Amagatsu/Hoko are mentioned in the books of the Heian period (794-1185). The word Amagatsu refers to "infants born into Imperial, high level samurai families". The doll was used to ward off evil and sickness by placing it besides the head of a newborn child. It was thrown into the river once the infant grew up healthy. Common people made Hoko, human-form dolls from straw, paper or cloth to protect infants from evil. Ancient Amagatsu dolls no longer exist, the oldest Amagatsu preserved today is from the Edo period.
The fusion of purification ceremony and Hina Asobi is said to have developed into Hina Matsuri (Dolls festival) in the Edo period (1600-1868). It started as a way of warding off evil spirits, with the dolls acting as a charm, and praying for young girls' healthy growth and happiness.
Karakuri dolls are the first mechanized puppets in Japan. Historically, the technology to make movement using string and spring was introduced into Japan from China in the 7th century. In the Muromachi period (1333-1568) a festival was born in which a Karakuri doll war fixed on a chariot. Watching soulful gesture of the mechanized puppet people of that time felt the existence of God. During the Edo period the Karakuri dolls were developed rapidly by Edo's craftsmen' humorous ideas and skillful technologies. Due to Japan's isolation policy, it was difficult to procure materials and technologies from abroad and Japan developed its own unique technology to make dolls with limited raw materials.
Sophisticated musical automated dolls were made to entertain high class people. On the other hand, dolls with human expressions and movement were made to entertain the common people.
Oyama Ningyo is a typical Japanese doll dressed in a beautiful costume expressing woman's beauty and graceful figure. As it is loved so much by people it has always been displayed at the Hina festival. Oyama Ningyo is based on the costume of the Edo era and has been produced since that time.
The name of this composition is Rokudan. Rokudan expresses how peacefully a beatiful lady plays Koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument. Koto has long been an accompaniment in Japanese classical music.
Dojoji. When Hanako, a Shirabyoshi (a dancer who taps a hand drum with her finger tips) came to Dojoji temple to attend a memorial service for a bell, she was asked by a monk to dance in front of the bell. First she danced solemnly, wearing a coronet and holding a Chukei (a fan). Then she danced gracefully, this time holding a woven hat and beating the hand drum.
Oiran doll. Oirans were high ranking courtesans of Yoshiwara Yukaku (pleasure district). They were entartainers rather than simply "women of pleasure", who were highly trained in the classics, calligraphy, tea ceremony, singing and etc.
Hanayome is dressed in a traditional Japanese wedding costume. A Japanese bride ordinarily wears a garment called Uchikake on her kimono and has her hair dressed in a style called Bunkin Takashimada. She also puts Tsukokakushi on her head meaning that a bride can get along with her husband if she doesn't reveal her true self.
Shiokumi. Matsukaze, a female diver, is longing for Arihara No Yukihira, who has gone back to the capital. She dances with a headgear and wears a female diver's straw-like rain-cape known as Suikan around her waist. Suspended from her shoulders are wooden buckets attached to a bar to scoop up water from the sea.
Yaegaki Hime is a princess and holding in her hands a helmet, her family treasure. She was able to cross the lake as if she were flying.
Okaji is a married woman with a lantern. The composition is from a drama "Love of Tojyuro".
Fujimusume. With wisterias in full bloom everywhere a beautiful girl appears as if the spirit of wisteria, holding up a twig of the blossom and dancing, showing her feeling of love as the song goes on.
Mariasobi is one of the Kimekomi Ningyo dolls. Kimekoni Ningyo was created by a priest at a Kyoto shrine in the middle of Edo period. He made a small wooden doll that he carved from scraps of willow. Then using remnants of fabric from his priest's clothing, he dressed the doll by inserting the ends of the fabric into the wooden torso. "Ki" means "wood", "Mekomi" means the technique that is used to tuck the fabric into the grooves on the doll's body. Mariasobi is a girl playing with a mari, a traditional ball.
Ichimatsu Ningyo came from Sanogawa Ichimatsu, who was a popular actor who played female roles in Kamigata Kabuki in the Edo period. This doll was made to represent both him and boys and girls. The dolls have moveable hands and feet and their clothes can be changed. They can be easily carried around as they can be folded into three pieces.
Kagamijishi is a Kabuki (Japanese classical drama) doll.
Okina is a doll of the Noh teathre
Hina-dan is a set of fifteen dolls representing the Imperial court. At the center of the set on the top shelf there are the emperor and empress dolls. Below sit three ladies-in-waiting, displayed as ready to serve sake, rice wine. Below the ladies-in-waiting are five musicians with different instruments. On the remaining platforms there are ministers, samurai, a variety of miniature furniture, tools and carriages
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