Японские исследования (Sep 2020)
Folk symbolism of Japanese zoomorphic toys
Abstract
The article is dedicated to research on folk symbolism of traditional Japanese zoomorphic toys. Folk toys are an integral part of any nation's traditional culture and have always been considered an essential stage in understanding the world. The toys performed educational functions, familiarized children with natural materials and their properties, helped them master social laws and moral foundations. Folk toys were connected with a variety of economic activities and religious beliefs and performed sacred functions. Zoomorphic toys played a significant role, not only acquainting children and adults with nature and mimicking the appearance of real and fantastic beasts and birds, but often also acting as a “substitute” for a deity, thus acquiring divine power. The latter is highly common for Japanese toys portraying animals. These toys retained folk symbolism to the largest degree. However, this aspect has never been studied specifically. The range of animals that became folk toys in Japan is rather extensive and mainly reflects the traditional Japanese concepts of animals that are still considered symbols of happiness and prosperity. There is a clear syncretism of typological regional concepts of certain animals and the aim of the Japanese folk tradition to demonstrate the priority of national specifics in the selection of animals and in the origins of folk toys. This can probably account for why there are so many folk texts attempting to explain the origins of Japanese zoomorphic folk toys. These are legends and fables that, due to the specifics of the genre, are geared towards the "authenticity" of the story. The toys themselves are an important element confirming the authenticity of folk stories. I.e., there is an evident connection - a folk text explains the origin of a toy, and the toy confirms the truthfulness of the text. Although, in most cases, ceramic and paper animals remained common children toys, they were also given the status of protective children’s amulets that could be used for play or simply placed next to the child. All of this gives folk zoomorphic toys a contemporary edge as a part of life of the modern Japanese.
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