Hinamatsuri facts for kids
Hinamatsuri (雛祭り, Hina-matsuri), also called Doll's Day or Girls' Day, is a special day in Japan. Hinamatsuri is celebrated each year on March 3. This is a day for thinking about the happiness and health of young girls in Japanese families.
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History
Since the 8th century, it was traditional to have special days for children twice a year—March 3 for girls and May 5 for boys.
Display
The focus of attention on Hinamatsuri is a display of dolls which are dressed in the fashion of the Heian period. The group of dolls represent the Imperial court (hina ningyō).
The Japanese term for the display steps is hina dan (雛壇). There may be five or seven steps.
The Kantō region and Kansai region have different placement orders of the dolls from left to right, but the order of dolls per level are the same.
First platform, the top
The top tier holds two dolls. They are imperial dolls (内裏雛 (だいりびな), dairi-bina).
The male doll is traditionally on the right, but sometimes the doll is on the left.
Second platform
The second tier holds three court ladies san-nin kanjo (三人官女). Each holds something to do with sake.
Third platform
The third tier holds five male musicians gonin bayashi (五人囃子).
Fourth step
Two Imperial ministers (daijin) may be displayed on the fourth tier
Related pages
Images for kids
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Empress Kōjun attending the festival with her daughters, c. 1940
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18th-century mebina, Empress doll, on display at Musée d'ethnographie de Genève
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18th century obina, Emperor doll, on dispay at Musée d'ethnographie de Genève
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Hinamatsuri store display in Seattle, Washington featuring all 7 tiers.
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An Emperor doll with an Empress doll, in front of a gold screen. The optional lampstands are also partially visible.
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Tsurushibina is a variation of the traditional Hina-Ningyō dolls (Kanzo-Yashiki, Kōshū, Yamanashi Prefecture).
See also
In Spanish: Hinamatsuri para niños
