March 3rd is Girls’ Day in Japan, called Hina Matsuri (雛祭り) Doll Festival, it is a typical Japanese celebration. Dolls are the symbols of Hina Matsuri and are arranged on an altar, precisely in the same way every year.
Platforms with red cloths on steps are arranged to display the dolls. According to Japanese belief, people in the past believed that dolls had the power to ward off evil spirits, illnesses, misfortunes, and bad luck, and thus would protect the owner. So for the Japanese, Hina are much more than just decorative items. The dolls are often given as gifts by the girl’s mother’s family when she is going to have her first Hina Matsuri.
Two weeks before March 3, families assemble their Hina Ningyo dolls, a sophisticated set of dolls and decorative miniature objects. Similar to the nativity scenes set up at Christmas in the West, Hina Ningyo dolls are dressed in the style of the imperial court of the Heian Era (794 to 1185) and represent Japanese society at the time. The most complete sets of these dolls are placed on special 7-tiered display stands decorated with red silk. On each shelf, from top to bottom, the dolls are displayed in the following order:
- The first and highest level is for the “Dairisama” (Imperial Palace), so this level is reserved for the richly attired Emperor and Empress. The Empress’s attire is called “jūnihitoe” (a twelve-layer ceremonial robe from the Heian Period). Even today, the “jūnihitoe” kimono is worn in the wedding ceremony of the royal family. The “imperial couple” must always occupy the highest step and the Emperor always sits to the left of the Empress.
- Three Court Ladies, representing the aristocratic class
- Five Musicians, representing artists and literati
- 2 Ministers and offerings, representing government and religious officials
- 3 Samurai and plants, representing the warrior class and feudal domains
- Objects used at the Court – miniature lacquered furniture, kimono chests, dressing table, tea ceremony utensils, sewing box.
- Objects used outside the Court, representing common people – lacquered miniatures of an ox cart, a palanquin, stackable boxes, a flower cart
- The Origins of Hina Matsuri
The celebration dates back to the Heian Period (794-1185), and has its origins in ancient Chinese customs to rid evil spirits and remove bad luck by placing them inside dolls and releasing them into the river. This ritual was intended to wish girls to grow up healthy, ward off evil spirits, illnesses, misfortunes, ward off bad luck and to find a good marriage.
In the beginning, the dolls were made of paper and thrown into a river on the 3rd. It was believed that the dolls attracted evil spirits and so throwing them into the river meant that all the bad vibes would be carried away by the current, protecting the owners.
Over the years, the dolls were improved. From paper dolls they became real luxury dolls, wearing silk kimonos.
Today, the dolls that symbolize Hina-matsuri are considered family heirlooms, precious pieces that are carefully packaged and stored until the festival period. Due to the high price of these delicate pieces and the lack of space, many families are increasingly opting for compact models that only feature the Empress and the Emperor.