CHENNAI: According to a Japanese legend, Emperor Jimmu had a golden kite that perched on top of his bow. The light of this kite forced many a fearful enemy to bow down in surrender.
While his story might be doing the rounds in a shorter format these days, Emperor Jimmu himself stands tall, albeit a three-foot something handmade replica at the Japanese Doll exhibition that is being held at the Anna Centenary Library in Kotturpuram.
One must admit that the collection of dolls, is overwhelming in terms of the detail; that many a spectator may miss in passing.
The display betrays an exceptionally wide slice of culture and folklore: be it depictions of scenes from the traditional Japanese Noh theatre or even a representation of a long forgotten ‘dating’ custom that dates back to a thousand years ago.
Known as Hina Matsuri, each family would display their set of Hina dolls as a sign of their prayers for the happiness of their young daughters on March 3, every year. This was the day that people of yore called the Girl’s festival in Japan.
Walking around the exhibit, it would be easy to simply get carried away with the grand and bright costumes of many a fair princess or the riveting golden headpiece of the samurai warrior.
Their stories, as proclaimed in the placards, are just as exciting and the tale of a certain fairytale hero was a personal favourite. Momotaro was a plump adorable baby born from a peach!
He later grew up to be the saviour of many people on his island who were troubled by ogres.
Now if only Momotaro had met Shrek, the ogre might have learned some manners or maybe even starred in a Hollywood movie!
Which leads us to more serious affairs, in 1927 to ease the tension between Japan and the United States a friendship doll exchange was initiated between school going children of both countries.
With 2.7 million Americans’ support, 12,739 American dolls (Blue-Eyed Dolls) were sent to Japanese schools in the time for the 1927 doll festival in March. In return, with nation-wide donations of Japanese school children, 58 custom-made, over-sized dolls (Torei-Dolls) were shipped out to reach America by Christmas, the same year.
Looking around a room filled with dolls of all sizes, some made of wood (Kokeshi), some made of clay (Hakata) and some that were born out of a fashion designer’s hat (Kyoto), one would enjoy the visual delights of many an artisan’s handiwork.
But if you look closer, it is the tale of a nation’s people, it’s politics, it’s art and the stories told to young children as they wafted off to sleep every night.
If those dolls could speak, history teachers the world over would probably have to consider alternative careers.
The Japanese Doll exhibition is being held at the Anna Centenary Library, Kotturpuram, from 11am to 7 pm until Feb 19.