Knohazaru: Konohazaru Dolls
March 22, 2017The most popular among Konohazaru pottery dolls is the “Three Wise Monkeys (Mizaru, Iwazaru, Kikazaru)” type that embodies the maxim “See no evil, Speak no evil, Hear no evil” (saru or zaru, literally means monkeys).
Besides this type, there are more than ten types of Konohazaru dolls, such as Genshizaru, or primitive monkey dolls that represent wishes for prosperity of descendants and Meshikuizaru, or rice-eating monkey dolls that represent wishes for having enough food for a lifetime. These Konohazaru dolls have been used as charms for warding off bad diseases and misfortunes, prosperity of descendants and so on.
Read the full article:
Knohazaru: Konohazaru Dolls
Translated by: Chieko Adachi, reviewed by Tomoko Yamamoto
We will deliver the Japan's seasonal tradition by monthly newsletter.
Check out the back number:
http://www.jtco.or.jp/en/magazine-list/
Please subscribe:
http://www.jtco.or.jp/en/pages/newsletter.html