Traditional Japanese dolls: description, photo. DIY Japanese dolls DIY Japanese rag dolls

Japanese dolls have always been distinguished by originality and sophistication. There are many varieties of such souvenirs made of wood, paper, clay, fresh flowers and other materials.

Hina-ninge are dolls that represent members of the imperial family. They are usually made of expensive materials in silk and brocade outfits and are of particular value. Gose-ninge are portrayed as cute puffy cheeks. For their manufacture, wood and a special composition of crushed shells are used. Karakuri-ninge are famous mechanical Japanese dolls that are very popular in this country. Kimekomi-ninge are made of wood and then covered with cloth.

Hakata-ninge are perhaps the most expensive dolls that are made in Japan. They are amazingly beautiful handmade ceramic souvenirs.

DIY ninge doll

Of course, making a real ning doll is unlikely to succeed. But you can try to create some kind of this souvenir from improvised materials. The easiest option is to create a doll from colored napkins.

Try to find nice thick napkins that would be suitable for creating a kimono. First, cut out the details - hair, clothes and an oval face made of white paper. All patterns must be made in duplicate. Then lay the kimono blanks on top of each other and fold the top edge of one of them. Insert and glue the head. Now the doll needs to be swaddled, while imitating a kimono. To create puffy sleeves, take a strip of napkin, fold it in half and glue the fold to the back of the figure. You can cut a magnificent hairstyle from corrugated paper black color.

You can also try to make your own Japanese bamboo doll. To do this, make a frame of a female figure from bamboo material. The face and other exposed parts of the body can be covered with papier-mâché. The kimono inside the frame must be stuffed with wet moss. The resulting kimono can be decorated with cut chrysanthemum flowers.

Those who wish can make a doll from such improvised materials as a jar of cream (lower part) and a deodorant ball (upper part). They must be glued together, wrapped with white napkins, primed, and also painted and varnished. Don't forget to glue the black wool hair to the head. Like these ones interesting options making Japanese dolls.

Japan is a small beautiful exotic country with a rich culture. One of the manifestations of this culture are dolls - bright, elegant and very beautiful. Traditionally they are made of wood, cloth or paper.

If you want to have such beauty in your home - try to make it yourself. Below are a few simple master classes on how to make a Japanese doll with your own hands.

Take your pick and good luck!

Traditional Japanese doll made of cloth.

Simple and beautiful!

How to make a Japanese paper doll

This is what special Japanese paper looks like for making such dolls.

It's okay if it was not at hand, you can use any beautiful paper, napkins and even candy wrappers!

The doll in the photo is made from ordinary napkins. Cutting out the details - the size will be indicated by the layout of the layout rug.

We connect two round blanks with a strip for the neck folded in half, in a Japanese doll a stick is used instead of a strip. We glue.

We fold both kimono blanks on top of each other and bend the short side, as if imitating a collar. We grab the head with glue, although in a traditional doll she simply puts

We swaddle our workpiece first on the left.

Then we wrap the right side.

Then we wrap the right side.

We bend 1/3 of the kimono on the left, symmetrically wrap the right side.

Beautifully turn the corner of the kimono so that the second layer can be seen.

The place of folds is closed with a wide belt, in Japan it is called Obi.

It remains to make the sleeves.

We take a strip of napkin and fold it into three layers.

Now the sleeve blank must be folded in half and glued at the back.

Simplified hairstyle. Traditionally, corrugated black paper is used for hair. We take the diameter of the circle for the hair a little larger than the diameter of the head to create the effect of a lush hairstyle

Glue on both sides. The traditional Japanese doll has no face, just like the Russian doll.

Papercraft: Japanese Dolls

1. Preparation of the head and hairstyle (from black cardboard), from cardboard.

2. We take a rectangle of one color (12x7.5), and a square of another color (7.5x7.5), glue it.

3. We bend the upper part of the rectangle to a square.

4. We take the blank of the head, put it in the middle and wrap it around the "torso".

5. We put on a kimono.

6. We open the corners at the bottom in different directions.

7. Fold the hair in half and stick it on the head.

8. On the basis of one workpiece, you can perform various options.

Daruma *looks modestly and blushes*

This is a traditional Japanese doll that is used in the New Year ritual of making wishes.

On New Year's Day, the Japanese make a wish and draw one eye on the daruma. If next year the wish comes true, the second eye is added to the doll, if not, the daruma is burned in the temple and a new one is bought.

The doll is very easy to make.

We will need:

We tear off some wool.

We roll it tightly into such an "egg".

We stick on the sponge with a coarse needle to about this state.

We take wool of a different color, form an oval pancake out of it and stick it with a medium needle to our doll. In the course of work, we constantly add the doll from different sides.

It should look something like this:

We return to the wool of the main color. We tear off the strip and make such a "bow".

We stick it. We try to make the white parts on top and bottom turn out to be so rounded. Don't forget to add the daruma!

From black wool we twist small strings with our fingers, these will be the eyes, mouth and pattern on the belly. We stick them neatly to our daruma. With a thin needle, we grind the entire surface of the doll.

The final touch is toning the cheeks with shadows.

Everything, daruma is ready! You can wait for the New Year's Eve, put a dot-eye with a black marker and wait for the wish to come true!

How to make a do-it-yourself kokeshi doll

Do you know what a kokeshi doll is?

Kokeshi is a traditional Japanese doll.

Most often, this handmade doll is made of wood, but there are kokeshi made of cloth, paper and clay.

We will make it easier, and making this doll with your own hands will not take much time, and the cost of it will be minimal.

So, we have a photo of a real Japanese kokeshi doll made of wood.

We will need:

A jar of Oriflame cream;
plastic ring with a diameter of 1.5 cm;
deodorant ball 3.5-4cm;
a small cap from ointments in a tube or a plastic button on a leg;
acrylic paints;
palette;
foam swab;
hot glue (glue gun) or transparent glue "Moment";
movable puppet eyes, no more than 3 mm in diameter (optional);
brushes, one of them is very thin;
acrylic lacquer;
a glass of water;
cloth for hands.

The first thing we need to do is collect the doll.

To do this, glue the ring on the jar, note that we put the jar with a wide base down.

Glue a deodorant or table tennis ball on top of the ring.

Our composition is completed by a cap from any ointment in a tube.

If you decide to use a plastic button on the leg, then the leg must be sawed off, pinched off or cut off (your choice).

Put it on the head of the doll, if you like, then you can safely stick it on the head of our kokeshi.

Our product must be primed. We use white acrylic paint for this. Before that, for those who are especially hardworking, it can be recommended to glue the entire figure with one layer of napkins.

For what?

Firstly - in this way, you give greater reliability to the structure (it will be more difficult to "roll" the doll's head).

Secondly, acrylic paint will not "crawl" under the brush.

But if you have never used the decoupage technique, then it is better to abandon this idea, since you most likely will not be able to achieve a smooth, wrinkle-free surface.

Apply a primer coat (with a swab or brush) to the entire product, repeat if necessary, but this is the case when all the parts are of different colors.

Now we proceed to the most interesting, but also difficult, moment - painting.

But first, draw all the details on the figure with a simple pencil: face (nose, eyes, mouth); hair; dress.

Let's start mixing paints in order to get a flesh color.

To do this, take a small palette (lid, saucer, and so on). Squeeze three paints out of the tubes: red, white and yellow. And adding to the white paint, little by little, red and yellow paints, mix until the color is smooth.

Compare with the color of your hand. Of course, the paint should be lighter, because Japanese women are fair-skinned. But still, you can approximately focus on your hand or on your face in order to choose a color similar to skin color.

Having picked up the appropriate tone, take a tampon and tamp the places where the doll's body is visible.

Important: Before you tamp, dip the swab in the paint (lightly) and make a few touches on the palette where there is no paint. This must be done in order to remove excess paint from the swab and only then apply it to the product.

Now restore the drawing of the face and hair, well-sharpened with a soft, simple pencil. If you have not padded very tightly, then the pattern should show through the paint layer.

Take black paint and a thin brush, such as an old eyeliner brush, and draw the outline of the hair with it to make it easier to paint over.

Then take a thicker brush and paint all the hair black.

On the face, with the same thin brush, draw the eyes, the nose - in black, the lips - in red.

After the paint has dried, you can stick on the movable eyes. However, you can do without them.

Let's move on to painting.

Take yellow paint and tamp down the entire torso, leaving only a triangle on the front of the doll.

The tampon should be almost dry towards the top, so that the transition from red to yellow is obtained. Do the same for the hat.

Draw flowers on the surface of the clothes with raspberry paint and paint over the triangle in front with the same paint, as in the photo.

With white paint, make the centers of the flowers and a white insert in front.

Do not forget about the hat, you can also draw a flower on it.

Now let the product dry and paint over the bottom. Lay the doll on its side and let it dry.

The last stage of painting, we take black paint, a thin brush and circle all the lines drawn on the body.

The final stage is the application of varnish to the surface of the product. This can be done with a brush or swab. We apply varnish on absolutely the entire surface of the doll (except for the moving eyes). All.

P.S. From a kokeshi doll, you can very easily make a toy for the Christmas tree.

You will need:

Thin cord;
screwdriver;
scissors;
glue gun.

Prepare a cord about 15 cm long, as short as possible, and by connecting the ends of the cord, tie a knot, which should be well tightened. Cut off excess ends.

Use a screwdriver to make a small hole in the doll's hat and drop a drop of glue, glue the cord so that the knot is inside the hole.

A glue gun is best for this operation.

Hang a toy on the Christmas tree!

A Japanese doll for the inhabitants of the Land of the Rising Sun is something more than just a child's toy. For thousands of years, they were not toys at all, but were considered works of art. The Japanese old chronicles describe the skill of craftsmen, and their names have become legends for the people.

Japanese traditions

Initially, the Japanese doll was simply a ritual product and depicted gods or dead people. The first mention of their manufacture from straw and clay, as well as rituals with them, dates back to the 6th century BC. e. The ancient Japanese made figurines-amulets that were supposed to protect them from misfortunes, restore health and protect the family. They sincerely believed that the ningyo (doll, human form) is infused with the spirit of a deity and helps those who make a request.

Over time, handicraft production developed into real cultural centers that created Japanese traditional dolls, taking into account the specifics and customs of the area. Such centers exist to this day in several prefectures in Japan.

If earlier wood, straw or clay was used for the production of dolls, and later porcelain, then modern masters they are made from silicone. It is very difficult to distinguish them from real children.

Until now, the Japanese doll is distributed according to its functional features:

• Dolls for girls that you can hold in your hands, that is, toys.
• A work of art that is only displayed to the public on certain days.

The art of creating Japanese dolls has gone beyond the borders of the country, and now, if desired, everyone can make a traditional paper toy and please themselves and loved ones with their skill.

Kokeshi doll

The Japanese Kokeshi doll has its roots a thousand years ago, although its official name she received in the 17th century, being well known among the people as a memorial figurine.

Once it was carved from wood, later they began to carve it into lathe. It consists of a cylindrical body and head. There are several options for its origin. According to one version, this is how the figurines made by shamans for the rites of honoring spirits that patronized families or their crafts looked like.

According to another, they were given the appearance of a girl and used as a funeral doll when, due to need, the family had to get rid of the baby. Since it was the girl who was unwanted, the products were given the appearance that she was a symbol of loss.

Maybe because of their history, Kokeshi, although they look like a toy, do not belong to the category of "children's dolls", therefore they are more loved and revered by the adult generation of Japanese.

Depending on the area, each Kokeshi doll has its own original “appearance” and painting in “clothes”. True connoisseurs can accurately determine in which province and by what master it was carved.

Daruma doll

The famous traditional Daruma doll is considered the ancient prototype of the well-known tumbler. This toy has its own intricate legend, according to which Daruma was a monk who spent 9 years in a cave in a state of meditation. Since he did not move all this time, his arms and legs "fell off", and in honor of his religious "feat" a toy without legs and arms was created.

Daruma doll is incredibly popular among the Japanese as a ritual christmas toy for making a wish. She is called Daruma the Almighty and is considered the guardian angel of the family for the whole New Year. In order for Daruma to fulfill a wish, there is a special ritual.

Since the doll is created with closed eyes, then, having drawn her pupil, opening her "vision", you can ask her for anything, promising to make her second eye "sighted" if the desire is fulfilled. In the event that the wish did not come true, Daruma is burned on next year and buy a new patron.

Whether or not the Darumas fulfill their owners' wishes, these baby dolls are loved by all Japanese. They are considered amulets and are most often made of wood or papier-mâché.

Articulated dolls

Japanese articulated dolls, which appeared on sale in the early 90s, made a real revolution in the production of toys. They are produced from polyurethane, although ignorant people call this material rubber.

It is stronger and denser, similar to porcelain, but very hard. Each manufacturer prefers their own polyurethane composition, but otherwise the articulated dolls for girls are very similar:

• In Japan, there is a single height standard for articulated dolls, which implies 5 sizes - from 9 cm to 70 cm or more.
• All moving parts (arms, legs, head) are connected by hinges connected with rubber bands.
• The head of a hinged doll can consist of several parts, which include a wig, eyes, which can be changed at will.
• They can be sold complete with clothes, shoes and accessories.

The articulated figure is more of a hobby than a child's toy. The cheapest Japanese articulated doll starts at $200 and is quite small in size. Custom-made dolls can cost up to $1,000 and are handmade.

For collectors, there are special configurations of articulated Japanese dolls.

• The basic set includes only a torso with a head and a complete absence of eyes, makeup, wig and clothes. It costs less and is purchased by true connoisseurs who prefer to give such a doll features that are more to their liking.
• Fullset - a ready-made doll with clothes, shoes and a "face" that cannot be modified. It costs an order of magnitude more than the basic set.
• Limited edition dolls are the dream of any collector. They are produced in limited quantities in a complete set, to which can be added fashionable accessories. For an additional fee, you can purchase a sleeping doll head. This expensive pleasure does not stop real connoisseurs and lovers of dolls. Limited works also include figurines - copies of famous people.

When ordering more expensive sets, the client has the right to choose the color of the eyes and hair, which is not available when purchasing the basic set.

Shiori Ningyo

Ningyo doll is a paper bookmark made in the form of a girl. This popular type of origami is available to everyone today, and you can make a similar “toy” for yourself in a matter of minutes.

Paper Ningyo in Japan are not only bookmarks, but also the first toys for little girls to play "daughter-mother". Making such Japanese dolls with your own hands will not be difficult even for a beginner. This will require:

• cardboard for the head and neck;
• colored paper for kimono;
• corrugated black hair paper;
• a rectangular piece of plain paper for a kimono belt;
• glue.

Initially, such dolls were made of straw or paper for the purification ritual. The Japanese believed that if you blow on a toy and then run it all over the body, then illness, misfortune or the “evil eye” can leave a person. The used Ningyo should have been thrown into the river so that it would carry all the problems away.

Traditional ninge dolls can be made of porcelain and represent the imperial court along with courtiers and utensils from the Heian period. Such dolls are exhibited once a year at the girls' festival and are usually passed down from mother to daughter.

Girls' Festival and Puppet Festival

The real exhibition of Japanese dolls is held on the traditional holiday of girls (Hinamatsuri) on March 3rd. All little Japanese women are waiting for this event, since it is on this day that stands with shelves are installed in their homes, on which the entire imperial doll family is carefully displayed along with the courtiers.

Girls with their mothers visit each other, show their collections of dolls, eat sweets and drink shirozake - low-alcohol sweet sake.

This tradition instills in girls from childhood an understanding of how to behave in society, instills rules of conduct and etiquette.

Another tradition very beloved by all Japanese is the puppet market, which is held in February, on the eve of Girls' Day. It is here that they buy everything necessary for the stand and for updating its exhibits.

Fukuruma

The Japanese Fukurum doll is a prototype of the Russian matryoshka. According to the official version, it appeared in the 17th century and represented 7 gods of wealth, good luck and prosperity included in each other.

Fukuruma is the prototype of the long-headed god Fukurokuju, who was revered as bringing wealth to people and giving wisdom. The remaining 6 gods of luck were placed inside it, and according to tradition, by taking them out, one could ask for help in business.

In some provinces of Japan, Fukurum looked like a samurai, inside of which his entire family was “imprisoned”. These toys were made from various types of trees and painted with bright colors.

Chrysanthemum dolls

An absolutely amazing art is the creation of dolls from fresh flowers. The Japanese in this case use chrysanthemums. These flowers have been grown in the country for more than 400 years, and since 1804 they have been used to create dolls.

The festival of flower figures is traditionally held in autumn and gathers thousands of fans of this art from all over the world.

To create floral masterpieces, masters have been studying this for many years and pass on their skills either by inheritance or by talented students.

Several specialists take part in the creation of each doll:

• one creates a sketch of the doll;
• the second makes a wooden frame and a "body";
• the third - the most difficult part of the work - wraps each fragment of the structure with flowers.

So that the chrysanthemums do not die, they are dug up with roots, wrapped in wet moss and attached to the frame. The annual bright spectacle delights the audience and once again demonstrates the skill of Japanese puppeteers.

Modern Japanese dolls

Modern Japanese masters create dolls so realistic that it is difficult to distinguish them from real children. Japanese silicone doll in the form of a baby can cry, laugh, go to the toilet, which allows little Japanese women to feel like a mother.

Dolls depicting anime characters are in the same great demand. Since they are made with hinges, they can "replicate" the movements of their cartoon prototypes. This is especially liked by children.

empty shell, Nice dress- these are ordinary dolls that girls play with in childhood, and when a child grows up, they throw it away without regret. This is done everywhere, but not in dolls - this is a special kind of art, most of them are not intended for games, but for various kinds of rituals. What are the dolls in the Land of the Rising Sun and what are their features? This will be discussed today.

Ninge

All traditional dolls in Japan are called ninge. This word is made up of two kanji 人形, meaning "person" and "form". Therefore, in literal translation, Japanese dolls are called "human form."

There are many types of dolls in the Land of the Rising Sun. Some depict children, others depict the imperial family and courtiers, others depict fairy-tale characters, warriors or demons. Most of the dolls are made for traditional Japanese holidays or for gifts. Some are made specifically for tourists, as souvenirs.

Initially, Japanese dolls were created to protect the home and family from serious illnesses, curses and evil spirits. But today they have largely lost their mystical spirit, turning into an exquisite piece of art.

First samples

The first dolls appeared in Japan more than 10 thousand years ago. These were simple figurines-amulets. long time they did not change their form, only in the Kofun era (300-710 AD) large clay monuments of warriors and animals began to appear, which were installed on the graves as monuments, which simultaneously played the role of guards.

In turned into the Heian era - 784-1185. In the Edo period, the creation of dolls began to be considered a real art. This time is marked by the creation of ninge of various forms and purposes.

In 1936, Japanese dolls received the status of an officially recognized art. Since 1955, each spring, selected ningye makers have been able to receive the honorary title of Living National Treasure.

Sacrificed

In the process of development of the puppet industry, ninge began to be used in a wide variety of areas of human activity. At one time they were used to remove the evil eye, and were sacrificed instead of animals. It was believed that if the monk performed the ritual correctly, then the doll would become as strong a victim as an animal, and in some cases even better.

For rituals with sacrifice, dolls were made in the form of a person, not an animal. The ritual itself consisted of a simple manipulation: the priest tied a curse or illness to a figure that replaced a person. It was believed that ritual dolls have a soul, so it is unthinkable to throw them away. Ninge, who adopted a disease from a person, was burned or drowned in the river.

At a time when such rituals were very popular, many stories were invented about vengeful dolls that had their own will and were endowed with great power. Such warning stories acted as a kind of guarantee that the ritual would be carried out to the end. Those who were lucky enough to become a participant in such an event and hear first-hand terrible stories about living Nings began to realize that these were not toys. Japanese dolls are indeed ritual attributes.

Materials and varieties

Puppets are often made using wood, clay, paper, natural fabrics and even living chrysanthemums. Although ninge are a common cultural heritage today, some Japanese sincerely believe that the right dolls will help improve health, bring wealth and protect against harm. Japanese dolls can hardly be called simple, they are expensive, and in houses they stand in a place of honor - in the red corner (this is a kind of sanctuary for spirits).

Traditional Japanese dolls are different types:

• Hina-ninge.
• Gogatsu-ninge.
• Karakuri-ninge.
• Gose-ning.
• Kimekomi-ning.
• Hakata-ninge.
• Kokeshi.
• Daruma.
• Kiku-ninge.

wooden figurines

In Japan, dolls are more than just fun. This is a whole world that has its own history, religion and aesthetics. So, most of them are intended for adults.

For several centuries in Japan there have been wooden dolls, which represent a painted cone-shaped figurine with a large head. These are Japanese Kokeshi dolls (in a different pronunciation of Kokeshi).

They are completely covered with elegant ornaments, they consist of a cylindrical body and a disproportionately large head. There are times when such a doll is carved from a single piece of wood, but this is an exception to the rule.

For such dolls, the absence of arms and legs is characteristic. Today, Kokeshi is a popular souvenir product, every self-respecting tourist will definitely take such a ningye home.

Japanese roly-poly

Another type of Japanese doll is Daruma, or roly-poly doll. But this is only for us, tumblers are considered fun entertainment for children under seven years old. In Japan, Daruma is an artifact with which the inhabitants of the country perform rituals for the fulfillment of desires. In Japanese mythology, Daruma is considered the personification of a deity that brings happiness.

To make a wish come true, new year's eve you need to come to the temple and purchase a Daruma doll there. After you need to make a wish and write it on one of the eyes of the ning, on the chin of the doll the owner writes his name. Throughout the year, this Daruma should be kept in the house in the most prominent place, you can put it on the home altar - butsudan.

If a wish comes true in a year, then the second eye is added to the doll, and if nothing changes, then you need to take Daruma to the temple where it was purchased, burn it and buy a new one. Burning a doll on the territory of the temple is a symbol of purification, and means that a person does not give up his goals, but is looking for new ways to achieve them.

Japanese dolls for girls

Since the 17th century, Hinamatsuri "Girls' Day", or the so-called dolls, has been celebrated annually in Japan. This holiday is considered one of the main ones in Japan, it is celebrated on March 3rd.

In ancient times, this event had a more mystical meaning: girls and girls let paper nings along the river, which were supposed to take misfortunes and illnesses with them.

Today, this holiday is preserved only in a few places. On the day of the holiday, on the banks of the rivers closest to the city, girls and girls in beautiful, elegant kimonos, as well as their parents, gather and float flat, round wicker baskets along the river, where several Nagashi-bina paper dolls lie.

The founder of this holiday was Emperor Yeshimune, who had many daughters. At first, the court nobility followed his example, after them all the rich people of that time began to hold such an event, and after that the whole country began to do the same.

Modern Hinamatsuri

Today, on this holiday, families with daughters arrange an exhibition of puppets - “khina” in the house. A multi-tiered staircase is installed in the house - hinakajiri, which is covered with a red cloth. These steps symbolically depict the tiers of court life. On the top step is the imperial couple. These dolls are very expensive, as the clothes are made to order from high quality materials, and the Empress is dressed in 12 kimonos, as is the case in reality.

The court ladies-in-waiting are placed one level below, holding objects for serving sake in their hands. Palace guards are placed even lower steps, court musicians stand under them. After the musicians, the ministers are put up, and the nobility, on the lowest tier, are the servants.

Purchase and legacy

These dolls are passed down through the family maternal line, they begin to exhibit in the first year after the birth of a girl. During the holiday period, the child can not only admire the home puppet show, but also play with them. There is also a belief that if the dolls are not removed within three days after the holiday, then the daughters will not be able to get married for a long time.

A complete set consists of 15 dolls, sometimes another tier is made on which household items are displayed, that is, doll furniture. The staircase itself is richly decorated with lanterns and flowers, in addition to dolls, screens and tiny trees are placed on the shelves. All jewelry is purchased at a special fair, a complete set of chin dolls costs about 10 thousand euros. If the family does not have enough money to buy dolls, they can be replaced with paper counterparts.

Other dolls

In addition to those already presented, there are other varieties of dolls. Gogatsu-ninge or May dolls are an obligatory part of the Tango no Sekku, or Children's Day celebration. These dolls depict samurai in full armor, historical characters, heroes of epics, folklore, tigers and horses.

Karikuri-ninge are mechanical puppets. Gose-ninge are small Japanese puppets depicting fat-cheeked children. They are carved from wood and covered with a composition made from oyster shells. They were first made by masters at the imperial court, hence the name - palace dolls. Gose-ninge are considered mascots for travelers.

Kimekomi are wooden dolls completely covered with cloth. The first Kimekomi appeared in the Kamo temple (Kyoto), then at the beginning of the 17th century, the monks made souvenirs for sale. The first dolls were carved from wood, modern Kimekomi are made from wood-glue mass.

Special incisions are made on the body of the figurine, where the edges of the fabric are tucked in, hence the name comes from: “komi” - to fill, “kime” - a wooden edge.

Hakata and Kiku-ninge

Hakata-ninge are dolls made of ceramics. According to legend, the first such figurines appeared in Fukuoka Prefecture. In 1900, these dolls were presented at the Paris Exhibition. In 1924, the Hakata-ning, depicting three dancing girls, received a silver award at the International Paris Fair.

And the most interesting piece of Kiku-ning puppet art is figurines made from live chrysanthemums.

They consist of a bamboo base, on which chrysanthemums dug with roots with small flowers are attached. To make such a work longer pleasing to the eye, the roots of chrysanthemums are wrapped in moss. The height of Kiku-ninge is equal to human height, the face and hands for the flower figure are made of papier-mâché. Every autumn, during the flowering of chrysanthemums, such dolls can be seen at traditional exhibitions in the city of Hirakata and Nihonmatsu.

Ninge is a separate universe with rich history and various traditions. Photos of Japanese dolls, which are presented in the article, are not able to convey all their splendor. But even so, it is clear that these are not just toys, but real works of art.

I wanted to do some handicraft and please the kids with new toys, and then I saw small Japanese sarubobos. It turned out that sewing them is not difficult at all, and children really like them because of their miniature size and cuteness. In total, I sewed 3 dolls: 2 baby dolls and 1 kitten.

What will be needed?

• small piece of fabric
• threads
• scissors
• synthetic winterizer
• felt, bright fabric

How to sew a sarubobo

1. First you need to cut out rectangles (6x7 cm) for sarubobo bodies and circles (6 cm in diameter) for their heads from the fabric.

Details for sarubobo

2. On the rectangles, you need to make notes, according to which we will sew the legs and handles of the sarubobo. To do this, on the short sides we make 1 mark right in the middle. And on the long sides we make 2 marks, setting aside just half of the small side from each corner.

3. Now we will sew the arms and legs of the sarubobo. To do this, we connect the mark on the short side with the nearest mark on the long side. We sew from the corner to the junction of the marks. We repeat the same 3 more times. We will get 2 legs and 2 handles (or 4 paws for a cat).

4. Turn the doll inside out through the hole in the center. For convenience, you can use a pencil or knitting needle to turn out the narrowest corners. When all the details are turned out, the doll needs to be filled with padding polyester, and the incision is sewn up. It turned out a small chubby body.

5. Now let's take on the tailoring of the head. To do this, you need to make small stitches around the perimeter of the entire circle, and then tighten the thread, we will get a kind of bag in which we need to put a padding polyester and sew the bag tightly.

6. When the head is ready, sew it to the body.

If you want to make a baby, the head should be sewn closer to the legs. Then it turns out that the baby lies on its back and looks at its arms and legs.

If you want to make a cat or a dog, the head needs to be sewn closer to the back. It turns out that the animal stands on four legs.

7. Decorate the sarubobo. Animals sew ears from felt.

We wrap the body in a ribbon of bright fabric and sew it on the tummy. We sew a scarf on the baby's head. To do this, cut out a triangle from a bright fabric and sew the three corners together. It looks like a rectangular cap. We put this cap on the head of the baby-sarubobo and sew it to the head.