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[[Image:teruterubouzu.jpg|thumb|right|''Teru teru bōzu'' dolls]]
[[Image:teruterubouzu.jpg|thumb|right|''Teru teru bōzu'' dolls]]


A {{Nihongo||てるてる坊主 {{lang|en|or}} 照る照る坊主|'''''teru teru bōzu'''''|literally "shine shine monk"|lead=yes}} is a small traditional handmade doll made of white that originated from the Edo period in Japan, made from paper or cloth, [[Japan]]ese farmers began hanging outside of their window by a string. This [[talisman]] is supposed to have magical powers to bring good weather and to stop or prevent a [[rain]]y day. ''Teru'' is a Japanese verb which describes sunshine, and a ''bōzu'' is a [[Buddhist monk]] (compare the word [[wikt:bonze|bonze]]), or in modern slang, "bald-headed"; ''bōzu'' is also used as a term of endearment for addressing little boys.<ref>''O-Lex Japanese–English Dictionary'', Obunsha, 2008. pp. 1681—2.</ref>
A {{Nihongo||てるてる坊主 {{lang|en|or}} 照る照る坊主|'''''teru teru bōzu'''''|literally "shine shine monk"|lead=yes}} is a small traditional handmade that originated from the Edo period in Japan, made from white paper or cloth, [[Japan]]ese farmers began hanging outside of their window by a string. This [[talisman]] is supposed to have magical powers to bring good weather and to stop or prevent a [[rain]]y day. ''Teru'' is a Japanese verb which describes sunshine, and a ''bōzu'' is a [[Buddhist monk]] (compare the word [[wikt:bonze|bonze]]), or in modern slang, "bald-headed"; ''bōzu'' is also used as a term of endearment for addressing little boys.<ref>''O-Lex Japanese–English Dictionary'', Obunsha, 2008. pp. 1681—2.</ref>


''Teru teru bōzu'' became popular during the [[Edo period]] among urban dwellers, whose children would make them the day before the good weather was desired and chant, "Fine-weather priest, please let the weather be good tomorrow."<ref name="jstor">{{cite journal | title=Weather Watching and Emperorship | author=Miyata, Noboru | journal=Current Anthropology |date=August 1987 | volume=28 | issue=4 | pages=S13–S18 | doi=10.1086/203572 | jstor=2743422 | issn=0011-3204| doi-access=free }}</ref>
''Teru teru bōzu'' became popular during the [[Edo period]] among urban dwellers, whose children would make them the day before the good weather was desired and chant, "Fine-weather priest, please let the weather be good tomorrow."<ref name="jstor">{{cite journal | title=Weather Watching and Emperorship | author=Miyata, Noboru | journal=Current Anthropology |date=August 1987 | volume=28 | issue=4 | pages=S13–S18 | doi=10.1086/203572 | jstor=2743422 | issn=0011-3204| doi-access=free }}</ref>

Revision as of 03:59, 24 November 2022

Teru teru bōzu dolls

A teru teru bōzu (Japanese: てるてる坊主 or 照る照る坊主, literally "shine shine monk") is a small traditional handmade that originated from the Edo period in Japan, made from white paper or cloth, Japanese farmers began hanging outside of their window by a string. This talisman is supposed to have magical powers to bring good weather and to stop or prevent a rainy day. Teru is a Japanese verb which describes sunshine, and a bōzu is a Buddhist monk (compare the word bonze), or in modern slang, "bald-headed"; bōzu is also used as a term of endearment for addressing little boys.[1]

Teru teru bōzu became popular during the Edo period among urban dwellers, whose children would make them the day before the good weather was desired and chant, "Fine-weather priest, please let the weather be good tomorrow."[2]

Traditionally, if the weather does turn out well, a libation of holy sake is poured over them, and they are washed away in the river.[3][4][full citation needed] Today, children[who?] make teru teru bōzu out of tissue paper or cotton and string and hang them from a window when they wish for sunny weather, often before a school picnic day. Hanging it upside-down acts as a prayer for rain. They are a very common superstition in Japan.

There is a famous warabe uta associated with teru teru bōzu, written by Kyoson Asahara and composed by Shinpei Nakayama, that was released in 1921.

See also

References

  1. ^ O-Lex Japanese–English Dictionary, Obunsha, 2008. pp. 1681—2.
  2. ^ Miyata, Noboru (August 1987). "Weather Watching and Emperorship". Current Anthropology. 28 (4): S13–S18. doi:10.1086/203572. ISSN 0011-3204. JSTOR 2743422.
  3. ^ Daijirin
  4. ^ Kōjien
  5. ^ "ゆるキャラグランプリ2020「てるみん・ふ~みん」". ゆるキャラグランプリ2020. Retrieved 2020-09-25.

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