Gosho ningyo
Gosho-ningyo or palace dolls:
were generally depictions of pudgy little boys about 3-5 years old engaged in active play. They symbolized good wishes and
were often given as gifts within the court circles for many occasions including celebrating the birth of a child, gifts of recognition
to visiting feudal lords or special gifts to the lower classes. According to Pate: "The particular love of the Japanese for the
gosho-ningyo reflects an appreciation of the innocence of childhood and an attempt to continue to view the world through the
child's eye long after the eye has matured into adulthood."
The small dolls are generally carved from wood in one piece. They were frequently carved in three equal sections: the head,
the arms and the legs. This tended to make the heads appear particularly large with very small features. Often the gofun is
burnished over the entire doll. They are frequently sexed and usually boys. They are often presented with small toys and in
active play positions. They usually wear clothes and if they are minimally clothed, the garment is a bib known as haragake.
As with any type of doll that persists over time, the gosho-ningyo evolved to perform many functions in the culture. This is the
classic Edo period doll developing in the late 1600s and early 1700s. There are many forms with distinct characteristics:
Gosho-ningyo were very popular among the court but also as gifts outside the court. As custom of the late 1600s and early
1700s, visiting daimyo (akin to European feudal lords) would send gifts of tribute to the imperial court. In exchange, the court
would give gifts of gosho-ningyo in recognition of the tributes. Generally the ningyo were seated boys wearing a bib or more
elaborate clothing with painted, silk or human hair with a special object in hand or carved as part of the figure. The special
object was symbolic of good wishes from health and longevity to fertility and martial prowess. The many items representing
these wishes included battle fans, toys, animals, and boxes among other things. This form of doll is the "play" doll depicted in
wood block prints of children playing.
were generally depictions of pudgy little boys about 3-5 years old engaged in active play. They symbolized good wishes and
were often given as gifts within the court circles for many occasions including celebrating the birth of a child, gifts of recognition
to visiting feudal lords or special gifts to the lower classes. According to Pate: "The particular love of the Japanese for the
gosho-ningyo reflects an appreciation of the innocence of childhood and an attempt to continue to view the world through the
child's eye long after the eye has matured into adulthood."
The small dolls are generally carved from wood in one piece. They were frequently carved in three equal sections: the head,
the arms and the legs. This tended to make the heads appear particularly large with very small features. Often the gofun is
burnished over the entire doll. They are frequently sexed and usually boys. They are often presented with small toys and in
active play positions. They usually wear clothes and if they are minimally clothed, the garment is a bib known as haragake.
As with any type of doll that persists over time, the gosho-ningyo evolved to perform many functions in the culture. This is the
classic Edo period doll developing in the late 1600s and early 1700s. There are many forms with distinct characteristics:
Gosho-ningyo were very popular among the court but also as gifts outside the court. As custom of the late 1600s and early
1700s, visiting daimyo (akin to European feudal lords) would send gifts of tribute to the imperial court. In exchange, the court
would give gifts of gosho-ningyo in recognition of the tributes. Generally the ningyo were seated boys wearing a bib or more
elaborate clothing with painted, silk or human hair with a special object in hand or carved as part of the figure. The special
object was symbolic of good wishes from health and longevity to fertility and martial prowess. The many items representing
these wishes included battle fans, toys, animals, and boxes among other things. This form of doll is the "play" doll depicted in
wood block prints of children playing.
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