Hello.

Today is March 3, the Dolls' Festival.

On Hinamatsuri, families with girls celebrate by displaying Hina dolls.

Nowadays, many households display only a pair of Dairibina dolls, but for celebrations, odd numbers are considered to be better, and the basic form of Hina-dan is seven, three, or five tiers.

Seven tiers are quite large, but let's take a look at what is placed on each of the seven tiers.

First tier

Dairibina (Dolls)

Hina dolls of both genders, resembling the emperor and empress. The male dolls are usually dressed in a sokutai and the female dolls in juni-hitoe.

Second tier

Sanninn Kanjyo

A “Kanjyo is a woman who serves the Emperor and Empress at their residence, the Dairi, and her role is that of the attendant to the Empress.

Third stage

five court-musician

Goninbayashi are the boys of the Hayashikata and Jiutai who perform Noh plays.

The five musicians, from left to right, are the taiko (drum), otsuzumi (large hand drum), kotsuzumi (small hand drum), fue (flute), and utai (recitation).

The fourth stage

The fourth tier consists of a pair of zuijin, or military officers who guard the palace, and are called "right minister" and "left minister" in hina-dan decorations.

Fifth tier

The fifth tier consists of three men, called "shicho," who are in charge of miscellaneous chores at the palace.

Sixth tier

In the sixth tier, dolls' utensils are placed, which are compared to the wedding utensils of the upper class samurai family. These include chests of drawers, nagamochi (a long wooden holder), Hasamibako , kyoudai (a mirror stand), hibachi (a brazier), garment bags, and tea ceremony utensils.

7th level

The seventh tier consists of a Jyubako in the center, with a Okago and a Goshoguruma on the left and right.

What do you think?

If you have a chance to see the Hinadana, please look at it keeping in mind what you have learned here.

It will help you understand Japanese culture by understanding the meaning of each hina doll rather than just its beauty, don't you think?

こんにちは。

今日は3月3日、雛祭りです。

雛祭りには、女の子のいる家庭では雛人形を飾ってお祝いします。

今は内裏雛一対だけを並べる場合も多いですが、お祝い事には奇数がよいとされており、雛段は七段あるいは三段、五段が基本形とされています。

七段も並べるとかなりの大きさになりますが、七段に何を並べるのかを見てみましょう。

一段目

内裏雛　だいりびな

天皇、皇后の姿に似せた男女ひとそろいのひな人形。男子は束帯姿、女子は十二単姿が一般的です。

二段目

三人官女

「官女」とは、天皇皇后のお住まいである内裏（だいり）に仕える女性のことでその役割は、お内裏様の付き人です。

三段目

五人囃子

五人囃子とは、能楽を演じる囃子方（はやしかた）と地謡（じうたい）の少年。

五人囃子は、向かって左から「太鼓→大鼓（おおかわ）→小鼓（こつづみ）→笛（ふえ）→謡（うたい）」と並びます。

四段目

四段目には、随身、つまり御所の警護の武官を一対、 雛壇飾りでは右大臣・左大臣といわれます。

五段目

五段目には、仕丁、御所の雑用を司る者たちの三人を並べます。

六段目

六段目には、上級武家の婚礼道具になぞらえた雛道具が置かれます。箪笥・長持・挟箱・鏡台・針箱・火鉢・衣裳袋・茶の湯道具など。

七段目

七段目は中央へ重箱を置き、左右に御駕篭と御所車を配します。

どうですか？

もし雛壇を見る機会があれば、ここで知ったことを念頭に見てみてください。

ただ綺麗というよりも一つ一つのお雛様の意味がわかって日本文化の理解につながるのではないですか？

じゃあ、楽しい雛祭りをお過ごしください。