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wagasa 和傘 Japanese paper umbrella
The umbrella is used quite often, especially during the rainy season.
But in haiku, it is used as a
nonseasonal topic.
The most famous one is probably the
"Umbrella with the eye of a snake ja no me gasa 蛇の目傘",
which also is often used in Kabuki plays.
Look at some great collections of these umbrellas:
http://www.gendaiya.co.jp/s_wagasa.htm
. janomegasa 蛇の目の傘 Edo-umbrella .
and the manners of Edo (Edo shigusa 江戸しぐさ)
. tooyugami 桐油紙 Toyugami, oil paper with paulownia oil .
and the oil-paper raincoat
Kappa 合羽
. kasa, karakasa 傘 / 唐傘 umbrella .
higasa 日傘 parasol
bangasa 番傘 Bangasa, "numbered umbrella"
kasa-sashi tanuki 傘さし狸 Tanuki with Umbrella
kasashi, kasa-shi 傘師 making umbrellas
kasa hari 傘張り gluing paper to umbrellas
furugasa kai 古傘買い buying old umbrellas in Edo
. karakasa obake から傘お化け / 唐傘お化け umbrella ghost .
The spirit of
wagasa is called
Karakasa Obake, umbrella ghost, a monster looking like a folded Wagasa, with a single eye and a single foot wearing a geta.
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CLICK for more photos !
葛飾北斎 Katsushika Hokusai
Some of the umbrellas have the large numbers of a Bangasa.
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The umbrella was invented in ancient China as a canopy to be held over a nobleman. In 552, during the Asuka period, the umbrella was introduced to Japan through Kudara (the Korean peninsula) as part of Buddhist ceremonies.
The umbrella in Japan was originally called
'kinugasa', but because it came from China ('kara'), it was also called
'karakasa'. The original form of the umbrella was improved over time: the center tube and ribs were made from bamboo, and the covering was made from oilpaper, waterproofed with persimmon, linseed oil and China wood oil. Despite its strong water resistance, its major flaws were that it was neither light nor durable.
There are two types of Japanese umbrella:
the
bangasa (coarse oilpaper umbrella) and
janomegasa (snake-eye umbrella/paper umbrella). The janomegasa is made from paper, is blue in the center and at the edges, and white in between, and looks like the eye of a snake when viewed from above. This umbrella does have variations, such as painted black rings on the surface and the application of other astringent materials.
Currently, the kano umbrella, made in Kano, Gifu Prefecture, is proud to be to the only place in Japan to be a major producer of traditional Japanese umbrellas.
- source : nippon-kichi.jp/article -
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Differences between Japanese and Western umbrellas
Many people think that Japanese umbrellas and Western umbrellas are not so different. Nothing could be further from the truth. Both come from completely different traditions in terms of use, design, materials, structure, and craft expertise.
First of all,
the materials are very different. Western umbrellas are made with artificial materials like plastic, polyester, steel, etc. On the other hand, Japanese umbrellas are made with natural materials like washi paper, bamboo, etc.
A Japanese umbrella has 30-70 ribs while most Western ones only have eight. Western umbrellas open when the tension in the metal ribs press up on the covering of the umbrella. Japanese umbrellas open as the many thin bamboo ribs spread the washi paper and stretch it tight. When open, Western umbrellas are dome shaped while Japanese umbrellas have straight line.
They also fold away differently.
Western umbrellas are wrapped around the central column and handle. Japanese umbrellas collapse together and most of the surface structure is folds inward and out of sight.
The ribs of Japanese umbrellas
are made by splitting bamboo into very thin strips. The precision of the final rib structure and the washi paper glued to it work together to fold away simply and elegantly.
When a Western umbrella is put in a stand
or leaned against something the handle is always up. Japanese umbrellas stand with the handle touching the ground.
◆ How to make a traditional Japanese umbrella
01 Material preparation
02 Frame construction
03 The paper covering is cut to size
04 The glue is mixed
05 The paper coveringis carefully attached
06 The glue is allowed to dry
07 Lacquering and painting
08 Application of linseed oil
09 Finishing and final decoration
- - - - - Look at the photos here
- source : wagasa.com/en/kyowagasa -
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In Japan, farmers and travellers in olden times used a large straw hat as umbrella, sometimes translated as
umbrella-hat (kasa, 笠).
. - umbrella hat (kasa 笠) - .
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- ABC - List of Wagasa from the Prefectures
................................................................................ Gifu 岐阜県
Gifu wagasa 岐阜和傘
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Traditional Craft Skills that Fashion Umbrellas from Bamboo and Paper
Still known today as a center for the production of traditional Japanese umbrellas, manufacture of wagasa began in the
Kano district of Gifu City in the middle of the 18th century. At that time the state had feudal organization and the local lords had a great deal of economic and political autonomy within the domains to which they were assigned. The feudal lord who was transferred in to rule the feudal domain around Gifu had to contend with a local economy that was devastated by floods. He saw an opportunity to stimulate local industry and to provide the means to supplement the living of the impoverished lower samurai (warrior elite) by encouraging them to make umbrellas.
The local area had a long history of paper making.
Mino-washi, a local product, was a strong handmade paper due to the long fibers it contained. Good quality bamboo was to be found in the valley of the Kiso River, and it was easy to obtain sesame oil and lacquer from the local mountains, indispensable for water proofing. These advantages made the area well suited to umbrella making, since the basic construction of Japanese umbrellas involves affixing paper over a frame of bamboo-strip ribs, and then applying oil and lacquer for waterproofing.
Production peaked at the beginning of the 20th century, when over a million umbrellas per year were manufactured. Since then the metal-and-cloth Western-style umbrella has become generally used, and the number of people who use Japanese umbrellas has dwindled. These days the local craftworkers make only few tens of thousands of wagasa a year.
The traditional Japanese umbrella uses only natural materials and, requiring several months to undergo the various separate processes that are needed for completion, the skilled hands of a dozen seasoned craftworkers contribute to the finished item. In addition to the usual type of rain umbrella, Gifu Wagasa also come in various other types including large red outdoor parasols that are used to provide shade on outdoor occasions, such as tea ceremonies. Then there are smaller colorful
buyo-gasa that figure in performances of traditional Japanese dance. Gifu Wagasa are an indispensable part of traditional Japanese art and culture.
- source : web-japan.org/atlas/crafts -
................................................................................ Ishikawa 石川県
Kanazawa wagasa 金沢和傘
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A wagasa is a Japanese traditional umbrella consisting of washi (Japanese paper) with a bamboo handle and ribs. Japanese traditional umbrellas are still indispensable to the tea ceremony and Japanese dance though Western-style umbrellas have replaced them in Japanese people's daily lives. By taking into consideration the climate of Kanazawa, where it rains or snows a lot, the Kanazawa wagasa is of strong structure with four sheets of Japanese paper pasted to the central part of the umbrella.
Furthermore, the Kanazawa wagasa is characterized by its splendid and graceful color and design.
- source : kanazawa-tourism.com/eng -
................................................................................ Kyoto 京都
Kyoowagasa 京和傘 Kyo-Wagasa
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About Kyo Wagasa Umbrellas
The History of Japanese Wagasa Umbrellas
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- - - - - Traditional Kyoto umbrellas
As the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years (794-1868), Kyoto has been the center of nearly every important aspect of Japanese culture including traditional umbrellas. Compared to other Japanese umbrellas, traditional Kyoto umbrellas are known for their simplicity, delicate beauty, and the exceptional precision of the master craftsmen who make them.
Hiyoshiya
has long had a strong connection with the leading practitioners of the Japanese tea ceremony. Our shop is located around the corner from the headquarters of Japanese two largest tea ceremony schools. In the world of tea ceremony, simplicity and elegance are the two most important aesthetic factors. Hiyoshiya successfully developed an original style of Japanese umbrella, in response to the requests of leading tea ceremony masters. These special, large-size umbrellas are known as Honshiki Nodate-gasa.
Hiyoshiya's umbrellas
are made with the finest quality materials, collected from all over Japan. Different qualities of washi paper are used to suit the specific feeling and style of each kind of umbrella (from Fukui, Gifu and Toyama prefecture). We use the finest bamboo obtained from special groves in Gifu Prefecture or Kyoto City. Additionally, the decorative aspects of our umbrellas make use of a number of traditional Kyoto craft forms including lacquer, braiding, and fine metal work.
- source : wagasa.com/en/kyowagasa -
................................................................................ Tottori 鳥取県
Yodoegasa 淀江傘
They are made with
Inshu washi paper and dried on the sandy beach.
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"Yodoegasa", Japanese traditional umbrella, has been handmade since Edo Period (17-19c.).
Not only its durability against wind and snow, its unique beautiful yarn decoration is outstanding enough that it was designated as an intangible cultural asset of
Yonago city (Tottori Pref., West Japan) by the Japanese government.
Through no less than 70 processes, loads of time and work are required until an umbrella is finished.
Sanin District, in West Japan, is famous for its harsh weather, heavy rain and wind in summer, and snow in winter. To use in such conditions, Yodoegasa is durable with its heavy-duty parts compared to other Japanese umbrellas made in other regions in Japan.
Another distinctive feature of Yodoegasa can be seen on the spreaders connecting the pole and the ribs are finely ornamented with colorful yarns. Ordinary Japanese traditional umbrellas only have simple round shaped decoration made with knitted yarn, But the decoration on Yodoegasa is made by special technique called "
kikyo-kazari (Decoration of Kikyo flower: Platycodon grandifloras or balloon flower; a lavender colored flower with five pointed and curled petals) " which is a
Kikyo-petal-shaped decoration made with knitted yarn on the ribs .
The skillful technique
and the beauty of Yodoegasa are being revalued by people all over the world, and now it became popular as an interior purpose as well as primary use.
- - - - - Yodoegasa Densho-no-Kai (The society of Preserving Yodoegasa)
- source : jtco.or.jp/en/japanese-crafts -
................................................................................ Wakayama 和歌山県
Kishu wagasa 紀州和傘
source : myamato.exblog.jp/23827061 ..
They were made in Wakayama, 海南市 Kainan-Town, 日方
Higata.
The paper they used was
保田紙 Yasudagami - Yasuda-gami
or
高野山紙 / 高野紙 Koyagami - Koya-gami
which was introduced by Kobo Daishi Kukai according to Chinese know-how.
This paper was also used for hand fans.
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『寂蓮法師』
Priest Jakuren with Umbrella
Jakuren (1139 - 1202) - Poet from the Hyakunin Isshu 百人一首
歌川国芳 - Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Jakuren (寂蓮) (also known as
Fujiwara o Sadanaga (藤原定長)
before becoming a monk) (1139–1202) was a Japanese Buddhist priest and poet. He was adopted by the noted poet Fujiwara no Shunzei upon the death of Shunzei's younger brother. Shunzei originally intended for Sadanaga to be his heir; however, he subsequently had two male offspring of his own, and Sadanaga was forced to step aside in favor of Fujiwara no Sadaie. As was common practice at the time,
he became a monk, and acquired the religious name of Jakuren. Taking Saigyo as his model, he traveled around the country, composing poems of his travels. He was well regarded in his time and frequently associated with Fujiwara no Teika. He was one of the six compilers of the eighth imperial waka anthology, the famous Shin Kokin Wakashū, and thirty-five of his poems were selected for the work. Before he died, he adopted Fujiwara no Ietaka, pupil to Shunzei.
One of his poems was included in the famous poetry anthology Hyakunin Isshu.
- source : wikipedia -
................................................................................ Yamagata 山形県
Yamagata wagasa 山形和傘
Yamagata umbrella making has a history of about 220 years.
It started in the late Edo period (1789) with the introduction by 矢田部清太郎
Yatabe Kiyotaro.
In the year 1849, the 水野藩 Mizuno clan was moved from 遠州浜松 Hamamatsu to Yamagata, and the umbrella making by low-ranking Samurai was encouraged.
- - - - - Yamagata City - Furuuchi Japanese umbrella shop
- source : pref.yamagata.jp/ou/shokokanko -
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Umbrellas
Yoshida Tooshi 吉田遠志 Yoshida Toshi Yoshida (1911 - 1995)
. . . CLICK here for 和傘 Photos !
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- - - - - Haiku and Senryu - - - - -
kigo and haiku
. kasa かさ /傘 umbrella and parasol .
- - Yosa Buson was very fond of umbrellas -
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