- Preface -
What is blessed must be made with the most ornate materials and years of practice, as well as with the little observations and devout tenderness of life. Bamboo fans, Spring Spring, a couple who make guardian dolls in the small town of Shizuoka at the foot of Mt. Fuji, they are in the same boat and cooperate with each other. The dolls they made accompanied many children to grow up safely and also soothed the hearts of parents.
From the Nara period 1700 years ago to today, there is a custom in Japan: put a doll next to a newborn baby, it will bear all the disasters for the baby, protect the child until adulthood.
In modern society, not every family is observing this custom anymore. But when a newborn is born in the family, there are still many elders who will go to the puppet shop and choose a doll to accompany the child to grow up.
For Japanese children, the boy and daughter festival in spring is the most important day, and the doll is the most important prop for the daughter's day. At this time of year, the family with daughters will set up a high shelf and display dolls to pray.
But the doll that appears as a protector will also have his end. When the child reaches the age of 20 safely, the doll completes its mission. Either through the annual offerings organized by the fixed humanoid association or sent to the Asama Taisha Shrine in Shizuoka, it is a ceremony full of gratitude and solemnity for every family.
Bamboo Fan and Chun Quan said, "For these dolls, inject as much vitality as possible, even a little." Being able to make others feel this kind of thinking is the basis for me to make dolls. ”
A good work starts with the selection of materials. The doll body is made of dry straw, which must be strictly dried for a year to ensure that after making the doll, it will not be damaged for a long time.
The selection of clothing is usually done at the same time as the production of the body. Many of the clothes worn by the dolls in the shop are Yuzen fabrics that are actually made of kimonos, and even special patterns developed for the dolls. Bamboo Fans believe that it is not stingy to use the best fabrics in order to make the best works.
Bamboo Fan said, "For the material of clothes, I usually have a lot of luxury, and I look for it from various places." For example, to make a boy's work, first of all, from the color of his weapon, the selection of good colors and patterns, there are ancient style and materials, and martial arts reflect each other. ”
The steps of attaching the body to the limbs and clothing the doll require caution.
The most crucial thing to determine the shape of the doll is often in a moment.
At the end of the pose, the personality of the puppeteer is also reflected in these places. When bending the puppet's arm, it is necessary to summon up the energy and accumulate strength in place at once. Once the clothes are put on, they cannot be put on again.
The dolls have a fixed display format: the first section is the bride and groom, and below is the palace maid, the entertainer who plays music, and then the housekeeper and the guard. Even a little girl, at this time, will use the most solemn mood to arrange a complete and rich small world, from sitting dolls to the smallest tea cups, one by one.
Shizuoka is a traditional producer of dolls and the home of Spring Spring. In order to marry the eldest daughter of the puppet family, Takefan overcame many obstacles and eventually came to Shizuoka from Tokyo as a "son-in-law". The two were able to come together because of an opportunity to find a painting model.
At that time, Bamboo Fan invited Chunquan to be his model - it was precisely because of this incident as an opportunity that they began to communicate. Then, when the painting was nearing completion, the two already had the idea of getting married. Since then, the two have been making dolls as husband and wife and partner.
The puppet industry has experienced a period of low days, but now traditional handicrafts have begun to return, exquisitely crafted high-end dolls have been welcomed, and ordinary dolls of average quality have gradually withdrawn from the market. Bamboo Fan and Chunquan are pleased with this change, because they do not like to do cookie-cutter works.
Bamboo Fan and Chunquan said: "Rather than just treating it as a thing, it is more like a child-centered family warmth, with a mood that helps everyone build a world of love." In the future, if I can continue to create dolls, I will feel happy myself. At the same time, this happiness can also be conveyed to others."