was the name of the lowest social position in the Edo society, the simple workers of a daimyo household.


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. tako　凧 Kites of Japan - Introduction .


- - - #kyushukites #kitesfromkyushu - - - - -
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. Join the MINGEI group on facebook ! .  



. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .


. Tohoku after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
[ . BACK to DARUMA　MUSEUM　TOP . ]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::