All about Ningyo: Japanese Dolls Explained

On a visit to Japan a long time ago, I first heard the term ‘ningyo’. Turned out that it was Japanese for ‘human figure’ and was the term used to describe traditional Japanese dolls. This was the beginning of my interest in Japanese dolls, and I have done a whole lot of research on the subject, which is an endlessly fascinating one.

I can tell you, for example, that the earliest precursors of Japanese dolls are human images found in the ancient Jomon culture and the subsequent Kofun culture, which specialized in Haniwa funerary figures. These date back to the time between 8,000 and 200 B.C. Interestingly, though, the first known mention of a doll as we know it occurs in temple records of the Ise Shrine in connection with the custom of making a grass doll and throwing it into the river after blessing it. That ritual is probably the source of the modern Doll Festival or Girls’ Day (Hina Matsuri), held on March 3.

Kinds of Japanese Dolls

There are numerous kinds of Japanese dolls -- children and babies, figures of the imperial court, soldiers and heroes, mythical and fairy-tale characters, gods and sometimes demons, as well as common people. The dolls served varied functions – some were made for household shrines, as formal gifts, or for festive occasions like Hina Matsuri, Tango No Sekko or Kodomo No Hi (May 5, Boys’ /Children’s Day). Pretty early on, some dolls were sold to pilgrims and tourists as souvenirs, a tradition that continues today.

Given the numerous types of Japanese dolls, it would help to study some of them in some detail. I must tell you that the following categories do not cover every kind of Japanese dolls, but are meant to be a representative sample:

Karakuri dolls: These are mechanical dolls and often form part of festival floats and smaller entertaining tableaux.

Gosho dolls: These are cute and chubby ‘baby dolls’ and could be either near-naked seated figures, mostly boys, or both boy and girl figures clothed elaborately, with ornate hairstyles and accessories. The closest English translation of ‘gosho’ is palace or court, and thus these dolls have always been associated with the giving and receiving of gifts at the Imperial court.

Hina dolls: These are the dolls for Hina Matsuri, and the classic hina doll has a pyramidal body of multi-layered textiles stuffed with straw and/or wood blocks, carved wooden hands (sometimes feet), a head of carved or molded wood, with set-in glass eyes and human or silk hair. A full set of hina dolls comprises at least 15 figures, though the basic set is a male-female pair, often called Emperor and Empress.

Musha dolls: These warrior dolls represent men (or women) seated, standing, or riding. Armor, helmets, and weapons are made of lacquered paper with metal accents. Popular figures include Emperor Jimmu, Empress Jingu with Prime Minister Takenouchi holding her newborn son, Shoki the Demon-Queller, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and his generals and tea-master, and fairy-tale figures such as Momotaro the Peach Boy or Kintaro the Golden Boy.

Ichimatsu dolls: These represent little girls or boys, perfectly proportioned, with flesh-colored skin and glass eyes. Actually, the original Ichimatsu were named after an 18th-century Kabuki actor, and are thought to have represented adult men, but since the late 19th century the term has come to mean child dolls, either with elaborate joints or cloth upper arms and thighs.

Kokeshi dolls: These dolls have been made for 150 years, and are from Northern Honshu. They were originally made as toys for children and have no arms or legs, but a large head and cylindrical body, representing little girls. Incidentally, these dolls are now among the most popular Japanese souvenirs for tourists.

Daruma dolls: These are spherical dolls with red bodies and white faces. They represent the priest who founded the Zen cult about 1,500 years ago. Daruma dolls supposedly bring good fortune and help one to reach one’s goal. Since their faces do not contain pupils, you are supposed to fill in one eye when you make a wish, and the other when your wish is fulfilled. Most Japanese do this on New Year’s Day.

Image on left is a Daruma

Anesama ningyo (‘big sister dolls’) and shiori ningyo (‘bookmark dolls’): These are made of washi paper. Anesama ningyo are three-dimensional often with complicated hairstyles and costumes and withour noticeable facial features, whereas shiori ningyo are flat.

More recently, less traditional Japanese dolls have gained immense popularity worldwide. Among them are ball-jointed dolls (BJD), particularly the Super Dollfie by Volks. These are very realistic-looking fashion dolls whose popularity has spread to the US and other countries.